IPL speakers finished

[Longmanjon]

For third time I’ve built a pair of IPL acoustics speakers, I think I like the build process too much.
Anyway these are the s2tlk ones, which this time I have finished with zebrano veneer and some chord odyssey internal wiring
I expect i shall fail though with uploading the pictures

http://https://www.dropbox.com/sc/76c6d1rrrc0weyp/AAA5h-HYJDpWkpZBnkV_pZ5wa

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/76c6d1rrrc0weyp/AAA5h-HYJDpWkpZBnkV_pZ5wa

http://https://www.dropbox.com/s/v6djkxliescuek2/Photo%2010-11-2018%2C%2012%2025%2043.jpg?dl=0

[Macca]

You're first link doesn't work for me but here's one from the second:

https://i.imgur.com/lfxAX4W.jpg

Ace!

[oceanobsession]

Looking great mate , yes making speakers can be very addictive and time consuming but worth it , I used the chord rumour , you can solder very close

without any damage to the insulation , did it take you long to get the stuffing right . phil

[Longmanjon]

Thanks Phil, by stuffing do you mean the soundproof foam or the wool? I just used the amount of wool recommended by Ivan and It seems good so far.
One thing I’m not sure about is the spacers I used between the plinths and bottom, currently just plastic spacer I wonder if something softer would be better

Also I’m wondering if the yellow driver cones are ok or maybe go black again

[YNWaN]

A yellow cone usually implies it is woven Kevlar. Going to a black cone will therefore mean changing the cone material and therefore the sound.

Nice veneer :).

[Longmanjon]

Yes sorry I didn’t mean changing cones, last time I coloured the cone black with permanent marker as a previous builder had done the same and there is no damage to the cone

[oceanobsession]

Yes I meant the wool in transmission line , you can stuff the line to suit your room size , more stuffing better bass but to much gets boomy , it takes time playing around , im sure you can probably adjust tweeter attenuation aswell with a resister change , you could try soft rubber washers between the plinths . phil.

[Jozua]

Looking very, very good !

[YNWaN]

I think the cones would look better black - but I guess you already know that ;). PersonLly I wouldn’t change the plinth spacers.

[Longmanjon]

im still playing around with the IPL, but to me they seem to miss a bit in the lower midrange occasionally. to me it seems like they need more power as when I have the volume up it seems to allow more overall quality.

I am currently using a naim atom, which is rated as 40w although Naim under value their specs.

im wondering if I should try something a bit more powerful, but not sure what would be adequate and if there is something which is not too expensive to try out?

[Macca]

What sort of budget? I know a couple of people who think ten grand is 'not that expensive.' ;)

[Longmanjon]

im looking at up to £500 used, no point going mad for trial and error.

[Macca]

See if you can get an XTZ A100 - should be about £400 used. 115 watts into 8 ohm, and high current, it will drive almost anything to the max.

[Longmanjon]

thanks macca, interesting although its a bit too big for my unit. I had spotted as a result the xtz edge a2-300 and although Ive never got on with d-class amps this one looks interesting.

[Macca]

thanks macca, interesting although its a bit too big for my unit. I had spotted as a result the xtz edge a2-300 and although Ive never got on with d-class amps this one looks interesting.

Can't speak for their class D stuff, never owned it or heard it. I have an inbuilt suspicion of switching amps that probably isn't really justified. I'm old school, me :)

[fatmarley]

more stuffing better bass but to much gets boomy

I haven't played with Transmission lines but surely more stuffing would give tighter bass?

Thinking about it, maybe more stuffing is reducing the vent cross sectional area and lowering the tuning frequency? If that's the case, too much stuffing could reduce midbass and possibly lower midrange.

Sorry if this is all wrong, i'm just guessing here...

[Covenant]

They look great. I use my IPL's with a Croft series 7 power amp and it seems to be a good partnership. Can't say I have noticed mid-range drop out myself.

[Longmanjon]

Well I finally took the plunge, and thought I may have to use the 30 day money back return. But the XTZ Edge 300 is an amazing little amp. I was still able to get the offer of £390 for it and goodness it s worth the money and more.
I had previ9ously tried class D amps and have never been impressed with them, but this things it great. Has plenty of power and bass grip, but the general overall presentation is fantastic. it took me one track in comparing to the Naim Atom I have it connected to, and I knew I will keep it.
Very clear open sound, with lots of soundstage but the main thing is it makes the IPL sings as they should.

If anyone is looking for a new amp and has a limited budget, give it a try. I don't think you will be disappointed.

[sq225917]

Is that the new one they were showing at the last hifi show with the power amp and their standmounts, decent sounding kit I thought, for beer bottle money.

[Longmanjon]

yes I think it was released earlier in the year

[Longmanjon]

im looking for a little bit of knowledge/guidance on the IPL.
When I built them I used a cut-off of chord odyssey I had spare for the internal wiring, and as a result bought some chord epic to link to them from the amp. having gone back to my naim NACA5 cable yesterday I found I preferred the sound of the naim cable.
As the naim is copper, should I change the internal wiring of the speakers also to something similar? Having also read discussions about the internal components generally using copper would this be a better option.
I have many spare bits of cable I could use, the original HUL from IPL, chord odyssey, van damme, linn k600, fisual hollywood

thanks

[struth]

inclined to say it it wont matter much unless there is a lot of it, but it wont harm to change it. i prefer copper myself

[Covenant]

I used silver cables in mine (from the days when it wasnt an absurd price) and I am not inclined to change it. The ribbon tweeters seems to like it.
Thinking about upgrading the crossover though.......

[Longmanjon]

what changes would you make to the crossover?

[Covenant]

Changing to more expensive capacitors and inductors-Clarity caps for example.
Not sure atm because I am really happy with the sound quality and I did ask Ivan about it. He said not to bother. Need to think about it a bit more.

[Longmanjon]

I have no knowledge with upgrading crossovers so would stick with Ivan's advice, but if you do it please share your findings.
im interested by your croft series 7, as I like tube amps but with kids around difficult to have, but the 7 is enclosed and hybrid so very interesting with good reputation.