I'm planning to build a pair of Open Baffles based on the simple JE Labs designs.
I chose this design for its simplicity to build, its size, and minimalist looks. For drivers I have been torn between full range and coaxial. I'd also like to get the largest driver that will work with the design I have selected. It seems like different sized drivers have been used with the baffle dimensions being the same. I would be interested in the 15" Silver Iris from Hawthorn if can be accommodated on the 35.5"x 31.5" baffle and still perform as well as a smaller 10" or 8" driver. I'm also okay with the lows being in the 40-50s since I already own a separate subwoofer which can use used to augment the bass.
Ideally once I have selected an appropriate driver size I could roll in different drivers over time.
Thanks for the input and I'm looking forward to building soon!
I chose this design for its simplicity to build, its size, and minimalist looks. For drivers I have been torn between full range and coaxial. I'd also like to get the largest driver that will work with the design I have selected. It seems like different sized drivers have been used with the baffle dimensions being the same. I would be interested in the 15" Silver Iris from Hawthorn if can be accommodated on the 35.5"x 31.5" baffle and still perform as well as a smaller 10" or 8" driver. I'm also okay with the lows being in the 40-50s since I already own a separate subwoofer which can use used to augment the bass.
Ideally once I have selected an appropriate driver size I could roll in different drivers over time.
Thanks for the input and I'm looking forward to building soon!
I have 12" coax B&C on 2ft x 2ft open baffle (rigid foam from home depot), with back braces, works fine without sub, sub is optional
I would consider the Eminence Beta 12lta plus a helper tweeter. There is a 12 Fane that's supposed to be even better but I haven't heard it. OB sounds best to me. Needs a sub.
https://speakerprojects.wordpress.com/2016/08/29/eminence-beta-12lta-on-open-baffle/
https://speakerprojects.wordpress.com/2016/08/29/eminence-beta-12lta-on-open-baffle/
Would you say the Beta 12LTA plus tweeter would perform better than the Eminence Beta-12CX plus the Eminence ASD1001 1" HF? For someone who knows little about speaker building the plug in play approach is very attractive.
Which one? I have 12FCX76 in 50l ported box at the moment and I have been meening to try it in OB as well. Fs is a bit high and Qts a bit low for OB as I prefer passive XOs.
I have been in contact with a rep from Eminence about their drivers. He felt the Qts of the Beta-12CX was not enough in an open baffle configuration I would want something closer to .7Qts to achieve sufficient bass. I don't see many 12" Coaxial drivers that meet that spec.
The plans call for the drivers to be located 13" from the base of the baffle on center. If I alter the plans to offset the driver 1" from center would this be sufficient to avoid cancellation from the back wave?
Thanks for all the help so far!
Thanks for all the help so far!
I looked into the Fane SOVEREIGN 12-250TC and it seems like a better OB driver with a higher Qts than the Beta 12LTA.
I might stick with the Eminence 12" full range and pair it with the ASD1001 HF driver.
Is there a specific wave guide I should use with this combo? I would plan to have the tweeter mounted above the baffle firing straight forward.
I might stick with the Eminence 12" full range and pair it with the ASD1001 HF driver.
Is there a specific wave guide I should use with this combo? I would plan to have the tweeter mounted above the baffle firing straight forward.
Dayton Audio H45E 4.5" x 4.5" Elliptical Waveguide 1-3/8"- 18 TPI
I use this waveguide but you can use something else that's small. I used a 1.67uf cap. Try values between 1uf and 2uf. I'm not partial towards any brand of cap.
I use this waveguide but you can use something else that's small. I used a 1.67uf cap. Try values between 1uf and 2uf. I'm not partial towards any brand of cap.
I appreciate the info.
I'm still a bit torn between the full range or coaxial route. It seem like since a tweeter is reccomended anyway I might as well go with a driver that is designed to incorporate it. I've also been reading up on the 12" full range from Fane which seems like abetted driver for open baffle.
I'm still a bit torn between the full range or coaxial route. It seem like since a tweeter is reccomended anyway I might as well go with a driver that is designed to incorporate it. I've also been reading up on the 12" full range from Fane which seems like abetted driver for open baffle.
So I've been looking into various driver options and have been focused on two options.
First would be the Eminence 12" Coaxial plus tweeter. Second would be either the Fane or Eminence 12" full range driver and tweeter mounted above the baffle.
It seems that most folks use a tweeter even with their "full range" drivers so it seems that the coaxial would make more sense since it is already designed to accommodate a tweeter. Eminence also makes a crossover already designed to work with the coaxial speakers making it easy to just purchase and install.
First would be the Eminence 12" Coaxial plus tweeter. Second would be either the Fane or Eminence 12" full range driver and tweeter mounted above the baffle.
It seems that most folks use a tweeter even with their "full range" drivers so it seems that the coaxial would make more sense since it is already designed to accommodate a tweeter. Eminence also makes a crossover already designed to work with the coaxial speakers making it easy to just purchase and install.
The Eminence Alpha 15A is another driver thats been recommended for use in an OB. The frequency of the 15A only goes up to about 3,500Hz so a tweeter or fullrange would be needed to get those highs.
It also looks like the JE Labs designs originally used Altec duplex drivers which are essentially coaxial speakers. I'd really love a pair of 15" coaxials by Great Plains Audio but their prices are not in my budget. B&C does make some 15" coaxials but these are also on the pricey side.
It also looks like the JE Labs designs originally used Altec duplex drivers which are essentially coaxial speakers. I'd really love a pair of 15" coaxials by Great Plains Audio but their prices are not in my budget. B&C does make some 15" coaxials but these are also on the pricey side.
Time for an update.
I ended up going with the Celestion K12H-200TC which had a wider frequency response than the Eminence 12LTA.
The baffles were completed last week and I installed the drivers over the weekend. They have performed great from the start with clean open sound. Initially it did seem like the sound was coming lower from the ground but after listing to them for a period of time your mind seems to adapt and I got a more realistic sound stage and was able to discern instrument placement. The drivers are rated up to about 10k and for now it does not seem to be missing much in the highs.
I plan to listen to them for another few days before comparing to my other speakers which have a tweeter. If there is a notable lack of air and detail in the upper frequencies then I plan to look for a tweeter. I'm also planning to finish the baffles up upholstering them with a nice 2mm thick wool felt. This is mostly for aesthetic purposes but hope it might reduce room reflections some.
I ended up going with the Celestion K12H-200TC which had a wider frequency response than the Eminence 12LTA.
The baffles were completed last week and I installed the drivers over the weekend. They have performed great from the start with clean open sound. Initially it did seem like the sound was coming lower from the ground but after listing to them for a period of time your mind seems to adapt and I got a more realistic sound stage and was able to discern instrument placement. The drivers are rated up to about 10k and for now it does not seem to be missing much in the highs.
I plan to listen to them for another few days before comparing to my other speakers which have a tweeter. If there is a notable lack of air and detail in the upper frequencies then I plan to look for a tweeter. I'm also planning to finish the baffles up upholstering them with a nice 2mm thick wool felt. This is mostly for aesthetic purposes but hope it might reduce room reflections some.
57 Hz is 20 feet long
If I did my math correctly, 20 feet is 57 Hz. Does the baffle board on an open baffle have to be 20 feet x 20 feet to support 57Hz?
I have read claims of "flat response down to 40 Hz". How is this possible?
Do I only need to use a driver with a Qts of .707 and it will not need a box ?
Inquiring minds wish to know !!
If I did my math correctly, 20 feet is 57 Hz. Does the baffle board on an open baffle have to be 20 feet x 20 feet to support 57Hz?
I have read claims of "flat response down to 40 Hz". How is this possible?
Do I only need to use a driver with a Qts of .707 and it will not need a box ?
Inquiring minds wish to know !!
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