Thiel Owners

Tom  Thiel, 

Are you stating you would mount the crossover board up right on edge? If that is correct this would expose the circuit board direct in line to the most significant mechanical impact from any open back driver in the cabinet. Visual would be a basketball hitting the back board. Damping would reduce but will also increase  the resonace retention time of any aquired energy which can become part of the orginal intended signal. My methods are much different  1 of which allows for external adjustemt of the resonance point of the internally loaded circuit board. Resonace will be drained thru the bottom mounting method and coupled internally to cabinet bottom and externally  to the mass of the floor. This feature benefit can also be done on a preferred external mounting method. I think we have discussed  these methods in the past. I know your project is to be simple and of a high value. You may want to offer up these significant options for users who want to max out resonance control. There is also an option to externally resonance tune the woofer to the backside of the cabinet. This entails a brass connecting rod and a special tuning bolt turned by hand .Like you would tune a stand up bass. Significant audible upgrade. I know your trying to increase open surface area to benefit heat dissapation..Resonance tuning also reduces thermal runaway as the heat has a method to transfer as does resonance.. TomD

Hello Agburns, 

There were 2 Toms working at the main Louisville store at the same time. I was and still am the shorter 1. The other Tom was tall with very curly hair. He had a very animated style while mine was considered more laid back  TomD

Tom D. Indeed we avoid aligning the geometric plane of the XO panel normal to the velocity propagation wave. The vertical boards are aligned to present minimal area to the velocity wave. Adjustable resonance control is an attractive mechanism, both for the XO and the drivers. My approach tries to control the forces without the complication of user adjustability. I have prototyped tunable control and the future could lead there. The combination of bronze and Panzerholz works very well to dissipate energy while providing considerable strength. Progress is being made.

Seems to me that an outboard crossover might make the most sense.

I agree. Outboard has lots of advantages. But I also want a significant upgrade that doesn't require the outboard box. I'm able to get a considerable inboard advance over stock. Outboard is better.