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

**John** · 16-01-2009, 18:30

I love what open baffles do but must admit I am a bit scared by the DIY side and will it work in my room. I would want really good bass the kind that does kick drums well yet has no sense of overhang
I now heard the Atlas just a great speaker and the Hawthrone Duet which I need to hear again under better condictions. On Saturday i am off to hear another Open Baffle system
I cannot afford the Atlas and the Hawthorne I would need another amp as well and not really looking at adding another power amp into the system so seems to rule out that option. Maybe Saturday might prove more fruitfull

**alb** · 16-01-2009, 19:45

Open baffles don't get much more simple than mine. Just two or three bits of MDF, which you can get cut to size. The wiring and crossover is deliberately minimal. You can make some alterations to the shape to improve aesthetics, without seriously affecting the sound.

The above photos are old and do not show the low pass filter on the bass driver.

**Beechwoods** · 16-01-2009, 19:57

They look really nice. Even from the back they look well thought out and the wiring is neat

You might give people some ideas

**Marco** · 16-01-2009, 20:01

They sound bloody good, too, Beechy! I'm not easily impressed

Marco.

**John** · 16-01-2009, 20:18

Wow nice speakers
I am not worried about the woodwork but no experience of designing a crossover so its stuff like that really has stopped me so far

**alb** · 16-01-2009, 20:36

No need to design a crossover. No need to overcomplicate matters.

Mine uses a low pass filter from Maplins on the bass driver. If Maplins no longer sell them, i've seen similar things on Ebay. Mine feeds the bass driver with frequencies up to around 120Hz.

Then it's just one capacitor in line with the full range driver to keep out the bass. Again this should cut in at around 120Hz.
Maybe a resistor as well to prevent the FR driver output overpowering the bass driver. The whole thing can be easily and cheaply tuned for personal preference or for different drivers..

**Marco** · 16-01-2009, 23:30

Al, how did you get on with that movement in the 'full range' driver cones - did it do the same thing back at yours?

Marco.

**alb** · 17-01-2009, 09:55

Dunno what it is, Marco. Everything seems ok. Doesn't do it here at the volume i play at.
Might just be a reflection of the bass wave off the Spendors, which were right behind.

**Ali Tait** · 17-01-2009, 10:13

Anyone thinking about building these,just go ahead! It really doesn't get any easier than this and yes,they sound superb.As Al said,the good thing is you can easily tune them to your taste/room.The folding baffle is an excellent idea also.You can open them out for listening,and fold them away when not in use for better WAF.

**twogoodears** · 17-01-2009, 10:34

When I built the "PHY" style w/different wings size open baffle with piano-hinges, I lived happily for some weeks as I used some paperwall I had handy on front-panel which she loved... much more than my horns(speakers), actually.

BTW: please use birch plywood, NOT MDF... IMHO it's a sound-killer... NOT a killer-sound

Also worth considering as a top-quality baffle material, a Panzerholz 25 mm thickness... http://www.ltlewis.co.uk/b15.htm

My apologies for (someway) playing the "I-know-all role"... please note the IMHO foreword

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

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