How good can D.I.Y speakers really get? - Enter Mr Al Newall

Hi again,
I was going from the photo and of Al's in post 66 of this thread. Same value components.
I think the idea was to cut some of the lower frequencies to the Super 8's. But this is my first speaker build, so probably just me getting it wrong.
The eminence have about 45 hours use and the Super 8's now have about 12.
Thanks for your help

Posting a piccy might help.

Chris:)

Here you go;
http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w...510resized.jpg
ATM I have the two drivers completely separate, and on separate amps. Before I had the input on the low pass filter connected to the binding posts and the output to the beta 15. And the full range as the photo, negative straight to the negative on the Super 8, the positive goes to the cap and res then binding posts.
Is this ok?
Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by evozero

Hi All,
My Super 8's are to be posted today. Only a week or two wait until i hear what OB's are all about.
Ali, i am in Catford, south east London. You would be very welcome to bring your amps round, can i twist your arm to make this possible ;) Where are you based?
Cheers
Ian

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Sorry Ian,just saw that I didn't reply to you.My apologies.London is a bit far away I'm afraid! I'm in Leeds (Sometimes,but where my main system is) and Dunfermline (most of the time) There are some DIY meets coming up.The first is at Eggborough Power Station social club,I think on the 16th of June.This is near Doncaster.There is another in September,a 2 day event at Owston,again near Doncaster.Check out the WD and Audio-Talk forums for details.If you can make either of these,I can bring the amps.Al usually brings his system,so you could get a good idea by playing my amps through his baffles.Otherwise,if you're up north anytime,get in touch.

Ian.

From what i can see, you have got it right. 150uf and 2.2 ohm resistors.
I would go back to just using your tube amps and try some higher value resistors to attenuate the ANs a bit more. My ANs were in two different cabinets before the open baffles, and did sound rather harsh for a while.
You are using 2R2 resistors now, which is the same as i use with fully run in drivers.. You could try 3R3 or 4R7 to see if they have the desired effect. When the ANs settle in a bit you should be able to revert to 2R2 or thereabouts. It's early days yet.

The driver will take several hundred hours to fully run in. It will test your patience in the meantime.

Also worth noting that you have a noise and harshness inducing white ceramic sound coffin in series with your AN driver. The sound will improve greatly when this is replaced with a decent resistor, e.g.

http://www.hificollective.co.uk/components/mills.html

:)

Chris.

The white coffins are ok. Mills are a bit pricey to be experimenting with different values at this stage. Expect to buy several pairs over the next few months.
I've been using my speakers for nearly two years now, and have tried different types of resistors. Maybe its time to try some Mills again now i've settled on a permanent value. Didn't notice much benefit last time.

Hi All,
Ali, thanks for the offer, but you are right. We live a bit too far apart. Even the DIY meets are too far without a car. Are there any London meets?
The speakers.
http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w...1050517res.jpg
I have them nearly finished, covered but awaiting run in and crossover mods.
Did quite a lot of listening over the weekend,Wow! They do an amazing job of disappearing , and no box colouring the sound. Still using two amps to balance the sound, I don't mind for now.
But before I start changing components I would like to understand a little more;
So the 150uf just cuts the bass frequencies to the Super 8 to lighten the load and allow it to focus on upper and mid frequencies, and the Resistor adjusts the output level compared to the Beta 15, is this about right?
Cheers for now
Ian

Quote:

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So the 150uf just cuts the bass frequencies to the Super 8 to lighten the load and allow it to focus on upper and mid frequencies, and the Resistor adjusts the output level compared to the Beta 15, is this about right?

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Yes, thats how i understand it, and also how it seems to work in practice.
Depending on which speakers you have been using, it may take a while to adapt to the sound from these, quite apart from the running in process.

Absolutely, Al - and you also need good quality, 'even-handed' valve amps to drive them. They are very musical sounding speakers, but ruthlessly revealing (as are all OBs)!

Marco.