Open Baffle Epiphany!
- Thread starter cptnCanada
- Start date
I almost forgot I heard another open baffle speaker around the same time at RMAF (I went 3 years in a row).
My room was just a few doors down from John Busch and Pano, my brother and I were lucky enough to get an invite to an unofficial demo
of the open baffles that JB and Pano were working on, they were very good. 
My room was just a few doors down from John Busch and Pano, my brother and I were lucky enough to get an invite to an unofficial demo
of the open baffles that JB and Pano were working on, they were very good.
Kegger/blueglow kt88 project
Hi everyone, I’ve been building and tinkering with this amp for almost a year now and my tweaking has settled enough that it’s time to share. This is my first scratch build so go easy on me! It’s mostly how Mark built his, but with a few tweaks & design choices. - Used a 6BZ7 driver tube only...
audiokarma.org
I had a McAlister Audio SE32 that I enjoyed for several years and the potted PT had a major meltdown, so I started searching for a diy project that would work with the OPTs and built it using 1/2 of 2 input tubes to retain the symmetry and left the 6 unused tubes in their sockets. Frankenstein is just what I call it because it was made from bits of an old amp with some new parts. The gold front plate says McAlister Audio SE44 (he didn't have an SE32 one when he built it).
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Genov
Super Member
I bought a pair of Forte 1 in 1987, and used them for 30 years. In 2015, I replaced the crossovers and tweeter diaphragms, with Crites. Listened to them another year or so, and then the internet got the best of me, and I sold them, and moved on - to Decware - speakers and amp. And then through Decware, found Caintuck Randy and the Betsy Baffles. Been with open baffles ever since
Genov
Super Member
After sitting in a closet for several years, the 8” Betsy Alnicos have finally reemerged. I made new top baffles for them. The main reason I liked the idea of a separate top and bottom, was so that I could swap full-range drivers out from time to time.
The Lii PT-10 is very tough act to follow, but the Betsy’s work their own magic. When I first started playing them, I thought, I did all of this for nothing, cause it sounded kind of flat. But I made some sound adjustments, and finally things got much better, and now I’m hearing what first made me love the open baffle sound.
joespride
Super Member
Im curious on the Lii Plat 10 do you get good height from the soundstage ? How about the Betsy ? I have limited space but I do have my OB pulled 3 feet out from the wall and at least 3 feet off side walls and the stage is super wide but height is always an issue even with very good source material and gear.
Genov
Super Member
The width is very good, but limited height with both. My room is only 12' wide, so baffles barely 2' - 6" from the front wall.
WillMeyer
Active Member
I finished my Open Baffle speakers. F15s on a 1.125 thick solid mahogany baffle. I used the Betsy shape and continued the side arc up to the top and added a blending radius for the tweeter. Legs are maple. As the F15 is full range, I designed the crossover so I can disable the tweeter, run the tweeter direct after the 2.2uF capacitor, or route it thru an L-Pad.
It pairs nicely with one of my RiPol subs.
It pairs nicely with one of my RiPol subs.
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That's not a Betsy, it is a baffle with a Betsy in it. Betsy is an 8 inch fullrange driver from Wild Burro, they can be used in all kinds of baffles.
See posts above for Betsy's in non barrel shape baffles.
Looks like you have a Lii Song driver.
See posts above for Betsy's in non barrel shape baffles.
Looks like you have a Lii Song driver.
Here is a Betsy in a folding wing baffle from their website.
Genov
Super Member
Nice man! How long have you had the drivers and how do they sound so far?
I’ve read over and over that at least 200 hours required for break-in.