Nostalgia for a certain style of design innovation - but ruthlessly simplified

[duvixan]

What are the current speakers you listen to day to day, while working on all these projects?

[Scareurpasenger]

For those interested, PE has the E180HE-44 on sale right now.

[JonMarsh]

What are the current speakers you listen to day to day, while working on all these projects?

You have identified a key problem and the reason I give for prioritizing completing a project soon- while "slow work takes time" is a perhaps clever turn of phrase, and certainly a realistic appraisal, the reality is that at this time my only only source of "background music" is the larger 2nd gen Apple HomePods at this time... and while many people I know use lesser devices for their "musical" entertainment, or essentially no devices, this is not an acceptable solution by any means. Fortunately there are several sets of relatively high end earphones on hand for when that can help assessments.

[JonMarsh]

For those interested, PE has the E180HE-44 on sale right now.

At a reasonable discount- in fact, I just received an open box example at an even better price. Due to its construction complexity, it is not an inexpensive driver to manufacture, even in China.

[technodanvan]

So tempting. But I have SO MANY projects already....and a pair of these sitting in storage with no current plans for use.

[JonMarsh]

tktran suggested a vendor in the Netherlands who claims to have stock of the SBS160 woofer. I have gotten a quote, and submitted an order for 10 pieces, and wired funds. I'm expecting full confirmation today... we'll see what happens.

[JonMarsh]

Well, something good happened... a box with 10 arrived today!

[JonMarsh]

My first ever shipment from the Netherlands!

[Scareurpasenger]

How was the supply and pricing?

[tktran]

Good for both.

[JonMarsh]

Good for both.

Completely agree! tktran turned me on to them!

[technodanvan]

Figured I'd post this here too...I 'think' the Peerless mids have actually dropped further in price.

https://en.toutlehautparleur.com/ful...-5-9-inch.html

[Scareurpasenger]

I saw this but it isn’t everywhere this cheap. The sbs160 is basically gone now.

[Evil Twin]

After review of the number of available samples of drivers in constrained supply, it has been decided to proceed with a new configuration of the upper test module for this design study. For now, two open box samples of the DA25TX will be used, leaving 7 pairs of boxed DA25TX and one further test sample.

The revised version of the 0.56 cu ft MDF knockdown cabinet has been used, with Bamboo boards added for strengthening and appearance to to the front and sides.






The result appears satisfactory for testing and crossover development.





One point under serious consideration is whether to proceed with the SBS160 Peerless driver and a line level inline passive equalizer, or to consider shifting the design with it's low mid-range crossover point to the E180HE-44 driver and possibly some type of PR. Due to the low pricing, a small stock of the E180H-PR has been sourced.

Four E180HE-4 + 8 E180HD-PR can reach 114 dB with some headroom left on excursion. That level of performance may be reasonably satisfactory... as long as it is used with a fairly low upper crossover point. Further more, the intrinsic infinite baffle response renders response on a baffle straightforward to manage, with little or no baffle step required in consideration of the crossover slopes.

[technodanvan]

Did you also play with the RSS210-PR? I would think 4x would do the job - though perhaps using a fair amount of their available excursion - and the price of four is comparable to eight of the little guys.

Edit: Either way I would probably vote for the Epique over the SBS due to availability. Not that the tweeter and mid are particularly easy to find either.

[Scareurpasenger]

The mid is stocked and with decent quantity at https://en.toutlehautparleur.com/ful...-5-9-inch.html

After removing vat they are under $10 each!

Sound imports also has decent stock but is closer to $25 each. https://www.soundimports.eu/en/peerl...512r01-08.html

[Evil Twin]

I have bucket loads of the Peerless mids, bought from TLHP (have whole sale account there), and of the SBS160, too. Just thinking in terms of what might be more feasible for others to build. In fact, need to organize my stock and assembly room during the "holiday break"

[Scareurpasenger]

I agree on the sbs160, those are nla now. With the news of the Da25tx being stocked this may be perfect timing. With enough demand PE and Sound Imports may even restock them after this next order.

[Evil Twin]

Did you also play with the RSS210-PR? I would think 4x would do the job - though perhaps using a fair amount of their available excursion - and the price of four is comparable to eight of the little guys.

Edit: Either way I would probably vote for the Epique over the SBS due to availability. Not that the tweeter and mid are particularly easy to find either.

Ah, but I find the challenge of obtaining the sought after parts one of the more rewarding aspects of projects like these...

[Evil Twin]

Now, another interesting piece of design exploration has been completed...

Design evaluation of a different PR driver with the with the E180HE-44.... the Dayton RSS210PR. Of course, this evaluation in Unibox is only as good as the driver specification data is accurate... at best. But it is promising... most promising, with just the basic mass configuration of the RSS210PR, in a net volume of 22L.

[Evil Twin]

I have performed the calculation for dual E180HE-44 plus 4 Epique PRs, I will post that soon today- other matters are high priority for now.

[technodanvan]

Understood, no rush. We have begun remodeling our home so...not much time for speaker stuff at this point.

[JonMarsh]

I hope that remodel job doesn't go like the kitchen remodel of the mother and father to my wife's younger daughter's husband... six years, and they're still getting take out. Maybe that was the point...

[Evil Twin]

Here is an example...

[Evil Twin]

Technodanvan, if you wish, I can drop you the Unibox File via this sector's prime messaging service