Battle of the Open Baffles

I have five 6x30 watt AB amps, can be bridged to 4x60 +2x30, etc...so looking at starting out all active until final speaker selection is done. Evenutally I would like to use an SET amp, or at least mids and tweets on the system.

I am building the XDS and really hope I can get them to work in my very limited place of residence, full time RV. I added 1.5 to the rear length and stiffened it up greatly so I could have enough space behind them or any speaker design I find the best. I have highly upgraded Edgarhorn Slimlines I would love to use but have little faith will work in this place and a bit big but can work around that, I at least have to try them. I also plan to build other types of speakers until I find the best solution but do love OB, and horns, the best by far.

I opted to go with eight 8" drivers per side instead of the 6.5s to try to get more bass, no sub, now I am thinking of going back to the 6.5s and building very shallow corner subs into place for the two Image Dynamics ID15's I have in storage. I used to use 4 of them in my house, sealed, tons of power, amazing really. Before than I had two of them in a massive horn loaded enclosure that was a major eyesore but they would massage your feet on the other side of house, huge and exceptional clean output.

No room for OB subs or really big OB speakers with dual 15's, etc....but the 8x8 setup would have far more output than needed but might not go as low as I want. The 8x6.5 would  pair with the dual 15's and result in a smaller footprint.

I am considering getting a Claro walnut slab to build the front of the baffle and 3/4 for the sides.

Rick

Once I build something as a test bed for what I want to achieve, get it working, etc then I do many things like directly wired drivers, quality wire, quality xover parts as needed and work on time alignment. I plan to use high grade materials for the baffles, etc... and proper construction methods.

I will take a good look at the different OB designs and likely build more than a couple, it will be great fun to do so and see what I can come up with that fits our very particular needs, which might not be OB unfortunately.

Not sure which I like better, OB or horns which I love done right and not at all done wrong.

I do have shielded dedicated lines to feed the system and moved the RV power connection to be away from it as well. I am looking into grounding solutions though I have metal skirting all around with at least twenty four one foot long spikes into the ground, all tied into the chassis of the RV thus breaker box, etc.

My computers are on a separate circuit and not tied to the audio system in any way.

I only run a wired ethernet setup, CAT6 cables for now, considering higher grade next phase of our remodel. 

Acoustical treatments are critical and will do all I can in the confines of what we have to work with, I am very experienced in sound deadening of all sorts, from world class car audio competition systems to planning and implementing a very critical military installation.

Whatever speakers I end up running will be very well treated in all aspects to make them the best I can and all will be quite affordable:)

Rick