DIY Flat Panel Speaker Love

[Unbiasedsound]

Some people say DML's don't have much bass.....Sure they wont go low like most true subs hitting below 30hz but most speakers don't hit that low either.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHjU21dn5B4

[Zene]

Unb ... industrial grade high density pb is second only to a hard wood for acoustical damping for a wood product. Panzer wood comes to mind. It was used on Panzer tanks in WWII to deaden the impact. Of course there are better damping materials such as lead and gold. Tar is great, too. Forgot; you needed lower cost and not too messy. Can easily tell as it is 49" x 97" compared to regular 4' x 8' pb, and not nearly as flakey.
Mdf and Hdf are amoung the very worst as it rings like a bell. I know it's used in every speaker box you can imagine, but that is no indorsement of it's acoustical properties. Mfg's use it because it is cheap, machines well, glues great and holds fasteners. Customers insist on it because it looks nice and is heavy (so heavy = better?). I know mdf well as I have personllly built tens of housands of boxes from it. The majority were for car stereo and the no-knowledge boom-boom crowd could care less how it sounds. Even audiofools think it's great. They have been sold a bill of goods by sales for years. If you think I'm raving, I am not. It is just frustrating not being able to convince people to the importance of a good sounding box or even a frame in your case.
Damping and bracing inferior panels has been tried, but that just lowers the peaks.

[Unbiasedsound]

I've always used hard wood for the frame of my DML panels but they are getting real expensive....For my Yamaha ear type of DML speaker I will use either partical board or mdf since they are a bit cheaper....I also wonder if there dampening properties will change the sound of my panels and if it will be better or worse.

[Zene]

Be slow going. Need power, etc; but will post as soon as I can hear something. Hoping to entice others to try multiple ways. Most reading only mentions subwoofers. I think we need good woofers that go to to 300hz or so, not the usual video related subwoofer to 150hz with the horrible sounding plate amps. This is stereo, not Star Wars' screaming fighters and lasers. Yes, I realize distortion is not as easily heard in bass.

[Unbiasedsound]

Good luck with it let me know how it turns out.

[Zene]

Fuller is what I am looking for, thx. I would like to get close to my all time favourite upper bass, the Kipsch LaScala.
Working on 4 way; 15" open baffle (a mint Klipsch K33), larger dml (ub), smaller dml for midrange plus bmr tweter.
The ub dml will not be taken anywhere near 3k.

[Unbiasedsound]

Not sure bout it sounding better but a larger panel would be able to produce more upper bass/midrange and will sound fuller then a smaller panel. Are you building a 3 way design?

[Unbiasedsound]

Not sure bout it sounding better but a larger panel would be able to produce more upper bass/midrange and will sound fuller then a smaller panel. Are you building a 3 way design?

[Zene]

Guys ... do you think a larger panel might sound better for ub/midrange (200 - 3khz) keeping material, thickness and exciter the same? I can cutoff bottom and top to compare.

[Unbiasedsound]

I bought a Dayton usb dac and it sounds way better then the small 3mm jack I was using before.

[Brewster56]

The Sheffield Drum Track recording I have is a FLAC version. I listened to it on Spotify as well - I couldn't believe how poor it sounded in comparison. Usually I'm quite satisfied with Spotify sound, but this sounded like a blanket was in front of my speakers!

[Unbiasedsound]

Greetings DML builders! My first post - I am amazed by the DML technology! I have built Rich M's design and really enjoy them. Actually 6 of them (surround sound) - but mainly listen to stereo. I have slot loaded ob's running from 30-180 hz,, DML's 180 & up. Behringer electronic crossover, and EQ from it for the panels. I also run (2) 15's in infinite baffle for subs.

Previously I was listening to the OB's with BG 50" planars and/or some electrostatic panels that I built. One of the planars died so that kind of forced me to dial in the DML's; and now I don't think I'll be going back. The Sheffield Drum and Track Record just confirmed that for me! My panels are 19 x 31, 1" Formular 150, unsupported DAEX32EP-4's.

So now I want to improve on what I have. Unbiasedsound, I also have been thinking about the elephant shape, given the irregular shape should be positive to minimize standing waves or response peak/dips? I will do whatever it takes to get the best sound. Looks, size, damage protection, etc. all come after the sound quality (detail, live sounding, dynamic range, etc). So when I consider copying elements of Bertagni, Podium or Yamaha, I wonder what they would have built, if only for the best sound and had not had to consider manufacture-ability, consumer acceptance, cost, shipping, etc.?

Thanks to all on this forum for what I have learned so far!

I also played that Sheffield Drum track on my revised Bastat sat/sub panels and it sounds amazing....The huge soundstage with 3d like imaging these panels produce is pretty unique as they sound (live) like someone is actually playing the drums in the room.

[Unbiasedsound]

What ever floats your boat.

[Brewster56]

Looks like the link didn't work. Picture attached.

[Brewster56]

Unbiased, please see the attached link. I know you and others have said that you prefer the EPS over XPS. I would definitely like to try it, but I need to know what type. Apparently there are fixed standard types for EPS. If you don't know the type number, how about the density? My brother is also into hifi. I brought mine to his house and paired them with his Carver sub. He was quite impressed and his son has since built a pair of panels! Thanks.