Local Custom Speakers

13

Comments

  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2013
    Did he ever mention what kind of crossover slopes he used, as time alignment is generally only beneficial to shallow slopes or the goal is transient perfect crossovers(something I now strive for).
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2013
    No but I'll shoot him an email and see what he remembers. Good thinking!
  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2013
    Regardless if it's functional or not, the time aligned baffle does look cool.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,649
    edited May 2013
    I still don't prefer the idea of a speaker cone firing straight into the carpet;

    The trick is to get it high enough off the carpet, I'd say at least 2 inches and it should be spiked.
    but I'm weird...

    You said it. :twisted:
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2013
    Details I received yesterday on the crossover design for these three-way, four driver, Dayton Audio Reference speakers.

    As I recall from memory, the woofers are wired in parallel in 2nd order (12db electrical) crossing at 300hz; low frequency response of woofers based on the box volume is around 55 hz at f3. The midrange is crossed at 300 and 1600 third order 18db to minimize ringing and beaming with the aluminum midbass, and the tweeter is crossed at 1600 fourth order (24db) with a LRC Leg in parallel to suppress the rise at around 7k hz. Physical time alignment was based on the sizes of the drivers, 15 degree tilting baffle was a sufficient compensation.

    The 55Hz woofer response sounds right based on my listening over the last week. The speakers obviously don't go very low, but what bass they do has sounds very good and natural. After playing the with subwoofer last night, I found I can't cross it too much higher than 60Hz because you very quickly hear the competing woofers. More testing to come this weekend...
  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2013
    Sealed woofers tuned to a Q(tc) of .7 roll off @ 12db, opposed to ported cabinet's 24db per octave. Depending on placement and your room size, once you add in room gain, you may not be missing much at all. What you may be hearing now is flatter bass resonse instead of a booted bottom end. But in case you still crave more, another advantage of sealed designs is that they are easier to integrate with subs.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2013
    I was hoping for a little room gain from the woofers, especially with the opposed woofers, but the proximity required to the rear walls for decent gains had an adverse effect on sound quality and sound stage. At the point where distance from the back wall, distance from the side wall, and toe-in sounded the best (so far anyway), the bass response was not significantly boosted by the room. I do feel like I'm missing the bottom of the frequency range for listening to music (stand-up bass, organ, symphony), but my reference is corner horn-loaded 15" woofers, so I clearly need to adjust my expectations. :rolleyes:
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2013
    Face wrote: »
    Depending on placement and your room size, once you add in room gain, you may not be missing much at all.

    I'm interested to see what you come up with after modeling the speakers in my room. Thanks for the help!
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2013
    With the need for more current, I'm going to check out a Carver A-500x which can deliver 400wpc into my 4 ohm speakers; stable to 2 ohms and 750wpc. The amp looks like the last of the real Carver designs with classic VU meters and THX certification. Hopefully the amp will wake-up the bass in my speakers a little more, and be a quality pick overall.
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,593
    edited May 2013
    zingo wrote: »
    With the need for more current, I'm going to check out a Carver A-500x which can deliver 400wpc into my 4 ohm speakers; stable to 2 ohms and 750wpc. The amp looks like the last of the real Carver designs with classic VU meters and THX certification. Hopefully the amp will wake-up the bass in my speakers a little more, and be a quality pick overall.

    Be wary of the THX knobs, they have a COMMON habit of breaking and just stink compared to other gain knobs on amps (like B&K).
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2013
    Since they are simply set knobs used during the HT calibration process, I would adjust them all the way open (I would assume would be the best option) then let them be. I'll make sure to check them for damage when I look at the amp as well.
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2013
    Mike was awesome and ran calculations for me based on these Dayton Audio Reference speakers and the specifics of my room. The bass response looks better than I think they sound, but they also have had very limited power, so more testing and tweaking is necessary.

    Black line is the naked speaker, the blue line is the added room gain.

    In Room Response.gif
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2013
    The guy was moving and had his system apart, so I only got to power on the A500x tonight and toggle the VU meters. Everything seemed to work well, so I couldn't pass it for $200. :) I'll hook it up with a passive preamp tomorrow and see what I have!
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,593
    edited May 2013
    zingo wrote: »
    The guy was moving and had his system apart, so I only got to power on the A500x tonight and toggle the VU meters. Everything seemed to work well, so I couldn't pass it for $200. :) I'll hook it up with a passive preamp tomorrow and see what I have!

    Holy crap for 200 its a STEAL of a deal. Just watch those THX knobs on the back, like I said they are BRITTLE.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2013
    That's what I thought. I originally passed on the deal because I didn't want a Carver amp, but it figured it was worth trying for the money. No matter what, it is a great looking amp.
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,593
    edited May 2013
    zingo wrote: »
    That's what I thought. I originally passed on the deal because I didn't want a Carver amp, but it figured it was worth trying for the money. No matter what, it is a great looking amp.

    Yeah, and there is meat on the bone there for sure if you decide to sell it (and I can probably find you a buyer for it).
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2013
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,593
    edited May 2013
    Looks pretty, hows it sound :smile:.

    BTW I envy you living up in Carver country where the Carver amps grow on trees :smile:
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2013
    Haven't hook it up yet, just snapped that picture last night when I brought it home and plugged it in. Tonight I'll get everything configured, and do some testing.
    BTW I envy you living up in Carver country where the Carver amps grow on trees :smile:

    That is an understatement; there are currently 9 Carver components on CL, plus a set of 5.1 HT speakers and a pair of Amazing Platinums for $500...
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,593
    edited May 2013
    zingo wrote: »
    That is an understatement; there are currently 9 Carver components on CL, plus a set of 5.1 HT speakers and a pair of Amazing Platinums for $500...

    Man, whats your zip up there for use in SearchTempest lol...

    Daddy needs him some Sunfire and Carver love lol....
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2013
    98109, and I don't mind doing some local dealing for trusted Polkies.
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,593
    edited May 2013
    zingo wrote: »
    98109, and I don't mind doing some local dealing for trusted Polkies.

    Rock on. I will keep that in mind if I stumble across something I just gotta have :smile:.

    Would love to rock some additional Carver gear.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2013
    There is a local Classe CA-200 amp I'm eyeing...
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,593
    edited May 2013
    zingo wrote: »
    There is a local Classe CA-200 amp I'm eyeing...

    Nice piece. If I was in the market for a Carver I would try to buy the one you just got off ya lol... but I am not right now (just picked up a Sunfire TGP-II for my 2 channel system that drained the bank)
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2013
    I also don't think either of us want to shop a large amp across the country; can be done, but not fun.
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,593
    edited May 2013
    zingo wrote: »
    I also don't think either of us want to shop a large amp across the country; can be done, but not fun.

    Agreed, can be done if necessary, but not fun and only at high risk. I prefer the smaller M and TFM series amps, lighter, easier to pack and ship.

    That said it is possible you can sometimes end up with a totally refurbed amp (that was due for a re-cap anyway) on the carriers insurance dime due to said in transit damage.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2013
    The amp all hooked-up with new passive preamp. Listened for a few minutes last night as the bass is improved with the additional power, still getting a feel for the voicing and sound stage, but first impressions are enjoyable, dynamic, and very detailed.

    photo.JPG
  • blairfrischx
    blairfrischx Posts: 259
    edited May 2013
    zingo wrote: »
    The amp all hooked-up with new passive preamp. Listened for a few minutes last night as the bass is improved with the additional power, still getting a feel for the voicing and sound stage, but first impressions are enjoyable, dynamic, and very detailed.

    photo.JPG

    I'm tempted to think that anything would look nice sitting on that stand, but that is a very pretty amp.
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2013
    I'm tempted to think that anything would look nice sitting on that stand, but that is a very pretty amp.

    It's a really crappy Fred Meyer component stand, but I'm glad my pictures are flattering. :cool: The stand only holds 70lbs on the main shelf, and the door are cockeyed, so take my advice and buy a good one the first time!
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2013
    I had the opportunity to pick up what could be a very good sounding, unique custom amp. Can anyone guess the design or the builder? :mrgreen:

    image.jpg