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Open Baffle Opinions - I Won't go back to Boxed Speakers Evr Again (maybe....)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cg64ScibP75b1YVF6

My very last DIY effort after doing the DIY Speaker thing (for myself only) for 35 years (only 5 pairs built in that time). These are my best effort WRT to sound quality. Bass down to 30Hz, sweet treble and midrange to die for.

All Parts Express Drivers. GRS Planar, GRS 12" (Qts = 1.27) Woofers, and Dynavox 5 1/4" midrange/midbass Drivers. All in $600. Still some tweaking to to on the Cabinet and the Crossovers. A simple 1st Order 16uF Sonicraft Capacitor on the Tweeter and a 2nd Order Bandpass on the 3 Dynavox Drivers. The H-Frame Woofers section is powered by an ICE Power Class D (1000W@4 Ω). Two for stereo of course. MiniDSP dialed in for a 250Hz Linkwitz-Riley 4th Order LPF, the Bandpass is 250Hz - 2500Hz, and the Magnetic Planar BG knockoff by GRS takes over at 2500Hz. No L-Pads anywhere !

My question is what is the Phantom Center like ? Mine is not as focused as I’d like it to be. But my God, the soundstage, imaging, front to back depth is amazing. Clarity like I’ve never heard before form a Box Speaker and the Bass is like I’ve never experienced. No Box Boom. 40Hz all Day and I can hit 30 Hz with very little attenuation

rajugsw
tweak1
3,659 posts
 
FWIW

While I am aware of wings, my Emerald Physics OB 3.4s are wingless, but image just fine. MAYBE it’s because the 12" driver has a 1" polyester concentric tweeter. Remote passive XOs are some 2ft away from each speaker. I replaced the CRAP OEM jumpers with Wire World OCC, which by-it-self was HUGE. Speakers are ~ 7ft from my front wall and ~ 9ft on center with a 20-30* inward tilt. My powered 12" subs are 65" behind the speakers
jimofmaine's avatar
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jimofmaine
41 posts
 
It's your speakers' position. Dipoles follow a simple rule for high frequency front/rear integration. If your are enjoying the low frequency coherency, you're not far away. LF is easier to find direct/rear. (But can still be optimized)

You describe your problem as lack of focus, then go on to say have great soundstage and imaging. Can you clarify/rectify these statements? Feel free to contact me directly.  
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
OP follow the ping pong ball.. To the sides of the baffle!.. The outside and inside are going to be the killers. A small room and OB?

Diffusers? You want absorption and dampening.. NOT scattering the sound.. OB? OP.. OB!! We are talking about imaging right?

Second raising the XO point on the UPPER bass unit causes issues too. Ringing.. The larger the driver (usually) the lower in the frequency range it occurs. 12 - 15" drivers are limited by their physical size to reach higher frequencies. Just a physical thing. In theory it works, practically it may not.. The room size and how it pressures up, change a lot of things.. 

A simple window being opened can change how an OB system works and sounds. Fruit for thought... No veggies please :-)

Regards
perkri
907 posts
 
This is a very interesting read...

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/diy/0911/slot_loaded_open_baffle_speaker.htm
rajugsw OP
214 posts
 
@pekri. My Wife would kill me but yes, I did read Nelson Pass' article  a while ago. Interesting design and I'm sure it's a mindblower.
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