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Open Baffle Epiphany!

Your assumption of building these speakers is a bit simplistic. Until you have done it, dont assume it's that easy. I've seen a mess of projects that looked "easy."



PR Audio said:
I just started woodworking, but these are not difficult to replicate or get close to that. A router definitely would be needed, a miter saw would be nice to have, and obviously a circular saw (straight edge or table).

The front panel can be made of 1/2" thk veneered wood, cut in three equal squares (dims can be scaled from the driver size), the back panel to which the driver bolts is 1/2" painted wood or a composite panel, and there is a 1/2" thk x approx. 1" wide frame for edging the back of the front panels creating a recess for the rear panel holding the driver. The legs and rear supports look like 1" x 2" oak board cut at angles with a miter saw. A router would be used to round the edges of the front panel and create the top and bottom caps by grooving. Hardware is easy to find at a hardware store, as they are flat head 1/4-20 hex-drive connecting bolts or screws; if bolts a 1/4-20 x 5/8" brass expansion nut has to be inserted in the behind the front panel. As for the crossover, easy to build, and I would actually flip it upside down as to keep it concealed.

Sounds like a lot of work, but the most difficult part is using the router.



Work always gets in the way...Good for you! Keep us updated as the build progresses.
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BHamm said:
Your assumption of building these speakers is a bit simplistic. Until you have done it, dont assume it's that easy. I've seen a mess of projects that looked "easy."
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Been in mechanical construction most of my life, I know where you're coming from as I have seen the same many times. Seen construction companies go under in simple projects, 'cause what looked simple was not. But, I clearly stated similar, not equal. Newby to woodworking, veteran at metal fabrication; different animals. Having said that, after building a few speakers, work tables, and the such, I am confident, except for the router part, that I can duplicate those, though I am sure that some panels will be sacrificed and thrown to the compost bin or used for something else. I assume is simple, but not easy, but it is a learning process and the only way to learn is to dive into the project, make mistakes, and learn from them. With the pic I can get pretty close to the actual measurements by scaling the dims. using the woofer size as a guide.

Not undermining your comment at all, and I agree, but one has to get fully immersed and keep an open mind as to mistakes to be made, in order to succeed at it.
 
One of my problems is I'm to anal, and hard on myself. With practice comes skill. My first OBs are almost done. I'll post pics soon.
 
BHamm said:
One of my problems is I'm to anal, and hard on myself. With practice comes skill. My first OBs are almost done. I'll post pics soon.
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Don't worry, my Hybrid OB Bookshelf I probably wasted wood to make another pair, because I don't have a table saw, but learned to make a straight edge for my circular saw, and it works great. I'm anal about looks, if at the end they don't look good, something that I can place in my living room, I don't use it, and will probably give it away or re-purpose. Post pics on how yours are coming along...:thmbsp:
 
At a savers thrift they had 6 coaxial ceiling speaks in can enclosures
Picked em for for like $2 each
Turned out to best better atlas sounds
Made my first open baffle

They lost lots of efficiency without their cans as they weren't no 91db

But they had such great clarity and I've yet heard better imaging
Instead of singer on top of singer or instrument
All had a dedicated positiion and performances began to sound live as though in an auditorium

And who knows what even better speakers would sound like
 
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sum of sand said:
At a savers thrift they had 6 coaxial ceiling speaks in can enclosures
Picked em for for like $2 each
Made my first open baffle

They lost lots of efficiency without their cans as they weren't no 91db

But they had such great clarity and I've yet heard better imaging
Instead of singer on top of singer or instrument
All had a dedicated positiion and performances began to sound live as though in an auditorium

And who knows what even better speakers would sound like
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Awesome! I've been curious about trying "full-range" ceiling speakers too.
 
tomlinmgt said:
It's easy to fall prey to dipole magic. :yes:
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Ditto ! went through a mid life dipole phase I liked them .........:yes:

Nothing wrong with a good dipole under the right conditions if you don't mind the compromise in pin point "sweet spot" imaging that secondary reflections bring they can be pretty good outside of "the spot" also ......Not to mention there is good argument for open baffles like the Steinway Lyngdorf model D although they classify them as Dipoles they are more in between that and OB and more like open baffle than not....... IMO

I wouldn't discount a pure open baffle (with a sub) either fooled around with those (without a sub) over 40 yrs ago from console speaker and baffle pulls long B4 I knew what they were or anybody ever heard of a sub ......OTOH I've heard some decent in wall I.B.'s also :smoke:
 
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I see many here using the term dipole interchangeable with open baffle.

Panels are dipoles but are they open baffles?

Open baffle implies cone speakers does it not?
 
If the rear wave is out of phase with the front wave and allowed to propagate freely into free air it's a dipole. Open baffle implies no enclosure. The Neo 3 tweeter you use isn't a cone driver (it's planar) but with the rear cup removed it's a dipole...so it doesn't have to be a cone driver to be a dipole.
 
Poultrygeist said:
I see many here using the term dipole interchangeable with open baffle.

Panels are dipoles but are they open baffles?

Open baffle implies cone speakers does it not?
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Interesting question.

I think the differentiation boils down to:

Planar magnetics like Magnepan, ET, etc., Appogee ribbons, and electrostats are dipoles by nature and not meant to be mounted on a baffle and placed into an enclosure.

Cone speakers are USUALLY designed to be mounted on a baffle and placed in some kind of enclosure - horn, IB, bass reflex, acoustic suspension, etc.

It follows, then that a cone speaker mounted on a baffle with no enclosure would act as a dipole but would have the additional descriptor 'open baffle'.

Tounge in cheek but how does that work? :)
 
TubeHiFiNut said:
Interesting question.

I think the differentiation boils down to:

Planar magnetics like Magnepan, ET, etc., Appogee ribbons, and electrostats are dipoles by nature and not meant to be mounted on a baffle and placed into an enclosure.

Cone speakers are USUALLY designed to be mounted on a baffle and placed in some kind of enclosure - horn, IB, bass reflex, acoustic suspension, etc.

It follows, then that a cone speaker mounted on a baffle with no enclosure would act as a dipole but would have the additional descriptor 'open baffle'.

Tounge in cheek but how does that work? :)
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Utterly baffling......

confused-pig-15697813.jpg



Regards
Mister Pig
 
I made some progress with the crossover. One almost finished. Had it playing with a T-amp and iPod.
 

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