What new kits would you like to see offered by Clearwave L.D.?

It seems there is a lot of diverse needs out there, so I just want to make sure I come up with something for everyone. This is not an easy task, and it has kept me very busy with all the current designs. The question is then, what would you like to see made in addition to what is already getting built? Remember, I can do just about anything a customer wants in one of the cabinets that I have, as long as we work within the parameters of the driver. For example, the Dynamic 2T could easily become an MTMWW using other 4" mids, tweeter, and 7" drivers. The sky is the limit. If you buy a new kit from me, I'll design the complete 3-way for $175 ($100 for 2-ways). On top of that you get the crossovers built for free, the drivers and crossover parts at retail! All existing kits obviously do not have a fee for developing the speaker (my time)- only new custom ones have the charge. Also, the design will belong to Clearwave Loudspeaker Design, and I may use the design on my website. It's the price you pay for being "unique." Not bad at all. I wish I could charge nothing for the development costs, but my time is limited.

Here is the procedure I go through to ensure a quality sounding kit, and all this is included in the small development fee.

1) Measure the drivers for harmonic distortion and impedance
2) Measure on axis responses, and fixed mic responses on tweeter axis
3) Evaluate the data to determine best acoustic slope and crossover point
4) Import data into LSPcad and simulate the design with the different
sets of measurements to verify the final response results are the same
for each set of measurements
5) Order the parts and assemble the crossover
6) Measure the speaker and individual drivers with the crossover in place to verify final
response matches the LSPcad model
7) Listen, listen, listen!!!
8 ) Measure off axis response to make sure there are no major dips and peaks
9) Tweak the crossover and adjust for taste and the flattest response as possible
10) Finalize design

This may not be what you were expecting... but there was a design mentioned on your old blog that I was hoping to see finalized. It was a bipole surround. I can't remember the details and I can't find it since you've updated your website. I've been looking for a DIY surround speaker along the lines of the Definitive Technology, Paradigm and others V shaped speakers. This type of speaker seems very rare in DIY.

http://www.definitivetech.com/Products/products.aspx?path=Surround%20Speakers&productid=BPX

http://www.paradigm.com/en/paradigm/surrounds-monitor-adp390-model-4-4-1-21.paradigm

I'm thinking a single RS180 in the middle with the TB W4 and Vifa XT25 paired up on either side should work nicely with my 2 Ts when they are done. I know you are developing the 1 S but I would really like to try a bipole for my weird room because there is no ideal listening position or speaker placement options for that matter using a direct firing speaker. I have this setup now and depending where you are in the room and how many people are in it, the sound from the back channels is dramatically affected. Wall mounting 2 thirds room distance from the mains relatively high up will, IMO, fill the room with surround sound and leave more options for furniture and people placement in my particular setup.

Now a V shaped double 1 S would probably be awesome but may end up being a little too large.

Hi Rick,

I scrapped that idea awhile ago because I read an article that suggested standard format surrounds better integrate with today's technology and processors. Although for odd rooms, I'd imagine a lot of the negatives might make a poor acoustic environment sound ok. I'll look into it again if that is something you want.

Jed

Jed, don't sweat it. I should see if I can find a used commercial set to test whether they would do what I imagine before I ask anyone to work on it. What are the drawbacks mentioned in the article you read? I will replace my centre channel next with a 2 CC if everything works out with the 2 Ts. Have to finnish them first.

The dipole surround creates a null on one axis of the side of the speaker because 1/2 of the mids and tweeters are wired out of phase. A bipole surround can solve some of that but can introduce cancellations in the high frequencies, depending on the listening axis. The only disadvantage of the monopole that I can think of is that it may not be optimum for all seated listeners, but I see the dipole/bipole as more of a compromise. They were designed to create the "special effects" in a theater, but from what I understand, most HT processors can create that sound for you anyway. So why shape the sound in the speaker when it can be done in the processor? I guess that is the main argument and it makes sense to me. However, one way that a bipole might be better is if it is positioned so that the tweeters and mids point at the listener, and not the woofer. That way most of the sound will be in phase. But still, one could just use a monopole to do the same thing and it is less costly.

Jed

Thanks for the info Jed. I didn't realize the two sides of the bipole speaker could sometimes cancel each other out. Lot's to learn about this speaker business.

ripcard wrote:Thanks for the info Jed. I didn't realize the two sides of the bipole speaker could sometimes cancel each other out. Lot's to learn about this speaker business.

The thing is some prefer that in a surround. I just have the philosophy that what comes in to the speaker should get maintained as purely as possible.

By the way, I ordered some PE 3/4cuft MTM boxes for the 1S speaker. It should be a tremendous value and have all the attributes of the rest of the lineup. I had an issue with placing a panel in the incorrect position on my original test boxes, so I decided just to go prefabed on the cabinets to get things going on the 1s, now that I'm behind where I wanted to be before my woodworking error. Oh well. I think in the long term it'll be better anyway, because people will have a box option even if they don't have woodworking skills.

The midrange is going to have either PVC tube to separate it from the woofer, or a plastic midrange chamber adapted to fit. More to come.

Hi Jed,

Some great designs here; it's good to see 3-ways since you don't see as many DIY 3 way kits. Something I'd like to see is a 3 way based on the M5 with a pair of RS225s for the bass. You could have a sealed version that isn't absolutely huge and still reaches decently low, and a ported design still wouldn't be that big and play nice and clean down to the low 30's....

Hi thanks,

The dual RS225 could definitely be an option for my upcoming M5W kit that I'm finishing up, which currently uses a RS270s woofer. So far this system is sounding fantastic, just need to put the final touches to the voicing process and it'll be up for sale. I'm also working on a TMM design for a customer that will also be available through CLD, which uses the SB 6" drivers and a Seas DXT tweeter.

Lots more to do!

Jed

That would be pretty sweet. I wasn't sure which design would be a better match sensitivity wise to a pair of 225s. The 270 is a nice driver, but damn it needs a lot of space, no? What is your thought on the SB as a mid compared to a pair of the 1337s?

Zero the Hero wrote:That would be pretty sweet. I wasn't sure which design would be a better match sensitivity wise to a pair of 225s. The 270 is a nice driver, but damn it needs a lot of space, no? What is your thought on the SB as a mid compared to a pair of the 1337s?

The 270 works really well sealed in about 60L. It sounds very tight that way and can be used ported in 60L or so as well, just it won't go as low as the 100L box it "could" go in. 40hz f3 (60L) versus 30hz f3 (100L) in a bass reflex, but the 30hz requires the enormous box. What the RS270 does offer is lots of displacement to move air. Not that dual RS225s can't do that. So far my impressions of the TBW4 and SB5 are very favorable for each driver. I'll hold final impressions until I've spent many more hours listening to the M5W. Right now the crossover is getting small tweaks. The FR is very flat, I just want to make sure no page is unturned. Slow work takes time :-).

Jed

I'd love to see an Avalon style cabinet with something like the SS6600 tweet, Revelator 5.5" mids and a couple of nice 10" woofers. But we've talked about this .

Doug wrote:I'd love to see an Avalon style cabinet with something like the SS6600 tweet, Revelator 5.5" mids and a couple of nice 10" woofers. But we've talked about this .

Yes indeed. I'm looking into which 10" driver right now actually. I've been getting quite a few emails from people wanting the absolute best speaker available, using Scan Speak drivers in particular. There may very well be a market for a $2-3K kit that hangs with speakers in the $30k range on up retail price bracket.

Hmmm well I know if I build them I'm going to try and find someone with 802D's to compare them to.

Just finished up a SB Acoustics TMM 2.5 way speaker for a customer. See the new thread for details.