Commercial speakers are made to do one thing and one thing only, to make a profit. It is entirely possible for a well read and shop savvy DIYer with the drivers, test equipment and components available today to make a superior speaker. A DIYer is not limited by financial or size considerations and can easily use superior materials and construction techniques without the profit motive getting in the way. There is no magic here. The science has been well determined for decades.
Interesting experience with two very different speaker designs
I wanted to relay my experience with two different sets of speakers in hopes that it might prove interesting and/or help some folks.
My current speakers are Tekton Electron SE with a Pass XA30.5 and a MicroZOTL2 Preamp. I was absolutely loving the sound but I started getting into the DIY open baffle thing. I started with a very simple JE labs design with a single driver and after a few prototypes, I ended up with a 2-way using an Emminence Alpha 15 and a Tang Band W8 2145.
After breaking the DIY speakers in a bit, I was really blown away. The soundstage was huge and very 3D. The bass was big and warm but still pretty fast and articulate. Also, the speed of the speakers was very apparent. I loved them especially on big orchestral works where the soundstage really comes to life.
I lived with them for about 4 months and then I put the Electrons back. Very interesting. Timbrally, the Electrons were just better. The OBs upper midrange sounded kind of flat and beamy in comparison. The bass on the Electrons, though not as extended, was better controlled. In some ways I found the OBs to be more transparent in that they really pointed out the flaws in some recordings. Well recorded stuff sounded amazing but they gave no love to mediocre recordings. The Electrons just make everything sound good. Much more forgiving.
Going from the OBs to the Electrons, I lost some of that soundstage magic. The Electrons, though they have some depth, lack that completely open 3D thing that the OBs were giving me. However, from top to bottom, they just sound right. Instruments sound like how they are supposed to sound. That all-important midrange really shines.
Though I like both these speakers, I'm going to stick with the Tektons. However, if what you value is speed, transparency and soundstage over timbre, I think open baffle is a good way to go. I'll say this with the caveat that I'm not a speaker designer and there may be OB speakers out there that really get the timbre thing right too. I'd love to hear some!
My current speakers are Tekton Electron SE with a Pass XA30.5 and a MicroZOTL2 Preamp. I was absolutely loving the sound but I started getting into the DIY open baffle thing. I started with a very simple JE labs design with a single driver and after a few prototypes, I ended up with a 2-way using an Emminence Alpha 15 and a Tang Band W8 2145.
After breaking the DIY speakers in a bit, I was really blown away. The soundstage was huge and very 3D. The bass was big and warm but still pretty fast and articulate. Also, the speed of the speakers was very apparent. I loved them especially on big orchestral works where the soundstage really comes to life.
I lived with them for about 4 months and then I put the Electrons back. Very interesting. Timbrally, the Electrons were just better. The OBs upper midrange sounded kind of flat and beamy in comparison. The bass on the Electrons, though not as extended, was better controlled. In some ways I found the OBs to be more transparent in that they really pointed out the flaws in some recordings. Well recorded stuff sounded amazing but they gave no love to mediocre recordings. The Electrons just make everything sound good. Much more forgiving.
Going from the OBs to the Electrons, I lost some of that soundstage magic. The Electrons, though they have some depth, lack that completely open 3D thing that the OBs were giving me. However, from top to bottom, they just sound right. Instruments sound like how they are supposed to sound. That all-important midrange really shines.
Though I like both these speakers, I'm going to stick with the Tektons. However, if what you value is speed, transparency and soundstage over timbre, I think open baffle is a good way to go. I'll say this with the caveat that I'm not a speaker designer and there may be OB speakers out there that really get the timbre thing right too. I'd love to hear some!
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- 41 posts total
- 41 posts total