Need some recommendations for a dipole build

[Mazeroth]

My brother recently asked me to build him a pair of speakers for his 2-channel system and mentioned that cost is not an object (oh yeah!), as long as I keep it under $2000. He was over recently and had a chance to listen to my cheap dipole 3-ways (https://www.htguide.com/forum/showpo...3&postcount=60) and was blown away by how much better they were compared to his current speakers, which are $1800 Polk LSi15s. For him, selling his current speakers for ~$1000 and investing another $1000 or so into a full-range dipole is going to be a good investment, and I couldn’t agree more.

I would like to use the DCX2496 for this project as I’ve had one for 2 years and have been thoroughly pleased with it. I’m not a great passive crossover designer and have been working diligently on getting better but with the DCX2496 and my measurement setup I get some pretty good results. I figure in the next few years as I develop my skills I can always measure his speakers again and tweak them, if needs be.

What I’m looking at currently are:

Tweeters:
Scan-Speak 7100
Scan-Speak 6600 AirCirc
Peerless 810921 HDS

Mids:
Scan-Speak 18W8531G
Seas Excel W18EX001
Seas Excel W18NX

Subs:
Dayton RS315HF
Aura NS12-513-4A

The above speakers would be used in a configuration similar to the Orions with dual subs. I’m not yet set on going with an MT or MTM but could probably get away with an MT if I went with a U-framed Aura NS12. Or, potentially cross higher yet and go with a smaller mid to improve polar response and allow the tweeter to cross a little higher, which could potentially allow the use of a less expensive tweeter.

I’m sure I left some candidates out so if you guys have any suggestions I’d greatly appreciate it. Pretty much I’m looking for what you would build if you were given a $2000 budget for a full-range dipole.

Thanks! :T

[JonMarsh]

Personal recommendation?

Stay dipole down to at least 75 Hz if you can. A single 8" midrange won't make it past 120 Hz, of course. Drivers like the NS12-513 can make it up higher on a flat baffle, which eases your midrange choice.

Don't consider this any kind of definitive recommendation, but in your shoes I'd consider a pair of the NS12-513A per side, then a mid working in the 250 Hz range and up (my recommendation would be an Accuton C173-T6-95 (89 dB/watt, about $275 each), then with the ability to work up to 2 kHz to a tweeter, you've got a wide open choice, though I'd be tempted to recommend the 66000 SS AirCirc (it's not YOUR money, right? :W

I'm doing something kind of similar, but the C90 T6 mid, dual waveguides and drivers, and 18" woofers (Ciare in eval, may move to the NRT18-8)

My current driver budget is just $1600, but then there's the baffle and crossover to consider. If I throw the NRT18-8 into the mix, it will get a lot pricier. But it would keep the 96 dB/watt sensitivity, and double the Xmax. And it would keep the weight under control- a factor to consider in a dipole baffle.

Another possibility, keeping the baffle size and cost a little more reasonable, would be a single RS390 HF on bottem end duties- the 4 ohm impedance helps pull juice from the amp, and it's got a nice combination of Sd and Xmax, and should be stiff enough to use up to 200 Hz or a bit more. Priced right... that's for sure.

Neo Magnets Rule!

[Jed]

I know you made a list of drivers but consider a few different ones. I think I would like to try that SEAS Magnum tweeter and use it down to say 1.4k crossed over to the SEAS 8" nextel driver crossed to a pair of 10 or 12" Aurasound drivers in a Orion style enclosure. Don't get me thinking about this too much as I still have my ISIS style box to work on this summer!

[Jed]

Personal recommendation?

may move to the NRT18-8


Neo Magnets Rule!

;x( ;x( ;x( :5: :amen: :drool: :yesnod: :?? :thanku: :agree: :banana: :dothewave:

Image not available

[CraigJ]

I highly recommend Jon's Isiris Junior, and they will come in $800 under budget! See here for a picture; https://www.htguide.com/forum/showpo...&postcount=309 Good luck.

Craig

p.s. $912 for one woofer? :jawdrop: That will kill the budget...

[JonMarsh]

I highly recommend Jon's Isiris Junior, and they will come in $800 under budget! See here for a picture; https://www.htguide.com/forum/showpo...&postcount=309 Good luck.

Craig

p.s. $912 for one woofer? :jawdrop: That will kill the budget...

Uh, kill? We like the term, "annihilate". :W

No point in making little incremental improvements, eh? :B

Yeah, we'd have to use a Microsoft like naming/numbering scheme,

"Isiris Premium Ultimate Edition"
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: : : :lol: :lol: :E :E ops: ops: ops: :B :B :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Jed]

"Isiris Premium Ultimate Edition"

Heck Jon, why not add a few of those diamond tweeters in the mix or a lowly waveguide plasma tweeter. :W

[JonMarsh]

Heck Jon, why not add a few of those diamond tweeters in the mix or a lowly waveguide plasma tweeter. :W

Jed, now you're getting your thinking on track! :T

[Evil Twin]

Heck Jon, why not add a few of those diamond tweeters in the mix or a lowly waveguide plasma tweeter. :W

Your insight is most impressive, Jed... clearly the Dark Side is strong with you. Join me, Jed, and we can rule this forum, and remove these pretenders Jonmarsh and ThomasW - focus on adding an "I" and you could become a Jedi....

:yesnod:

[Jed]

Your insight is most impressive, Jed... clearly the Dark Side is strong with you. Join me, Jed, and we can rule this forum, and remove these pretenders Jonmarsh and ThomasW - focus on adding an "I" and you could become a Jedi....

Yes Master :termin8:

[CraigJ]

Uh, kill? We like the term, "annihilate". :W

Well, this Young Padawan isn't quite ready to jump ship. What I have today, is something that is very, very good. Oh, and thank you very much!

Craig

[Mazeroth]

Your insight is most impressive, Jed... clearly the Dark Side is strong with you. Join me, Jed, and we can rule this forum, and remove these pretenders Jonmarsh and ThomasW - focus on adding an "I" and you could become a Jedi....

:yesnod:

Quite possibly the best reply I've read on this forum! :rofl:

[jdybnis]

18" woofers (Ciare in eval, may move to the NRT18-8)

Neo Magnets Rule!

If it looks like you're going to go to the NRT18, call up TC Sounds first and tell them what you're looking for. They might be able to put something together that will beat the NRT18 at the same price. They've been posting about an under-hung neo pro-sound driver for a while. They sold a prototype a while back that was about 95dB/w if I remember correctly (not sure if that one was underhung though).

[Jed]

Quite possibly the best reply I've read on this forum! :rofl:

:rofl:

[JonMarsh]

If it looks like you're going to go to the NRT18, call up TC Sounds first and tell them what you're looking for. They might be able to put something together that will beat the NRT18 at the same price. They've been posting about an under-hung neo pro-sound driver for a while. They sold a prototype a while back that was about 95dB/w if I remember correctly (not sure if that one was underhung though).

Interesting idea- part of the appeal for me (besides the overall performance) of the Neo magnet Aurasound drivers is the relatively light weight- especially compared with the TC Sounds monsters!

[ThomasW]

TC-Sounds had (has?) an LMS-4100 Neo. Not sure if it's still available at this time

[wildfire99]

Yeah, we'd have to use a Microsoft like naming/numbering scheme, "Isiris Premium Ultimate Edition"

Does that mean that you'll also require everyone who builds an Isiris to call you once a month and play a test tone, just to ensure they are complying with the "Genuine Isiris Advantage", where if you detect they've tweaked the crossover you send Evil Twin over to yank out the wires from their amplifier?

[---k---]

:rofl:

[JonMarsh]

Does that mean that you'll also require everyone who builds an Isiris to call you once a month and play a test tone, just to ensure they are complying with the "Genuine Isiris Advantage", where if you detect they've tweaked the crossover you send Evil Twin over to yank out the wires from their amplifier?

We thought we'd start that first with the high end speakers first, using a de-convolution of a swept sine chirp, then work down to the higher volume models like Modula MT and NatalieP.

________________________
posted from my iPhone

[JimS]

Does that mean that you'll also require everyone who builds an Isiris to call you once a month and play a test tone, just to ensure they are complying with the "Genuine Isiris Advantage", where if you detect they've tweaked the crossover you send Evil Twin over to yank out the wires from their amplifier?

:rofl:

oh no . . . my arvo's are using RS315HFs for the low end - likely an open source violation of the original TC2+ build - does this mean I'll get a pop-up from ET every time I power up requesting that I reconfigure and purchase the "genuine" version?!?!?

[JonMarsh]

:rofl:

oh no . . . my arvo's are using RS315HFs for the low end - likely an open source violation of the original TC2+ build - does this mean I'll get a pop-up from ET every time I power up requesting that I reconfigure and purchase the "genuine" version?!?!?

Yeah, you've got that figured out, Jim! Unless we can cover your RS315HF "upgrade" under the Premium license (we'll consider the TC2+ to be Arvo "Basic"). Now, you're going to be running the "Biamp Special Edition Crossover" version, right? That's equivalent to the XP Media Center Edition (XP MCE).

Keep in mind we have a further crossover/driver compabitility check, and any significant upgrades (such as to Aurasound or Accuton) are treated equivalent to XP Profession x64 Edition or Windows Vista Ultimate x64 edition, with VERY limited driver down compatibility, and additional security and DRM licensing restrictions (don't even THINK about playing any of those MP3's you've gotten from Bit Torrent or that Russian MP3 site....

Imagine what many every day things would be like if they were run/marketed/monopolized by Micro$oft!



That's why I'm looking forward to doing my Leopard OSX upgrade this fall...

OSX Leopard Basic Version is priced at $129.
OSX Leopard Business Version is priced at $129.
OSX Leopard Home Premium Version is priced at $129.
OSX Leopard Ultimate Version is priced at $129.
OSX Leopard Ultimate Premium x64 version for x86 and G5 Processors is priced at $129, including full 32 bit backwards compatibility

(they all come in the same box... )

And since I have 5 Macs to update, I'll have to go for the Family Pack of OSX Leopard Ultimate Business Premium x64 edition, which costs $199. for all five copies. :B

And what does five copies of Vista Ultimate cost? :rofl:

~Jon