Peter please keep posting. I, for one, would love to see photos of the fabrication of your Lowther Opus one model B step by step.
Tom Scata (thetubeguy1954)
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"The man that hath no music in himself nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils."
- William Shakespeare
Tom Scata (thetubeguy1954)
==========================================================
"The man that hath no music in himself nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils."
- William Shakespeare
Lowther Opus One model B
I have to make these big cabinets alone, withoud help. It would be impossible to turn down this heavy(about 120kg) cabinet later by myself. I install 6 rollers(costors) for each baseplate. The baseplate(18mm Th'k MDF) seems to be a little weak. Some reinforcement plates and damping materials are added under the baseplate to reduce resonant. The damping material is not shown in the photo.
I have to make these big cabinets alone, withoud help. It would be impossible to turn down this heavy(about 120kg) cabinet later by myself. I install 6 rollers(costors) for each baseplate. The baseplate(18mm Th'k MDF) seems to be a little weak. Some reinforcement plates and damping materials are added under the baseplate to reduce resonant. The damping material is not shown in the photo.
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Lowther Opus One model B
I spent a lot of time to figure out the assembly process. C clamps should be uneasy to use for this non-rectangular cabinet. I think screws and wood sticks are more useful. Two side and back panels are assemblied first. Pre-assembly by screws is absolutely a must before gluing for every panels. Top panels are routed with grooves to bound the two side panels.
I spent a lot of time to figure out the assembly process. C clamps should be uneasy to use for this non-rectangular cabinet. I think screws and wood sticks are more useful. Two side and back panels are assemblied first. Pre-assembly by screws is absolutely a must before gluing for every panels. Top panels are routed with grooves to bound the two side panels.
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I noticed you have a JX92S based transmission line. I have some treated JX92S drivers but don't have the proper enclosures for them. Wonder if I could try them out in your enclosure.
Peter,
Nice work you're doing on those cabinets. Smart thinking with the rollers too! You're not only making a nice pair of speakers, you're even a good photographer as well!
Hi, soongsc
If you want to test whether your driver gets to work or not, you can connect an amplifier(<50W) to test this fullrange driver without an enclosure. If you want to evaluate the performance of JX92S in the VTL enclosure, I am happy to welcome you. Please email me for my address.
Regards,
Hi, the.tube.guy
I am so glad to know your are interested.
Thanks for your priceless encouragement.
Best Regards,
I am so glad to know your are interested.
Thanks for your priceless encouragement.
Best Regards,
Thanks Peter,
I have sent you a PM.
Yes, I have done some measurements, as shown in the EnABL thread. But have never had the opportunity to listen with enclosures because this is being done on the sidelines. I have been hoping someone with existing enclosures in this neck of the woods would show up.😀
Hi Peter,
I am very interested.
I find the Lowther Opus One to be a very interesting enclosure. As for the words of encouragement, I believe everyone should be encouraged instead of discouraged. Unfortunately in too many audio forums people discourage ANYTHING that isn't directly a part of the audio methodology they practice and believe in.
Tom Scata (thetubeguy1954)
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"The man that hath no music in himself nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils."
- William Shakespeare
Lowther Opus One model B
I just installed the PM4As in the cabinets. The sound of Lowther Opus One Model B is very sweet and pleasant, much better than the sound of Acousta 115 with DX3 and Academy with PM6A. The first album tested is Piano Concerto nos. 1&2 played by Rubinstein. I will present the detail comparisons latter.
Let’s continue to precede the assembly process. I spent a large effort to figure out the assembly order for this complicated project. All enclosure panels are first temperately fixed by screws to check overall dimensions. Then remove all the screws and glue only two large side panels, base and back panels. Top and front panels should be left at the final step; these areas should be reserved to pass inner panels. The inner panels are typically glued in the order from bottom to top, and from back to front, except that the compression chamber should be pre-assembly and glued.
Somebody said that this cabinet can only be made by many hands in a plant; the panels are only can be cut by a CNC Laser machine. That is not true.
Dear Tom Scata, thanks again. Our diy guys always want to make something different or difficult. I am always afraid of doing something wrong, although I believe I can solve difficulties finally. Encouragement is very important for all us.
I just installed the PM4As in the cabinets. The sound of Lowther Opus One Model B is very sweet and pleasant, much better than the sound of Acousta 115 with DX3 and Academy with PM6A. The first album tested is Piano Concerto nos. 1&2 played by Rubinstein. I will present the detail comparisons latter.
Let’s continue to precede the assembly process. I spent a large effort to figure out the assembly order for this complicated project. All enclosure panels are first temperately fixed by screws to check overall dimensions. Then remove all the screws and glue only two large side panels, base and back panels. Top and front panels should be left at the final step; these areas should be reserved to pass inner panels. The inner panels are typically glued in the order from bottom to top, and from back to front, except that the compression chamber should be pre-assembly and glued.
Somebody said that this cabinet can only be made by many hands in a plant; the panels are only can be cut by a CNC Laser machine. That is not true.
Dear Tom Scata, thanks again. Our diy guys always want to make something different or difficult. I am always afraid of doing something wrong, although I believe I can solve difficulties finally. Encouragement is very important for all us.
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Hi Peter,
It's nice to see that things are coming together for you and especially, that you're enjoying what you're hearing!
I understand completely about what you're saying about words of encouragement & discouragement. A single word of encouragement can give one the belief they can push through what appears to be insurmountable difficulties, while a single word of discouragement can remove one's belief they should even attempt to try.
Peter I encourage you to keep building and pushing through whatever difficulties may arise! There is NOTHING that patience, perseverance and a little hard work cannot resolve...
Tom Scata (thetubeguy1954)
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"The man that hath no music in himself nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils."
- William Shakespeare
Lowther Opus One model B
I forgot to mention that the side panels and lower back panel should be grooved to fit into base plate accurately.
You may find that setting some inner panels into the enclosure precisely is a hard work. Wood sticks which used to position some inner panels are shown here. The wood sticks are used to bear the panels below. Metal screws used to fix the panels from side panels. Both methods can let the assembly work much easier.
I forgot to mention that the side panels and lower back panel should be grooved to fit into base plate accurately.
You may find that setting some inner panels into the enclosure precisely is a hard work. Wood sticks which used to position some inner panels are shown here. The wood sticks are used to bear the panels below. Metal screws used to fix the panels from side panels. Both methods can let the assembly work much easier.
Attachments
Lowther Opus One model B
The progress kept going. The two throats sizes are the most critical points in the horn theory. The assembly of driver mounting panel and compression chamber is a little tricky. I found these parts should be precisely assembled to a sub-assembly first before fitting into the cabinet, in order to assure the dimensions of compression chamber and two throats to be as accurate as possible.
I bought the CD of cabinets drawings from Lowther directly. The drawings show the whole cabinet and panels’ dimensions and even point out some critical points. However, Lowther doesn't describe how to cut the woods and the assembly procedure. The drawings are quite complicated. You should have an engineering background to understand them. There are some errors in some panel's drawings. You should use the AutoCAD software to fix the errors.
You guys will not believe that I spent about 6 months to finish this project. I need to work 6 days per week for the company from AM 6:30 to PM18:00, so I only have about maximum 16 hrs free time in a week to enjoy this diy hobby.
The progress kept going. The two throats sizes are the most critical points in the horn theory. The assembly of driver mounting panel and compression chamber is a little tricky. I found these parts should be precisely assembled to a sub-assembly first before fitting into the cabinet, in order to assure the dimensions of compression chamber and two throats to be as accurate as possible.
I bought the CD of cabinets drawings from Lowther directly. The drawings show the whole cabinet and panels’ dimensions and even point out some critical points. However, Lowther doesn't describe how to cut the woods and the assembly procedure. The drawings are quite complicated. You should have an engineering background to understand them. There are some errors in some panel's drawings. You should use the AutoCAD software to fix the errors.
You guys will not believe that I spent about 6 months to finish this project. I need to work 6 days per week for the company from AM 6:30 to PM18:00, so I only have about maximum 16 hrs free time in a week to enjoy this diy hobby.
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Peter,
I just saw the completed Lowther Opus One speakers on the other thread and commented on them over there. They're beautiful!
Tom Scata (thetubeguy1954)
========================================================
"The man that hath no music in himself nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils."
- William Shakespeare
I just saw the completed Lowther Opus One speakers on the other thread and commented on them over there. They're beautiful!
Tom Scata (thetubeguy1954)
========================================================
"The man that hath no music in himself nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils."
- William Shakespeare
I move your post at "Full Range Gallery" to here.
I greatly appreciate your positive response.
I don't have any sound equipment to measure the speaker's performance. So, I would like to state that what I said should be more subjective than objective.
The Lowther PM4A driver has the strongest magnetic flux density and the highest SPL 98.8db. I found these physical parameters make the sound of PM4A much more focused and clear than PM6A and DX3, especially in high frequency.
The bass performance is dominated by the back loaded horn. I found that any cabinet contains geometrical parallel panels will result some degree of resonant. The wider face panel will result stronger resonant. In additin, the corner enhance more resonant. I have experimented that the Acousta 115 and Academy Cabinets should no be placed too close to a corner. The bass will be blurred and sound terrible. The Opus one cabinet hasn't any parallel in the horn path. It is verified that the opus one loaded to corner still sounds bass clear.
I think that the bass of Opus one is deep enough, about down to 35-40Hz, but not strong, although it is a big horn. Such bass performance is enough to play classics and Jazzes quite well. If you guys want a deep and very strong bass, you should add a well matched subwoofer to shake your house. Considering the diameter of PM4A is only 8", and the maximum voice coil travel is only 1mm, how can you expect it has strong bass like a 12-18" woofer with maximum extrusion >25mm? The bass of Opus one model B loaded to corner still has very smoother and more natural bass, but not stronger, compared to Acousta 115 and Academy. Acousta 115 and Academy have parallels to add some resonant, so their bass sound a little thicker.
I would specially emphasize my appreciation to the straight front horn design of Opus one. It makes the sound liked as sourced from a point. The sound stage became quite 3D and very very impressive.
You guys can ask any question, if I can answer.
Lowther Opus One model B
I continue to present the construction of this project.
The very complicated and critical panels are the dividing panels, which are extended from the throat. Originally I follow the drawing to cut these panels and latter found these panels are unable to match with the throat. I corrected the error by field fitting and a little try-error.
English is not my native language. It is difficult for me to describe my exciting feeling about the sound of these big horns. Their sound is wonderful, very clean, clear and dynamic. When I switched to another full range speaker Jordan VTL with JX92S, I found that the sound of JX92S suddenly become terrible; they don’t sweet and swell any more for my ears.
I continue to present the construction of this project.
The very complicated and critical panels are the dividing panels, which are extended from the throat. Originally I follow the drawing to cut these panels and latter found these panels are unable to match with the throat. I corrected the error by field fitting and a little try-error.
English is not my native language. It is difficult for me to describe my exciting feeling about the sound of these big horns. Their sound is wonderful, very clean, clear and dynamic. When I switched to another full range speaker Jordan VTL with JX92S, I found that the sound of JX92S suddenly become terrible; they don’t sweet and swell any more for my ears.
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Hello Peter,
Please keep posting about your project.
I have been planning for about 1 year now to build a pair of Lowther Horns, either the TP1 ISIS or the OPUS like you but have been told that the designs from Lowther on the CD are inaccurate which you are also saying. I may still order the cd anyway and measure and cut as I go along if I ever decide which ones to build.
Congratulations on your project.
Andrew
Please keep posting about your project.
I have been planning for about 1 year now to build a pair of Lowther Horns, either the TP1 ISIS or the OPUS like you but have been told that the designs from Lowther on the CD are inaccurate which you are also saying. I may still order the cd anyway and measure and cut as I go along if I ever decide which ones to build.
Congratulations on your project.
Andrew
Hi Peter,
What a complicated design. Congratulations on your ability to work through the errors on the CD's plans. Great work and like Andrewbee said; please keep posting about your project. Don't worry about english not being your native language, we understand what you're saying and your enthusiasm about these speakers is coming through loud & clear!
Tom Scata (thetubeguy1954)
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"The man that hath no music in himself nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils."
- William Shakespeare
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