DIY Flat Panel Speaker Love

[Eipromb]

Also optimal or ideal height placement of a DML panel should be around ear level give or take a few inches up or down.

While I do plan to mount at roughly ear level, I’m curious about this. Is this general advice or something specific to DMLs? I thought one of the benefits of DMLs was their ability to sound well off axis. Ignoring floor/ceiling reflections (let’s pretend I’m sitting in an anechoic chamber), would DMLs perform better/ worse/ the same as a tradition cone that was close to the floor?

[Unbiasedsound]

Technically DML's are not suppose to be mounted on the wall due to the sound radiating from both the front and the back. Its the same concept why Open Baffle/Bipolar speakers shouldnt be mounted on the wall.

Also there is a big difference in sound between no foam at all and adding 1-2inch foam strips with 1-2 inch gaps.

DML's should be a minimum of a foot away from the rear walls and ideal or optimum distance is around 2ft.-4ft. also depending on the size of the room.

Again I am not saying you cant do it but if you do the sound wont be the same as DML's actually use rear wall reflections to there advantage. This is the reason DML's are not normally used in a enclosure.

Also optimal or ideal height placement of a DML panel should be around ear level give or take a few inches up or down.

[Eipromb]

Instead of a continuous foam strip all around the panel you can cut them into 1-2inch strips and leave 1-2inch gaps in between like on AllenB's panels. This will let some sound pass through the edges making them sound fuller/holographic/airier. Its up to you though as it is personal preference as you may or may not like the difference in sound.

When I was building it, I tested the panel just hanging/open. It did sound holographic, almost as if the sound was coming from behind the panel - but I didn’t like the sensation of it though.

As it is now (on the floor) it’s still plenty airy and sounds so much better than just a hanging panel. The only thing I haven’t tested yet, is with the whole speaker mounted on the wall. I might need to revisit your idea of the gaps if it ends up sounding too constricted.

[Unbiasedsound]

Instead of a continuous foam strip all around the panel you can cut them into 1-2inch strips and leave 1-2inch gaps in between like on AllenB's panels. This will let some sound pass through the edges making them sound fuller/holographic/airier. Its up to you though as it is personal preference as you may or may not like the difference in sound.

[Eipromb]

After doing a ton of reading and lots and lots of trial and error, I managed to get my version of a DML working.

Kudos to Unbiasedsound for all the advice he’s shared on the forums. They were invaluable to my build.

My 2 main requirements were to appease my better half that didn’t want “big ugly speakers” around lol, but also to sound good enough for me to enjoy.

I CNC’d a frame from MDF that would carry a 3D printed mount for the exciter. Still a bit of work left to paint and make it look pretty enough to mount, but functionally it’s working. The rear of the foam was also routed similar to the Bertagnis speakers Unbiased posted. The routing made the lower end MUCH more present, you could almost get away without a sub during nighttime listening.

Here are pics, but please ignore all the dust everywhere! It’s a mess in the den.

[Unbiasedsound]

Also I noticed you didnt put any foam on the corners of the panel. Besides being used to attach the panel to the frame the foam strips can also act as damping. Not saying you have to do it as its personal preference but you can experiment by putting a small strip of foam on the corners of the panel for added damping and see if you prefer it or not.

[Unbiasedsound]

Good Job. Finally someone who is off on the right start and follows directions well as this is the correct basic foundation of DML 101. You did everything correctly very similar to the way I would do it.

Here is a tip. Get some type of rubber mat and put it under the stand as the wood frame and stand still vibrates a bit. I use those rubber yoga mats that you can buy fairly cheap.

Anyone starting DML please look at AllenB's pics and follow this design as this is the correct way to do it. THIS IS THE FOUNDATION to build all your DML designs on.

[allenb]

Due to various life issues, had to put my dml panels on hold until recently but was able to finish them in rough testing form and give them a listen for the first time today. I decided on 6" x 9" x 1/2" using a medium density EPS and the Tectonic TEAX19C01 from Unbiasedsound's suggestion. I'm using them with an 8" woofer for the low end and the 6 x 9's handle from 500 hz up through the rest of the range. Sound quality is superb! Extremely smooth, uncolored and seems to give a 3 dimensional sound image. This blows away all conventional cone/dome midrange tweeter combinations I've ever tried.

[Unbiasedsound]

T.I. design is basically Rich M's design but with a few modifications. This is a beginners entry level design into DML technology.

I wouldnt say its impossible but its not realistic. Most panels need to be at least 10inches or larger to get low enough to reach 100hz.

[LOUT]

My $5.00 headphones sound better then T.I. panels. lol

If he was going to use a powered subwoofer then he could of made his panels on the smaller size like the size of a typical 2-3 way bookshelf speaker.

I've seen some $9 headphones/buds that measure incredibly well, so I wouldn't be at all suprised.
That said, I haven't heard the T.I. panels/setup and I don't remember if they had any active/software EQ tweaks, so I couldn't say whether or not I think they sound good/bad. I'm guessing you setup something similar to what they had and you didn't like how it sounded?

Do you have any experience with a small panel around 5"X7" reaching down to 60-80hz as loud as 95-100db? Is something like that possible/realistic without switching to an enclosed cabinet or some other exotic build or parts for a flat panel?

[Unbiasedsound]

My $5.00 headphones sound better then T.I. panels. lol

If he was going to use a powered subwoofer then he could of made his panels on the smaller size like the size of a typical 2-3 way bookshelf speaker.

[LOUT]

Are These DML Foam Panels Really the WORLD'S BEST DIY SPEAKERS?? - YouTube

Here is a accurate review of Tech Ingredients DML design. He states T.E. is a genius a super smart guy which is why he was surprised that T.E. was pleased with the sound quality of his build/design. The answer is simple, T.E. is NOT an AUDIOPHILE and has not heard even a decent sounding system to compare and base them against.

Even T.E. newest vid I posted above his test subjects are not audiophiles but rather joe blow down the block with there Bose system. lol

At least one of the fellows mentioned that the system fell short of some really nice-sounding headphones....and you can easily get some very flat-frequency overears for around $99 or some very flat earbuds for $20-30. Good headphones aren't inherently expensive.

Also probably worth mentioning (for anyone thinking panels like this could be a good OR bad idea) is that it still needed a subwoofer crossed around 150hz, which means instead of the panels it could've simply used a couple of tiny 1-3liter 2ways with the same sub to get a very flat and low-distortion sound.
Each option still has its own slight advantages and disadvantages, but the small 2ways are comparably cheaper+smaller+more predictable (easier to design for) while the panels have the potential for slightly smaller z-axis depth (only IF you mount against wall) and may have different room and microphone interactions (which may or may not matter for individual uses). I think the panels will also typically be higher-efficiency, but this only matters if getting a 20-30watt amplifier is a challenge.
Panels may also lend a different sound character to some extent and a unique or "cool" factor...but the latter varies per individual.
Not saying one or the other is inherently better/worse, since it depends on what you want.

[Unbiasedsound]

Are These DML Foam Panels Really the WORLD'S BEST DIY SPEAKERS?? - YouTube

Here is a accurate review of Tech Ingredients DML design. He states T.E. is a genius a super smart guy which is why he was surprised that T.E. was pleased with the sound quality of his build/design. The answer is simple, T.E. is NOT an AUDIOPHILE and has not heard even a decent sounding system to compare and base them against.

Even T.E. newest vid I posted above his test subjects are not audiophiles but rather joe blow down the block with there Bose system. lol

[Unbiasedsound]

Here we go again. lol

SHOULD SPEAKERS THIS GOOD BE LEGAL? - YouTube

This gives new meaning to the "WALL OF SOUND". LOL

[Unbiasedsound]

My order arrived on Thursday.....I said to myself I better order some more exciters before the price increases and low and behold the Tectonic Element Exciters are now almost "DOUBLE" the price then what I've paid for them just 5 days ago.