Warp's Build Thread...

[WmAx]

Why no ported cabinet systems? Those woofers could really do some damage at 20Hz with a proper slot port.

-Chris

 

[Warpdrv]

I'll agree with you to a point... although ported subs are not the end all - be all for bass. Personally I prefer not to have a port contributing in any way to the sound signature presented, I prefer a driver system that retains its air spring/driver loading. I also prefer a manageable, heavily braced cabinet size, where the rear wave is isolated from the front wave. For my bass reproduction I'd rather not hear the subwoofer, just the sound...

There is no question that a ported sub will offer greater SPL and allow a lower tuning and require far less amp, much more efficient design, but it doesn't mean its for everyone..

I'm more then comfortable by running multiple drivers to compensate....

 

[WmAx]

I'll agree with you to a point... although ported subs are not the end all - be all for bass. Personally I prefer not to have a port contributing in any way to the sound signature presented, I prefer a driver system that retains its air spring/driver loading. I also prefer a manageable, heavily braced cabinet size, where the rear wave is isolated from the front wave. For my bass reproduction I'd rather not hear the subwoofer, just the sound...

There is no question that a ported sub will offer greater SPL and allow a lower tuning and require far less amp, much more efficient design, but it doesn't mean its for everyone..

I'm more then comfortable by running multiple drivers to compensate....

A properly designed and built port system is completely transparent and you can use a DSP EQ to obtain ANY signature you want.

That being said, I will be using sealed cabinets on my AXIS 15 dual set up for my new main speakers due to size. The ported cabinets I would want to use would be a minimum of 11 cubic feet net volume, plus the massive slot port, etc.; total gross size would be around 13 cubic feet. This is simply larger than I want to deal with considering how I will be using them: LFE modules like Wilson Watt/Puppy with the the mid/treble module stacked on top, with matching base/profiles. But, since the room is a little under 2000 cubic feet, two of these in sealed 5 cubic feet enclosures with 2000 watts per driver, will give more output than I can ever use, by a factor of 10.

-Chris

 

[Warpdrv]

That doesn't mean there is anything wrong with a sealed sub.

It seems your saying that you can make a ported sub sound exactly the same as a sealed sub. I would imagine the same can be said about a sealed sub, and you can use a DSP EQ to obtain ANY signature you want.

I guess we'll see how it turns out.... So far I am very happy with my sealed subs in my small room. F112 & TC-2000. It sounds 1000 times better to me then my dual SVS PB12-Plus/2s balanced with my SMS-1.


ahh you editted, so now I have to as well... that is exactly why I don't want to go ported with my setups... 13cu ft tuned to 15hz for a TC2K just isn't something I want to have lumbering about in my beautiful room...


BTW.... that sounds like it should be quite an impressive setup... Speakers IMO are just not made to do bass, I love separate cabinets... much more efficient...

 

[Nuance AH]

I should add, I mean no offense dude. However, warpdrv has made it clear that he wanted to go the sealed route. Please respect that and lay off with the urge to convince him otherwise. This is his thread, he's happy with the results of his hard work (as am I), so why spoil that with useless comments like "you should have gone ported instead?" Talk about a party pooper.

 

[annunaki]

Nice work there Warp. I much prefer the bracing in these latter designs. Keep the pics coming.

Which driver are you going to utilize in these again? Where are the Maelstroms?

 

[Warpdrv]

Nice work there Warp. I much prefer the bracing in these latter designs. Keep the pics coming.

Which driver are you going to utilize in these again? Where are the Maelstroms?

Thanks..... The boxes I'm building now are for the Revo's I just acquired, I got a good deal on them and figured they may be a small but nice step up from the TC2K's, plus I like the look of the black cone better. The Mal-X's were back ordered, and were starting shipping this week. So I hope to see them soon, its been far to long already...

As far as the bracing, I haven't sealed up the Mal-X boxes just yet without the drivers here, so I can add a couple of extra little pieces in there with no trouble what so ever.

I got the Revo's just in case the Mal-X's didn't make me happy and I wanted to just go with all 15" TC/Audiopulse... If the Mal-X's work out for me, I have a couple of drivers laying around, I highly doubt I'll have trouble getting rid of them if thats the case.

 

[Warpdrv]

Well so far I'm getting pretty good output with just 2 - 15's in my big room, and I'll be adding my 3rd tomorrow if time permits.... box is in the final stage of gluing. Running 1 TC2K and a Revo.....

I played around with EQ and got a good response in there.... Pretty much an automatic house curve with little EQ except for down low...

Thought I would post up a pic after EQ....

 

[Funkmonkey]

Found it! Thanks for the tip... looks like I have some catching up to do here.

-Funk

 

[Warpdrv]

Ahhhh welcome aboard Funk....

Well I finished my 3rd sealed sub, dropped in a TC-2000 (unfortunately one of the Revo's has a bad voice coil, and there will be no replacements, just a refund, so I'm glad I have more drivers laying around), and started running some eq, and came up with some great response with the 3 in here... Now I'm all set to unload my 2 PB12-Plus/2's and move on...

It really sounds great and it has been worth every second of labor on all these goofy boxes... Next up 2 of the Mal-X's will be here this week, and I'll drop them into their boxes and bring them up here, I have a 3rd Mal-X on the way, not sure when its shipping, but I still have to build that box. We'll see how they compare. I will worry about final finish after I complete my testing and comparisons, but I have some good ideas for the finished look.

Here are some pics....

Before and after EQ.....

And some pics in room....

Time to unload the Plus/2's.... If anyone is interested.... PM me
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d109/Warpdrv/Subwoofer Builds/IMG_2466.jpg

 

[Djizasse]

Really nice sub setup

This sub would look groovy with the front face covered with the fabric(?) on the wall:

 

[Warpdrv]

Thanks Djizasse..... those are acoustic panels, I will be making magnetic grills, not sure on the fabric choice, it will probably just be black. I'll likely be doing an ebony finish on the whichever boxes end up staying in this room...

Still have alot of work to do on this room, i'll be adding carpeting under all the furniture, which will hopefully help and more acoustic treatment to follow down the road.

 

[Djizasse]

Doesn't carpet only works on the higher frequencies, which normally don't need as much treatment as the low frequencies?

How are you making the magnetic grilles? I saw one on the Tannoy Revolutions and it looked smart.

 

[Warpdrv]

That room is quite bright, so the bouncing around of high freq's is a big part of what I need to tame in there.... I even have plans to work on partially treating the ceiling, as it is a really large area for sound to bounce around.

Its not a perfect setting, but its what I have to work with...

The magnets will go under the veneer and will be hidden, so the implementation will likely be no different then the Tannoy's, just like SVS's implemetation of the MTS's. I do have to deal with the weight of the 1.5" deep grill so the magnets will have to be pretty strong to hold the weight. The top will be granite, so in the end, it should be a nice table...

 

[fredk]

Thats a nice room to 'have to work with' Warp. With all those windows, I can see how it would be a little bright with all those windows, but I would kill to have that much window space in my apartment.

 

[Warpdrv]

Mal-X's in the house !!!!!!!
I don't think I should have a problem getting these up and running this weekend.... Almost done, glad I had the boxes almost finished before they came...

 

[Djizasse]

My wife says that you got to remove the sticker... LOL

 

[WmAx]

I'm very curious if an 18" MAL-X can produce more linear SPL displacement as compared to a TC-2000 15", then how about a TC-3000 15"?

Of course, one will need more power than he has available on hand to find out. The TC-2000 was power limited in the tests on HTTalk with the 2400 watt Tapco amp. Maximum output was never determined as a consequence of not having more power on hand.

-Chris

 

[Warpdrv]

My wife says that you got to remove the sticker... LOL

Heheheh That keeps drawing my eyes to it as well, but they are already sealed up now, glued them up last night and I'm working on them today trimming and sanding the enclosures, so I should have these 2 up and running tomorrow If all goes well....

I'm very curious if an 18" MAL-X can produce more linear SPL displacement as compared to a TC-2000 15", then how about a TC-3000 15"?

Of course, one will need more power than he has available on hand to find out. The TC-2000 was power limited in the tests on HTTalk with the 2400 watt Tapco amp. Maximum output was never determined as a consequence of not having more power on hand.

-Chris

You and me both Chris... I know I will get significantly more output from a 1 to 1 comparison just from the displacement area itself (33mm xmax - 40mm Xmech), and roughly the same linear travel as a TC2K (28mm Xmax - Axis - 30mm Xmax) and all the guys that have them running have stated the SQ from them is spectacular, with only 1500w required.... Eq'd they will require more, and I'll be running 3 - 2500w amps, 1 for each. I have yet to see any outdoor measurements, but WillD's straight from the cone measurement in room looked fantastic, but obviously that speaks nothing about distortion. He sold me his TC2K and had no problem moving from it to the Mal-X.

Tomorrow is the big day, and I will be doing A/B testing with the TC-2K, Revo, TC-3000, and Mal-X so we'll see what they have to offer.

I have enough of the TC drivers here on hand, but I would have to find enough space in my room to attain the output I need, of coarse If I were to have gone ported it would be less of an issue... , but again no fridgerators allowed in my great room...

The Mal-X's have pretty much the same surround as the W7's just a bit more supple, not as thick. They are very nice drivers, but looks aren't everything... They are not as sexy as the TC-drivers - that's for sure....

 

[annunaki]

Let us know how the testing goes. I am interested in the outcome.

Maelstrom-x's in huge vented cabinets tuned to 14hz or so would be awesome for a dedicated theater. Using them in large pillars they could blend into the room (aesthetically)if done properly.