KeithL
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Posts: 10,261
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Post by KeithL on Mar 17, 2014 17:13:09 GMT -5
Errrr.... The Dahlquist DQ-10's had a sealed box for the woofer. It requires VERY large panels and drivers if you want to get anything like low bass from an open dipole design. And they roll off at 6 dB/octave below some point - which isn't that low - so you have to equalize them. And, no, Vandersteens are NOT open backed - they have separate sub-enclosures (each of which is a sealed box) for most of the drivers. The limitation is the panel size relative to the wavelength of the frequencies involved - so open-backed midranges and tweeters are practical - woofers not so much so.... If you want to read up on open-backed speakers ... look here... www.linkwitzlab.com/orion_challenge.htmThere is a long and successful tradition of such speakers. Jon Dahlquist's famous DQ-10 (a GREAT speaker, by the way) used open baffle. The Vandersteen line uses much of the same philosophy. Buy good drivers, use a good crossover, and let it rip! Any more, most such speakers that I see fillet the mounting board to provide even less surface area for the baffle. The most extreme ones use just a skeleton of metal to hang the drivers in mid air. From what I have read, they all sound very good. Post photos! Boomzilla |
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Post by mcteague on Mar 17, 2014 17:36:38 GMT -5
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Mar 17, 2014 18:03:31 GMT -5
Errrr.... The Dahlquist DQ-10's had a sealed box for the woofer. It requires VERY large panels and drivers if you want to get anything like low bass from an open dipole design. And they roll off at 6 dB/octave below some point - which isn't that low - so you have to equalize them. And, no, Vandersteens are NOT open backed - they have separate sub-enclosures (each of which is a sealed box) for most of the drivers. The limitation is the panel size relative to the wavelength of the frequencies involved - so open-backed midranges and tweeters are practical - woofers not so much so.... If you want to read up on open-backed speakers ... look here... www.linkwitzlab.com/orion_challenge.htmThe Dahlquist DQ-10's also had an optional sub-woofer!  |
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prohobo
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Only pure grain alcohol and rain water!
Posts: 141
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Post by prohobo on Mar 17, 2014 19:48:15 GMT -5
Very nice - I really love the Linkwitz orions, a friend built them. Probably the best speaker I have heard. I could not afford them, but I did want to build an open baffle design. For my first DIY speaker project I went with the Hawthorne drivers (design for Open Baffle), the also have a kit you can build as well. I had my own cabinet's designed for them and I have to say, they sound incredible. My DIY build is posted here: emotivalounge.proboards.com/thread/24562/speaker-building-journeyFor those interested in a less costly Open Baffle build I suggest checking out Hawthorne, they also have an active community with a gallery of many different designs using their kits. However if you have the money, I would go Orion all the way. Hawthorne hawthorneaudio.us/Gallery of speakers: www.hawthorneaudio.us/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3297 |
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Post by wizardofoz on Mar 18, 2014 10:32:48 GMT -5
Go for the LX521's I have both the Orion's and LX521's and the LX's win hands down - I also have a couple of sets of Pluto's too, not that hard to build, DSP output options and drive them with UPA-500 or better the XPA-5G2 like I use. my build is here ... walaneh.com/LX521/ there are kits for the wood, and drivers and the DSP is fully built by miniDSP or if you can't mange that then there is a j-River DSP option for those with fully digital collections. the ASP can be built DIY or purchased from Madisound too still I think.  |
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prohobo
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Only pure grain alcohol and rain water!
Posts: 141
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Post by prohobo on Mar 18, 2014 12:46:41 GMT -5
Go for the LX521's I have both the Orion's and LX521's and the LX's win hands down - I also have a couple of sets of Pluto's too, not that hard to build, DSP output options and drive them with UPA-500 or better the XPA-5G2 like I use. my build is here ... walaneh.com/LX521/ there are kits for the wood, and drivers and the DSP is fully built by miniDSP or if you can't mange that then there is a j-River DSP option for those with fully digital collections. the ASP can be built DIY or purchased from Madisound too still I think.
Wow - awesome  So how much would it cost to build those LX521's? Where did you get the speakers? Also - what are you using as a cross-over? Could I use an active cross-over like a what I am doing now with the Behringer CSX3400? |
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Post by mauriceminor on Mar 18, 2014 14:27:02 GMT -5
[quote [/b] So how much would it cost to build those LX521's? Where did you get the speakers? Also - what are you using as a cross-over? Could I use an active cross-over like a what I am doing now with the Behringer CSX3400? [/quote][/p]
www.linkwitzlab.com
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prohobo
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Only pure grain alcohol and rain water!
Posts: 141
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Post by prohobo on Mar 18, 2014 16:59:53 GMT -5
Thanks - I had found it today before you posted it. Have a couple of questions if you don't mind... Looks like the speakers can be done for under $3k. From the website: www.linkwitzlab.com/LX521/Supplies.htmEstimated cost of materials Construction Plans ................................ $150 4 Tweeters, 4 Midranges, 4 Woofers ............... $1600 Wiring, connectors, passive xo, speaker cables .... $200 Wood, screws, glue, paint ......................... $200 ASP components, pcb's, case, power supply ......... $700 --------------- Subtotal ........................ $2850 ======================================================================= Wood Kit = Madisound I see that Madisound has the kit (minus the ASP & speakers) for $580: www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/index.php?p=product&id=1943Is that what you used?==================================================================== What is your opinion on the MiniDSP 4x10?www.minidsp.com/products/minidsp-in-a-box/minidsp-4x10-hd==================================================================== What type of Emotiva Amp configuration would you run and what do you think is the most economical, if price was a consideration?You need 6 amps to run a pair. So I guess a configuration could be: 2 XPA-3 = $1600 3 XPA-200 = $1500 Low Cost solution would be (but I think it would be lite on power): 1 UPA-700 = $500 1 UPA-500 + 1 UPA 200 = $750 3 UPA 200 = $1100 ======================================================== Thanks |
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Post by mauriceminor on Mar 18, 2014 17:47:00 GMT -5
Prohobo,
I built Linkwitz Pluto and Watson speakers, not the LX521 speakers
Take a look at the Orion/Pluto/LX521 Users Group website
A link to this forum can be found on the Linkwitz Lab home page
Maurice
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Post by wizardofoz on Mar 19, 2014 2:11:05 GMT -5
You need 4 or 5 channels per speaker so upa-500 for a smaller less spl capable setup or 2 xpa-5's like I use. Both options are being used with good results.
Minidsp is a great option if you cant build electronics. The docs are very detailed and support group is great...use it. 3k without the amps is about right. Look at the magiclx521 site too for alternative cabinets and falcon acoustics uk for drivers outside the USA or even inside maybe as they do great pricing...and have good inductor and cap options too
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Post by gohantanch on May 8, 2015 13:39:03 GMT -5
So after a long time procrastinating I have finally assembled my speakers. This was purely a "fun" project, but I am actually pretty happy with what turned out. I decided to save some money and go from a 12" woofer to 2x5 1/2" drivers for the lower frequencies so it doesn't get great lows so a powered sub is still needed. Great imaging out of them. All in all I'm surprised for a first try it turned out better than I could have hoped for under $600 parts cost.
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Post by bub on May 8, 2015 14:02:59 GMT -5
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Post by gohantanch on May 8, 2015 20:08:32 GMT -5
Here's a pretty poor video I took when I was first testing them out.. I just moved out my B&W's and threw them in their place. Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted I appologize for the quality  |
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Post by gohantanch on May 8, 2015 20:21:08 GMT -5
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Post by gohantanch on May 29, 2015 20:37:53 GMT -5
Quick update for those who care... I had a problem finding a place for these guys, but I found one, hooked them up to an XPA-3 to a control freak and Audioquest dragonfly USB DAC to my Mac Book air. So for they sound good, although they are light on the bass. I have them budded up against the wall to try and squeeze a bit mor low end out of them until I can adjust my design to a channeled and ported bottom section and see what that will yield me.
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Post by wizardofoz on Jun 5, 2015 11:29:29 GMT -5
Keep up the efforts...
Seems a lot of people now using digital active crossovers like MiniDSP have available... including Siegfried Linkwitz. for now I am sticking with the LX521 and Orion ASP's but the new LX-mini will use the MiniDSP 2x4 and I might just consider a set of the LX-mini Studio maybe one day.
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There is a long and successful tradition of such speakers. Jon Dahlquist's famous DQ-10 (a GREAT speaker, by the way) used open baffle. The Vandersteen line uses much of the same philosophy. 
