Theaudiotweak...In the basic parallel crossover no signal is "dumped to ground". In some cases a crossover may include a RLC network that damps woofer driver resonance, and this will shunt a very small proportion of power at a particular frequency. Also it is not all that unusual to find crossover components in the return leg...Magnepan MG1.6 are one example. |
Gendut3...I think that a "$39 Peerless and $27 Seas" with the right enclosure and crossover might sound good, and I bet that a few people have already put their orders in to Madisound. It's the price that seems out of line. But as I said before "it's your nickle". |
It is certainly possible to get very low bass (SW range) out of a small box. I happen to have a set of Dynaudio Gemini speakers which are MTM configuration using woofers with cones that are only 3.75 inches in diameter. (The voice coils are 3 inches, so these drivers have power for their size). With moderate equalization they go to 20 Hz, which I would not believe if I had not measured it. What they will not do is pump out high, or even moderate SPL with this kind of LF extension. There simply is not enough cone area.
If you do not listen at high volume I would have no doubts, relating to size, that the LF performance of the Caravelles will satisfy you. |
Comparison with other box speakers is reasonable, although
the stunt suggested by Onhwy61 is over the top. On the other hand, no box speaker should be compared with planar or open baffle speakers because the spatial distribution characteristics are completely different, and may be preferred by some and disliked by others. I, for example, place high value on planar characteristics, and I am willing to accept their limited LF extension and the need for a powerful amplifier. |
Theaudiotweak...I didn't mention it before, but why should the amplifier care where the crossover network is located? Try hooking up the speaker with red and black wires reversed, so that the crossover is in the return leg. Does it sound any different? (Assuming that you have accounted for the inversion elsewhere in the system)
Having, as a DIY guy, played around with both series and parallel crossovers I don't see a performance advantage of one over the other. The series is more difficult to execute in practice (not harder to design), and we all have the gut feeling that if something is difficult to achieve it must be of great value. This is an opening for marketing. Actually, I like low level electronic crossovers, or, in the ideal, a full range speaker (where the crossover is mechanical in the form of cone breakup).
Vive la difference. |
Theaudiotweak...Unless the amp is bridged, or is one of the new digital amps, the output is unbalanced anyway, and I don't see how location of the crossover would affect it.
If you really think this is important it would be easy enough to split the crossover components between legs... for example: a 4 mH inductor could be implemented as two 2mH inductors. Such a crossover would look PERFECTLY symetrical in a schematic. You can't say that about a series crossover because either the woofer or the tweeter must "come first".
Actually I think all this is academic, and good crossovers (to the extent that any crossover is good) can be made either way. |
Pal...It probably means that he doesn't like ported speakers, and this is one potential problem he can cite about them. I suggest that you listen for yourself. By the way I prefer sealed speakers myself, but it's your nickle. |
Warrenh...Agreed that this is America, and people can charge whatever other people are willing to pay. Just the same, the information about the modest guts of the Caravelles is of interest, if only to encourage the many people who can't afford them to get into the DIY speaker game. |
"natural..carded wool" is certainly a plus. But, are the sheep organically raised, and bred by natural insemination? |
Zaikesman...You mentioned two descriptions: "overachieving near-miracles or overhyped quasi-rip-offs". I think you, and the sellers, missed another possible description...A design based on synergistic combination of very modest components to achieve an unexpected high level of performance, at low cost.
There was once such a speaker system...The original Advent. |
Warrenh...Per your instructions I waxed my woofers, and the midrange really smoothed out. |
TWL...FWIW...Definition of an Engineer...Someone who can do, for a dollar, what any damn fool can do for ten. Henry Kloss was an Engineer.
I think that the only reason you get so much flack is the price. I, and probably others, know that excellent results can be obtained from inexpensive drivers.
May I suggest that you explore alternate enclosure fabrication methods and/or vendors. From what you have said it appears that your cost for these items is unreasonable, and prevents pricing at a level that would greatly broaden your potential customer base.
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