I always build both speakers and prototype crossovers and voice in stereo. Never tried mono. I think JR also voices in mono. What are the benefits?
John, when you say you built a speaker with all NPE I assume you mean even the small caps in the tweeter's filter. Just for the fun of it? FWIW I've never used a NPE for a cap under 33 uF. I've never used a poly over 47 uF. That's the parsimony point for me personally.
With one speaker it's easier for me to focus on what is coming out of the speaker vs. reflected or supported by the other speaker. It takes some getting use to as you can hear some content of the other channel.
Yes, I built an all RS 3-way with all NPE including the small caps on the tweeter, then switched to all poly, including a poly bypass cap on the woofer shunt/ 2nd leg. It was very different.
I've not done a bypass cap test alone. That might be best on a woofer that had some content at 1K.
I just switched to wago .... so hopefully no more birds nest crossovers.... but still need to make connector leads from speaker wires... got a spare roll of 18 gauge.... lots of stripping.....
I voice in stereo. I find in mono the spectrally flat tweeters will be hot when then changed to stereo.
Interesting. I was begining to think I was the only one who voiced in stereo.
Here's a question (maybe a dumb one) for the guys who voice in mono. Do you pick a channel and use that or do you somehow combine both left and right into a mono signal. I haven't seen a mono/stereo button on a piece of stereo equipment in a LONG time and back then it was usually only FM tuners.
Mark Miller uses older Beatles recordings, but Beach Boys would also apply. Those were mastered in mono, and only mono and ping-pong stereo versions exist.
My preamp has a mono setting. and I usually do a preliminary voicing of a single speaker in mono while they are in an unfinished state, and do my next voicing in stereo, and finally a last check after everything is soldered.
Yes, I always pick the right channel and a set group of demo discs. If I get confused I may measure while listening, sweep, or plug in previous speaker. Oh and yes then a listen in stereo to see if I missed anything.
Y adapter to combine L&R from CD player to mixer(preamp) to amplifier.
Then are you listening to both speakers at the same time to determine which sounds better or continually switching between l or r to determine which sounds better?
Voicing one speaker in mono is hard enough. If you sort of ignore the very low notes and concentrate on the mids, high and the tweet/mid blend it's doable. I look at the bass only when I have blend between the tweet/mid/woods good as the bass sounds thin with only one speaker playing and you might get tempted to pad down the mids and highs. Voicing is done in mono the same way I measure in mono and most I voice and measure, so the same setup stays, in the middle of the room vertically and horizontally.
Stereo is done usually with the speakers where I would like to place them, so the bass response 8s adequate but not too boomy, which is why way out in room my speakers are at a disadvantage as back is usually 3-4 db and voiced to be around 12-24 from the walls.
This seems to work for me, but then I take over a year to complete a design and travel in the company of birds and their dwellings...
I've just been twisting leads together, but that's mostly between not having enough clips and being a poor solderer along with a slow gun. I'm assuming most folks don't do this because of the chances of accidentally damaging XO parts/leads, or are there other reasons not to twist leads for quick testing?
Y adapter to combine L&R from CD player to mixer(preamp) to amplifier.
Then are you listening to both speakers at the same time to determine which sounds better or continually switching between l or r to determine which sounds better?
Additionally, does a Cap’s position in a filter (be it in series directly to the speaker vs. as a bypass to ground lead to more impact to sound quality? or are both of equal importance? i.e. C1 vs C4, and/or C2 vs C3
Both can be considered "in the signal path", people tend to put more importance into the signal quality going to the tweeter than the woofer, and since C1 will be of much lower capacitance than C4, a higher end part is more affordable here.
Yes- it's a misconception by many that "in the signal path" means in series with said driver. When in fact, it means "in the xover".
Several swore up and down after my cap test back in 2010 that the NPE vs film across the woofer was fairly audible to the point they no longer used NPEs there.
I find that when a part is operating "in the driver's bandwidth of frequencies, including rolloff" that the parts should be 'better' than if they are used "outside of the driver's bandwidth of frequencies", say for breakup on woofers or Fs comp on tweeters. This is because those frequencies are already attenuated outside and this vs that makes less difference. In the driver bandwidth, is a lot more output, and can make more of a difference.
I’m down to the British vs. the French for a 2.0uF capacitor
ClarityCap CSAs vs. Solen Silvers ??? While I'm anticipating 'order one of each and listen'... always curious as to what you guys may have experienced / suggestions. THX
Ben, For the mid in a 3way > a coax (beyma 5in)... I'm leaning towards the CSA's from what I've read, but haven't had chance to listen. I tend to cross high(er) than normal, and put a premium on a mid's importance to the speaker. (using active btwn woofer and the coax, biamp)
Hmm I do both actually, mono and stereo. Mono initially, measurements etc. When I am satisfied with the crossover, I build both crossovers. The final voicing is really adjusting the tweeter level. Out of curiosity, I have gone back and adjusted/changed component values but end up right where I was in mono. When designing the kits, I leave room for tweeter level adjustment for the end user.
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Yes, I built an all RS 3-way with all NPE including the small caps on the tweeter, then switched to all poly, including a poly bypass cap on the woofer shunt/ 2nd leg. It was very different.
I've not done a bypass cap test alone. That might be best on a woofer that had some content at 1K.
I bought a bunch of those spring connectors from China.
Edit: I see my friends here have also done the same.
InDIYana Event Website
Here's a question (maybe a dumb one) for the guys who voice in mono. Do you pick a channel and use that or do you somehow combine both left and right into a mono signal. I haven't seen a mono/stereo button on a piece of stereo equipment in a LONG time and back then it was usually only FM tuners.
InDIYana Event Website
Then are you listening to both speakers at the same time to determine which sounds better or continually switching between l or r to determine which sounds better?
Stereo is done usually with the speakers where I would like to place them, so the bass response 8s adequate but not too boomy, which is why way out in room my speakers are at a disadvantage as back is usually 3-4 db and voiced to be around 12-24 from the walls.
This seems to work for me, but then I take over a year to complete a design and travel in the company of birds and their dwellings...
I'm assuming most folks don't do this because of the chances of accidentally damaging XO parts/leads, or are there other reasons not to twist leads for quick testing?
Reference to the birds' nest XO....
Several swore up and down after my cap test back in 2010 that the NPE vs film across the woofer was fairly audible to the point they no longer used NPEs there.
I find that when a part is operating "in the driver's bandwidth of frequencies, including rolloff" that the parts should be 'better' than if they are used "outside of the driver's bandwidth of frequencies", say for breakup on woofers or Fs comp on tweeters. This is because those frequencies are already attenuated outside and this vs that makes less difference. In the driver bandwidth, is a lot more output, and can make more of a difference.
InDIYana Event Website
I’m down to the British vs. the French for a 2.0uF capacitor
ClarityCap CSAs vs. Solen Silvers ??? While I'm anticipating 'order one of each and listen'... always curious as to what you guys may have experienced / suggestions. THX
Across woofer? Solen Silvers
InDIYana Event Website
For the mid in a 3way > a coax (beyma 5in)... I'm leaning towards the CSA's from what I've read, but haven't had chance to listen. I tend to cross high(er) than normal, and put a premium on a mid's importance to the speaker. (using active btwn woofer and the coax, biamp)
InDIYana Event Website