Building speakers almost by ear?

[airtime]

I don't have test equipment, but I do have access to the usual online programs to help me design, or at least maximize the design.

The only test equipment I have is a signal generator that is not geared for the accuracy of frequency testing, an ocilloscope and other tools to repair stereos in my spare time.

I have been DIYing speakers for years but honestly -I'm just fooling around with these compared to you guys.


I'm working off two basic plans. One was from a monitor and the other from a three way. There is only one driver that is not common to both - the midrange. I am substituting in place of a Seas H1262 5.5" for a Vifa P17WJ-00-08. Simply because I can't afford the extra parts and driver right now.

With out the aid of more advanced programs and audio test equipment, how can I test by ear the results. Or what should I be listening for?

I've listened to the mid/tweeter for days and it seems to be right. But I have no idea how it will sound when I throw the woofer and it's crossover into the mix. The reason I'm hesitant is because I have to build a bigger box to try it!

[Chris Roemer]

Re: Building speakers almost by ear?

I don't have test equipment, but I do have access to the usual online programs to help me design, or at least maximize the design.

The only test equipment I have is a signal generator that is not geared for the accuracy of frequency testing, an ocilloscope and other tools to repair stereos in my spare time.

I have been DIYing speakers for years but honestly -I'm just fooling around with these compared to you guys.


I'm working off two basic plans. One was from a monitor and the other from a three way. There is only one driver that is not common to both - the midrange. I am substituting in place of a Seas H1262 5.5" for a Vifa P17WJ-00-08. Simply because I can't afford the extra parts and driver right now.

With out the aid of more advanced programs and audio test equipment, how can I test by ear the results. Or what should I be listening for?

I've listened to the mid/tweeter for days and it seems to be right. But I have no idea how it will sound when I throw the woofer and it's crossover into the mix. The reason I'm hesitant is because I have to build a bigger box to try it!

Why not tell us more? What drivers exactly? You can model the box with WinISD, can't you?

[fastbike1]

Re: Building speakers almost by ear?

See if this helps.

http://sites.google.com/site/undefinition/simulated-measurements

[Big Stogie]

Re: Building speakers almost by ear?

I am not sure about the OP but it sure helped me! Thanks!

[mzisserson]

Re: Building speakers almost by ear?

It can be done and well. Maynard's Tzu-Jan's won at Dayton a couple of years ago! Wolf has an extensive writeup about using the tools to produce great results w/o measuring.

[airtime]

Re: Building speakers almost by ear?

http://www.madisound.com/pdf/peerless/850146.pdf

https://www.madisound.com/store/manuals/p17wj-00-08e.pdf

https://www.madisound.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=792

Here are the drivers. I plan on crossing them over at around 250-275Hz and 3000-3200Khz.

In a 2-2.25 cf bass box and seperate 0.15-0.2cu vented boxes. The vifa sounds better vented. Sealed it really sounds muted.

I will draw out my present crossover later and scan it. It comes from two different schematics, then tweaked.

charles

[airtime]

Re: Building speakers almost by ear?

I had to put this on a second post due to uploading problems.

I'm using this for the mid/tweeter. the substitutions I made were:

1.0mH coil in place of the 0.9 on woofer
3.3uf cap in place of the 5uf on tweeter
2ohm resistor in place of a 3ohm on tweeter
0.39mH coil in place of the 0.5mh on tweeter

Replaced the Vida tweeter for the Seas 27TDFC

It seems to works very well in a 0.3cu vented box.

I needed to add in the 250hz xover. I'll draw that out later.

charels

[airtime]

Re: Building speakers almost by ear?

woofer xover

I plan on just trying a simple 80uf cap on the mid to start.

charles

[Guest]

Re: Building speakers almost by ear?

When I was still building speakers - I did the tuning entirely by ear using a graphic equalizer and extrapolating the crossover values from the resulting curve. It usually resulted in a large crossover with a lot of parts - but sounded very, very good.

Recently, I sold a pair of speakers that I designed, called the Wonder Bread Towers. They won 2nd place (IIRC) at some DIY event in 2001(?). The new owner likes completely different (and much louder) music than I, but has never been disappointed with them.

So yes, it can not only be done - it can be done exceptionally well.

[Chris Roemer]

Re: Building speakers almost by ear?

woofer xover

I plan on just trying a simple 80uf cap on the mid to start.

charles

I simmed your XO with your drivers, except I swapped in an 831727 for the 850146, and an MG17SG09-08 for your P17WJ.

It doesn't look horrible. It wanders down about 5 dB from 200 Hz up to around 1kHz, where it looks pretty flat up to around 6kHz, then rises about +3dB by 12k or so.

Cross points are as expected, and I wired both the mid and tweeter with reverse polarity.

Chris

[Theresa]

Re: Building speakers almost by ear?

Why waste time and money by not using measurement? I remember the frustrating times in the '70s when all I had was Radio Shack drivers and my ears. It resulted in a lot of money wasted. As you mention there are programs on the 'net and a mic is about all you need to buy apart from drivers and components. Like they say in carpentry, measure twice, cut (re. wire) once. Electronic/DSP crossovers simplify things quite a bit, apart from the complex wiring of amps to speakers.

[Pete Schumacher]

Re: Building speakers almost by ear?

This thread should be in the main forum. Finished projects are the intended use of this forum space . . . ;)

[billfitzmaurice]

Re: Building speakers almost by ear?

This thread should be in the main forum. Finished projects are the intended use of this forum space . . . ;)

+100. It seems at least half the threads here shouldn't be.

[moosespeaker]

Re: Building speakers almost by ear?

If that is the case, why are answers provided and the discussions is continued by 'senior members"? How about a respectful comment that this forum is for COMPLETED speaker projects, not a Q/A forum and please move it to the main forum. On the other hand, posters apparently do not read the title of this forum. Go figure.

Now, off of the soapbox.

George

[Chris Roemer]

Re: Building speakers almost by ear?

If that is the case, why are answers provided and the discussions is continued by 'senior members"? How about a respectful comment that this forum is for COMPLETED speaker projects, not a Q/A forum and please move it to the main forum. On the other hand, posters apparently do not read the title of this forum. Go figure.

Now, off of the soapbox.

George

You know what guys? Every day (hopefully NOT every hour?) when I come in here, I log in to techtalk.parts-express.com, then hit the "New Posts" button.

All new entries from ALL the forums pop up comingled in a list. I just pick and choose the ones I'm interested in, opening each one in a new tab. I'm not really even aware of WHICH FORUM I'm reading or responding to.

If I feel like starting something new, I do. I don't really even bother to check where I'm at. Sorry, but that's how it works for me. Maybe a lot of others navigate in here the same way?

Chris