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Open Baffle Epiphany!

The Warfdale SFB/3 open baffles - a 3 way design with upward firing tweeters. Some folks like a lot of sizzle on the top end but I can be happy with just a bit of cymbal shimmer. I tried a variety of caps on my tweeters before I came up with the right value for my tastes. Experimentation with tweeters is important as it can come down to individual preference.

SFB_3_back-300x287.jpg
 
An interesting design with front and rear firing tweeters. Front view of the H-frames with double opposed bass woofers is shown below.
A_back_03.jpg
 
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So I decided to try out the tweeter thing…

Not wired up yet. Waiting on caps.

JBL le20 tweeters. I like them and I have more of them than I know what to do with so they were my go-to.

4 total, two per side in series, foreword facing and rearward facing.

BE412DE8-E5A9-49D9-9D70-8DBF214CFA7B.jpeg B3D3668C-EA1E-4586-8E82-062513EEAC73.jpeg

Bracket is spaced back for time alignment and set up for easy removal to try different tweeters. We’ll see how it sounds as soon as caps arrive.

I bought a few different values to test out and I have different resistor values to test out to pad them down.
 
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z-adamson said:
So I decided to try out the tweeter thing…

Not wired up yet. Waiting on caps.

JBL le20 tweeters. I like them and I have more of them than I know what to do with so they were my go-to.

4 total, two per side in series, foreword facing and rearward facing.


Bracket is spaced back for time alignment and set up for easy removal to try different tweeters. We’ll see how it sounds as soon as caps arrive.

I bought a few different values to test out and I have different resistor values to test out to pad them down.
Click to expand...

Looks great! What are the other big drivers you are using?
 
I picked up a pair of ESS Heils during their big sale which may still be going on. Not open baffles but rather dipoles and I'm finding them to have amazing highs. I'm still experimenting in the garage and may eventually use them in an all OB system. Here I have them bi-amped along with Fostex Tektons and OB woofers.

P1010001.jpeg
 
It's been several years since I've posted. I'm still using open baffle speakers - Betsy's with Alphas on a custom made, inspired by the Wharfedales spf3 design. The Betsy's reside on their own, a lone alpha in it's own baffle used as a subwoofer connected to a plate amp. I hadn't listened much during covid, as work has been extremely busy and other home projects got in the way of enjoying music. But this holiday season I was able to clean up my man cave, regained access to my stereo and started using it again. A custom type 45 amp with a locally made preamp that enables me to send the signals to both tube and plate amp. Music runs from a raspberry pi server using volumino. I forgot how enjoyable the sound is. Has there been improvements or changes in the OB scene these past 4 years?
 
Stefan Wood said:
For instance new drivers.
Click to expand...
Lii audio seems to be all the rage and I think they are fairly new to the market. Not sure if they were available to us here in America 4 years ago. That’s the only speaker that gets a lot of use in ob that has become popular in recent years that I know of.
 
This is what I'm talking about.

Looking at a pair of 8" for corner speakers.

Also wondering if the Lii are better than the Betsys.


z-adamson said:
Lii audio seems to be all the rage and I think they are fairly new to the market. Not sure if they were available to us here in America 4 years ago. That’s the only speaker that gets a lot of use in ob that has become popular in recent years that I know of.
Click to expand...
 
Stefan Wood said:
This is what I'm talking about.

Looking at a pair of 8" for corner speakers.

Also wondering if the Lii are better than the Betsys.
Click to expand...
An 8 with no bass support...go with Seas Exotic...http://www.seas.no/index.php?option...le&id=347:x1-08-exotic-f8&catid=93&Itemid=504

An 8 with bass support go with Lii Silver 8....https://www.lii-audio.com/product/one-pair-new-8-fullrange-drivers-premium-level-sound-silver-8/

Or if you arn't stuck on the driver being an 8 and you are not using bass support go for Lii F15...https://www.lii-audio.com/product/r...loudspeaker-with-tube-amplifier-f-15-in-pair/

Another option in the 8in variety, Visaton B200, can work well with or without bass support...https://www.visaton.de/en/products/drivers/fullrange-systems/b-200-6-ohm

Hope that helps...
 
Seas Exotic X1 will sound very thin without bass support on an open baffle, the Betsy or Visaton B200 are better in this regard.
 
z-adamson said:
An 8 with no bass support...go with Seas Exotic...http://www.seas.no/index.php?option...le&id=347:x1-08-exotic-f8&catid=93&Itemid=504

An 8 with bass support go with Lii Silver 8....https://www.lii-audio.com/product/one-pair-new-8-fullrange-drivers-premium-level-sound-silver-8/

Or if you arn't stuck on the driver being an 8 and you are not using bass support go for Lii F15...https://www.lii-audio.com/product/r...loudspeaker-with-tube-amplifier-f-15-in-pair/

Another option in the 8in variety, Visaton B200, can work well with or without bass support...https://www.visaton.de/en/products/drivers/fullrange-systems/b-200-6-ohm

Hope that helps...
Click to expand...

Hi z-ad,

Might you have any suggestions as to the proper (size/configuration) Baffle for use with (one of my many) vintage 12" Coaxial Drivers ? I'm interested in having a Baffle made for a MONO (near field) vintage Coaxial Speaker system. I have 12" University 6201, UTAH 12" Coaxial and a lovely vintage 12" Phillips/Norelco/Duotone (so called) Full Range Driver. Tube Amps would be Mono 2A3 SET, Pilot AA-903B (el-84) Mono, FISHER 500 Mono Receiver.

upload_2023-1-7_12-23-1.jpeg
UTAH G12 P5
upload_2023-1-7_12-24-20.jpeg

I have a SINGLE "Duotone 12" Driver:
upload_2023-1-7_12-33-9.jpeg

Thanks for any suggestion you may offer z.

Regards,
SixCats! aka Tom in Maine
 
dfoulk said:
The Lii have a particular sound that I did not care for, but many people like them. It is tough when you can't hear them before you buy! I think I would go with Betsy and save the $$.
Click to expand...

Hi dfoulk, pray tell, does not the "Betsy" use the Lii drivers ? I'm confused regarding Lii, Betsy, Wild Burro Audio's offerings.

SixCats!
 
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