Yes, this is a fun thread!
The woofer is an Eton 11-581.
The mid is an Accuton C79.
The tweeter is an Accuton C12-6 (in the standard Eidelon).
Personal opinion ON:
Warning: Neil Patel often engages in somewhat colorful prose which borders on hyperbole to describe the technology behind current Avalon models.
Personal opinon OFF
With regards to the claims for comparable transient response with the ported system as the older sealed Q of 0.5 (critically damped) Avalon systems, I have to say, No Way Jose.
However, with the right techniques, one can make a ported system with extended output capability over the sealed system, and render it very clean and tight "sounding". The specific tuning of the cabinet alignment and damping is quite important; as with the M8 bookshelf, a slightly overdamped alighment due to the driver characteristics, box size, and acoustical damping works well. Additionally, when Niel refers to electrical networks, this is using a conjugate zobel to neutralize the impedance rise of the speaker and make it look like a resistive load externally. This provides a measure of damping independent of the power amplifier (and it's feedback loop, if present). This does sound better, but requires large inductors and capacitors, though they don't have to be low resistance (since there's an explicit resistor anyway in an LCR network).
Still, I think think that with the swept Sd and intended output of the 11-581 (or two M8a's), a four inch port is a better choice than a three inch. The M8 bookshelf uses a flared three inch port. The smaller bookshelf's I've done (with 7" Scanspeak drivers) used 2-1/2" ports.
The rest of the "solidity" and impact in the bottom end comes from having enclosure walls that don't talk or flex.
I agree with Dennis that laminating 3/4" MDF with 1/2" particle board seems like a rather odd choice. My first reaction is why not two layers of MDF, or a layer of MDF and baltic birch ply, for example.
Still, it's good taste in his choice of speaker to emulate!
Regards,
Jon
Earth First!
_______________________________
We'll screw up the other planets later....
The woofer is an Eton 11-581.
The mid is an Accuton C79.
The tweeter is an Accuton C12-6 (in the standard Eidelon).
Personal opinion ON:
Warning: Neil Patel often engages in somewhat colorful prose which borders on hyperbole to describe the technology behind current Avalon models.
Personal opinon OFF
With regards to the claims for comparable transient response with the ported system as the older sealed Q of 0.5 (critically damped) Avalon systems, I have to say, No Way Jose.
However, with the right techniques, one can make a ported system with extended output capability over the sealed system, and render it very clean and tight "sounding". The specific tuning of the cabinet alignment and damping is quite important; as with the M8 bookshelf, a slightly overdamped alighment due to the driver characteristics, box size, and acoustical damping works well. Additionally, when Niel refers to electrical networks, this is using a conjugate zobel to neutralize the impedance rise of the speaker and make it look like a resistive load externally. This provides a measure of damping independent of the power amplifier (and it's feedback loop, if present). This does sound better, but requires large inductors and capacitors, though they don't have to be low resistance (since there's an explicit resistor anyway in an LCR network).
Still, I think think that with the swept Sd and intended output of the 11-581 (or two M8a's), a four inch port is a better choice than a three inch. The M8 bookshelf uses a flared three inch port. The smaller bookshelf's I've done (with 7" Scanspeak drivers) used 2-1/2" ports.
The rest of the "solidity" and impact in the bottom end comes from having enclosure walls that don't talk or flex.
I agree with Dennis that laminating 3/4" MDF with 1/2" particle board seems like a rather odd choice. My first reaction is why not two layers of MDF, or a layer of MDF and baltic birch ply, for example.
Still, it's good taste in his choice of speaker to emulate!
Regards,
Jon
Earth First!
_______________________________
We'll screw up the other planets later....
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