Active 3 way, pro-sound drivers

[lorenmjones]

Re: Active 3 way, pro-sound drivers

Looks like an excellent project!!

I run the TD15S in 170ltr tuned with 6" port 11" long. Enjoy it very much with all kinds of music.

The mids and tweeters are ones I've had my eye on for a long time.

I stuck with the Waynes new H290C horn and DE250 which may seem far from perfect wiht the 550hz dip and high Xover but the sound stage is excellent. A full 180deg or more with good recordings. I couldn't get that soundstage with a JBL 2118 and SB 29 crossed at 500 and 2K.

It'll be interesting to see how you make out with the parts you choose. You should have a dominating 2nd HD for a nice tone. That's hard to come by. And worth every penny. For those on a budget (under $2000) A three way with Td15S, 6ND430 and SB 29 crossed active at 550hz and passive at 2Khz could be a satisfying combo.

Scott

Hi Scott,

I just saw your post. I'm sure that TD15S and DE250 does sound great. Are yours active or passive? What Fb is that? I don't have my modeling software at work.

John at AE actually recommended TD15H for my application due to its stronger motor. I should've noticed that on my own. I'm planning to cross between 200 and 300. I'm not sure how much difference the lower inductance of the lambda motor will make crossed that low. Thoughts? The B&C has a little better sensitivity down low but lower sensitivity overall. I'm planning to stick with the B&C unless I have some complaint with it.

I hope you are right on the distortion comment. The tests I have seen on the mids and tweeter show low distortion overall with good suppression of the higher order products so hopefully that will shine through in the final product.

Loren

[lorenmjones]

Re: Active 3 way, pro-sound drivers

Hi,

Long time and no update. I hope to have the boxes completed enough to take them up for measurement and crossover design on Saturday.

I did end up going with the B&C woofer. I am using the LF portion of the cabinets right now just with the crossover in my AVR set to 150 hz under my old Focal L/R speakers. The improvement in the detail and resolution of the LF compared to my Stryke SAE-12 sub is shocking. The sheer impact available at similar listening levels is really impressive to me as well. The tune on the boxes is currently 138 liters tuned to 23 hz. It gives a gentle downsloping alignment that is capable of over 110 db all the way to 19 hz with the 450w I expect to have on hand before it exceeds excursion limits. Here are a few pics. The one pic shows me cutting the OC703 type insulation with an electric filet knife. It works really well for that. On the unibox plots you can see that 2 4" ports for this driver/box is inadequate and the vent velocity is excessive at full power. I can't fit anymore port area into the box without adding an elbow to the port design.

Unibox display of the gently drooping LF response that I think will fit well with room gain. I could shorten the ports for a flat FR down to 26 hz and then very steep rolloff after that. This trades some efficiency from 25 to 45 for some more VLF between 18 and 25 hz. These will get a fair bit of movie use


I don't have a good pic of the front of the driver but I was surprised how heavy this big neo motor is


Cutting fiberglass with the electric filet knife.


This is a baffle for the top cabinet just sitting on the bass cabinet just to get a sense of the overall size.


One of the top cabinets being clamped up. Pocket hole screws and clamps working together for the assembly here.


Closer photo of one of the bass cabinets. Ports are top exit. They are just roughed in here for testing purposes.

[Pete Schumacher]

Re: Active 3 way, pro-sound drivers

Ports are top exit.

If you're going to keep them top exit, I hope you add some screen mesh to keep stuff from falling in accidentally.

[lorenmjones]

Re: Active 3 way, pro-sound drivers

If you're going to keep them top exit, I hope you add some screen mesh to keep stuff from falling in accidentally.

Definitely will do that.

[lorenmjones]

Re: Active 3 way, pro-sound drivers

Well,

Here is some updated progress. I have finally completed the top part of the enclosure and they whole pile is off to get the crossover design done.

This is the result when I made the driver flush mount cutout using guide bushings but without using a centering cone for the router baseplate before starting the process.


This looks much better after using the centering pin/cone to align the baseplate.


This is the mid/hi cabinet with OC703 style insulation for damping.


This is the baffle with drivers mounted in it


Here is one bass cab and one mid/hi cab loaded in the "short bus" for a quick drive to get crossover design work done.


Can't wait to hear them.

Loren

[Pete Schumacher]

Re: Active 3 way, pro-sound drivers

Wow!! :eek:

Those are looking amazing.

Will you be bringing those to a DIY event, maybe Dayton's Audiofest in July?

[lorenmjones]

Re: Active 3 way, pro-sound drivers

Wow!! :eek:

Those are looking amazing.

Will you be bringing those to a DIY event, maybe Dayton's Audiofest in July?

Thanks Pete,

Hopefully they will look more amazing when I get them veneered etc. I do want to bring them to a DIY event. I start a new job in July so I will have to play it by ear as far as whether I can get away so soon after starting. If not the Dayton event then perhaps something else a little later on. I definitely want to get to hear so many of the other cool projects out there in DIY land.

Loren

[gregbegland]

Re: Active 3 way, pro-sound drivers

Lookin' powerful!

Focus ST perhaps?

Greg

[lorenmjones]

Re: Active 3 way, pro-sound drivers

Lookin' powerful!

Focus ST perhaps?

Greg

Good call on the Focus ST. It is the color of a school bus so I've named it the short bus. I'm not sure how my kids feel riding to school I. The short bus though

Loren

[winslow]

Re: Active 3 way, pro-sound drivers

That's pretty badassed.

[lorenmjones]

Re: Active 3 way, pro-sound drivers

Well,

Here is the newest update to the saga of my speakers. This picture shows them in Dennis Murphy's living room next to a Philharmonic 3 (top of the speaker line he sells). He has completed the crossover tentatively. Some possible final tweaking to be done but he says he is happy with it short of personal choices with relative padding on the mids and tweet. I haven't heard them yet and it will be next weekend before I do. I can't wait. I still plan to do a DSP based triamp version to try out as well, but that may take a little time to get all worked out. I would be surprised it Dennis' passive implementation doesn't leave me feeling less of that urge to go active. Some guys have thought perhaps these should be named the PhilharMonster and be a new addition to Dennis' speaker line.

By the way, anyone who hasn't dealt with Dennis must be told that he is an incredible guy. Generous and genuine and open. And most importantly a complete speaker NUT!!! Thanks for doing this for me Dennis.

[lorenmjones]

Re: Active 3 way, pro-sound drivers

Sorry. Double post.

[gregbegland]

Re: Active 3 way, pro-sound drivers

Congrats! Do you know where he crossed the mids to TPL? How steep?

Greg

[lorenmjones]

Re: Active 3 way, pro-sound drivers

Congrats! Do you know where he crossed the mids to TPL? How steep?

Greg

Woofer to mid second order acoustic around 380, mid to tweet 4th order acoustic 2700 or so. It looks like final sensitivity will be an honest 91 db 1w/1m. The mids and tweet could be much more sensitive but a full range speaker with good extension into the 20s that does 91 db sensitivity isn't bad.

Thanks Greg

[lorenmjones]

Re: Active 3 way, pro-sound drivers

Congrats! Do you know where he crossed the mids to TPL? How steep?

Greg

I think Dennis wouldn't mind if I post schematics but I should ask first. It is definitely all his work.

Loren