My snail speaker Pheonix

[pedro11]

This winter I had an illness which kept me indoors for a long time . I have reached 70 years of age . I have been experimenting with plywood horns since the the 90's I have been wanting to make it for years but how I didn't know I made over 100 plywood rings cut plywood strips & rolled them the tension was enormous . It fell apart that is why I call it Pheonix . Start all over again .Bought a load of clamps I used to make large model aircraft but this was a new ball game every thing tapered away from you . I have now spent about 700 hours + making it . My great friend of over 45 years said you are the only man mad enough and determined enough in the world . ( I like that)to do it. I have now run it up & exceeded my expectations by some margin I have still got the grin on my face . I have bored through 2 out of 3 15" drivers to take the tweeter The combinations are enormous . I have now had Pheonix fibre glassed to make a mould next week so all systems go . It has taken its toll on me medically again . I will soldier on will try to get my friend to put up pics for me I hope you like it Thanks for looking Peter

 

[pedro11]

Hello everyone . Just an update I seem to making catch up a regular occasion . As said it is now 6 months since I started Pheonix . It is now all coming together . I have at last found someone to do a cad drawing for me so it can be made out of solid cnc router .When he saw it he said my god how did you make that & how long . I said true British grit & determination . I am of an age where I get lost with all the computer jargon . I am just an old fashioned engineer woodworker . I have now tried 5 x15" drivers managed to bore 3 out the 5 to take tweeters . now the can of worms i have my favorite at the moment & it is not the dearest but it is new the others are used . I am looking for a driver that goes from 20hz -about 4k plus I dont mind used what are your suggestions

 

[pedro11]

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[pedro11]

first fibre glass coat

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[pedro11]

fibre glass 2

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[pedro11]

Finishing shape

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[pedro11]

Just loaded some photos of what I have been doing for over 6 months . Now on test . The moulds are being made now . So I can have a pair made up cant wait !!!

Thanks Peter

 

[Inductor]

I am looking for a driver that goes from 20hz -about 4k plus I dont mind used what are your suggestions

You looking for a driver... I guess a 15", is it sealed? What's the internal volume net (approximate)? Good job. Regards.
This is a nice driver, good for a quarter wave but is not what you're looking for. This coax driver has moderate LF extension (>40Hz) in a standard BR enclosure, but is a good starting point to look at all your different parameters. 🙂
B&C Speakers
The Fane Axiom AXA 15B-300 does the top of the range but doesn't go low (>50Hz). 🙂
Fane International Ltd Loud Speakers
The Eminence Legend CB158 300W can go low to LF (>30Hz), also good for BR and quarter wave, requires >200L enclosure but is a good starting point.
Eminence Legend CB158 300W 15" Bass Guitar Speaker 103.63

 

[Inductor]

Acoustic Elegance vs. Great Plains Audio 354

This driver SB Acoustics 15" SB42FHC75-6 does the LF (20Hz), check the HF range of interest to you.
SB Acoustics :: 15" SB42FHC75-6
Visaton TIW400, also goes to infra territory (20Hz).
TIW 400 8 OHM
Davis Acoustics 38RPA has good LF (>25-30'sHz).
Davis Acoustics 38RPA (8Ohm)
Maybe one of the best, if you can resource overseas, not trying to be rude and deserving some testing is after all the Acoustic Elegance (AE) or for this short resume the Great Plains Audio 354(GPA). 😀
http://www.greatplainsaudio.com/downloads/3154.pdf

 

[Inductor]

For used drivers look for JBL 136A, JBL 2231A or /H
http://www.jblpro.com/pub/obsolete/2231a.pdf
http://www.jblpro.com/pub/obsolete/2231h.pdf
Altec 3154
ALTEC LANSING 3154 SPECIFICATIONS Pdf Download.
Re: Altec 3154 15" woofers - djk - High Efficiency Speaker Asylum
JBL 2235H (>30Hz - 1000/2000Hz)
Components - 2235H
2235
Altec Lansing (or GPA) 416-8B (>30Hz - 1600Hz)
http://www.greatplainsaudio.com/vintage_altec/416-8B_LF_Speaker.pdf
Altec Lansing GPA 416 416 8B Alnico New | eBay
Klipsch K 28 E
Klipsch Heresy III K 28 E Warranty Replacement Driver | eBay

More refs new or used:
BEYMA 15B100/R (30Hz - 2.5kHz)
Beyma Speakers - Beyma 15B100R speaker - Beyma 15B100R 300 watt 15" woofer for all hi-fi and studio monitor bass speakers. Beyma 15B100R and other Beyma 15" speakers here.
B&C 15BG100 (35 - 1000 Hz)
B&C Speakers
B&C 15BG100 - Cyberstore France
Audiotechnology Flex Unit 15E1022510 (30Hz - 1.5kHz)
http://www.audiotechnology.dk
Audiotechnology Flex Unit 15E1022510 - Audiohum Alta Fidelidad

 

[Inductor]

SUPRAVOX 400-2000
http://www.supravox.fr/anglais/haut_parleurs/400_2000.htm
TAD TL-1603 or TL-1601b
TL-1601b Low-Frequency Loudspeaker - Pioneer TAD
TL-1603 Low-Frequency Loudspeaker - Pioneer TAD
Eminence Magnum-Pro-15LF (Frequency range: 28-1,400 Hz *PE)
Eminence Magnum-15lf 15" Low-frequency Driver 290-582
or Eminence Definimax 4015LF (30Hz-1.2kHz)
http://www.eminence.com/pdf/Definimax_4015LF.pdf
Eminence Definimax 4015LF 15" Driver 290-578
AUDAX HD35S66
http://www.audax.com/archives/hd35s66.jpg
SUPRAVOX 400 GMF to 500Hz
400 GMF SUPRAVOX
400 GMF PRO crossed to 1200 Hz
400 GMF PRO SUPRAVOX
Already mentioned AE TD15H

 

[pedro11]

My word Inductor
You have been busy finding all those drivers . It is very good of you will try & sift through them . I wanted to cross over as high as possible out of the sensitive hearing range . Until I go to an electronic crossover. That is another can of worms

 

[blakkshepeaudio]

Wow !

Hats off for an epic project ! Your dedication is amazing. Hope the result is all you have hoped for.

Rgds,
blakkturbansnail, Tegula funebralis

 

[pedro11]

Wow !

Hats off for an epic project ! Your dedication is amazing. Hope the result is all you have hoped for.

Rgds,
blakkturbansnail, Tegula funebralis

Thanks very much .
I have a lot of support from all round the world I thank you all it does mean a lot to me .
It has exceeded my expectations by some margin . The limiting factor does seem to be the drivers .
They are as expected sound a lot different . I have bought another driver which I like & dissected it to see how it ticks this is the engineer in me I used to be in motor racing . I have made a wooden cone. Will use all new parts & reassemble

Thanks Peter

 

[usul27]

Looks like snails are a new trend ;-) But mine is a lot smaller:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/238357-loudsnail.html

 

[pedro11]

Looks like snails are a new trend ;-) But mine is a lot smaller:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/238357-loudsnail.html

Hello there "snap" . I am glad some some one is building a snail . Mine has certainly caused me a lot of problems . The sound has to heard to be believed I dont think you want too much output out of the speaker ie My best one is only 92 db & short throw . The tube is so efficient you have to turn the volume right down on high output 96db + drivers. You will have a lot more range of dual cone drivers to pick from than I .Good luck to you 🙂

Peter

 

[nannoo]

This build is awesome!
Sorry you had to find someone to do CAD for you, I'd be happy to do it for free if you ever need anything just PM me - I used to work in architectural vis and 3D animation before I started studying engineering, so I'm very confident with making bizarre shapes in CAD.

(This project reminds me of a centrifugal water pump we were working on, similar to a snail shape inside - it's amazing how tricky it can be to get all the curves and radii right, even with computer 'assistance'!)

 

[pedro11]

This build is awesome!
Sorry you had to find someone to do CAD for you, I'd be happy to do it for free if you ever need anything just PM me - I used to work in architectural vis and 3D animation before I started studying engineering, so I'm very confident with making bizarre shapes in CAD.

(This project reminds me of a centrifugal water pump we were working on, similar to a snail shape inside - it's amazing how tricky it can be to get all the curves and radii right, even with computer 'assistance'!)

Thank you for that it is most kind of you .
I wish we had contact before I have tried about 20 so called CAD 3d experts they all could not draw it . Straight line merchants I call them it is very frustrating to me I am not a computer expert .I built Pheonix from scratch & it has exceeded my expectations . I wanted to let self builders to be able to build it to their own ideas the scope is endless . My present man said I can teach you if you like If i was 30 years younger I would take it like a shot . I am just an old engineer who likes playing with wood . It does keep me out of mischief . I have never shirked a challenge yet . I have done three more designs I defy any one to build the largest one it make Pheonix seem like a dwarf
My brain is in overdrive.

Thanks again

Peter

 

[thunk303]

Two thumbs up Peter. Thank you for sharing and keep it coming, can't wait to see what driver you pick!

Dean

 

[usul27]

Thank you for that it is most kind of you .
I wish we had contact before I have tried about 20 so called CAD 3d experts they all could not draw it.

I did not call experts, but noticed that is is hard to construct that kind of spiral in a CAD system. Therefore I wrote a program to construct is from the mathematic formula of a logarithmic spiral. Took some days, but most of the time to understand how the API of the CAD software works. If I find some time, I will write a short tutorial how to do it.