AN 8" speaker project

[4krow]

I will be starting a speaker project using Audio Nirvana 8" 'standard' drivers. This project is for a friend, and my thinking is to make a really efficient speaker so he can be lured into.....yes, BH territory. He is a cheapskate, but one step at a time(I laugh my evil laugh).

 

[Grainger49]

Greg,

Since you didn't ask a question you must have already settled on a design.  What is it?

 

[4krow]

In this case, I'm going fer easy. I will use 1.5 CF box with a slot at the bottom of the baffle. Don't want to get trickier than that. Seems like Fz of this driver is about 40 hz, so bass should be reasonable.

 

[najo49]

I WILL WARN YOU THOSE AUDIO NIV. DRIVERS ARE NOT THAT IMPRESSIVE IN AN ENCLOSURE LIKE THE ONE YOU MENTION. I HAVE EVEN TRIED THERE 8 ALNICO DRIVER IT IS BETTER BUT NOT BY MUCH. JAN OLSEN

 

[galyons]

I have the CAST 8's in an open baffle with  Eminence Alpha 15's.  Actually very nice, except for an upper midrange shout/glare that I am trying to eliminate.  Tried a notch filter, but did not like the effect on the overall signature, took much of the "life" out of the music.

Can't comment on a ported enclosure, but if you want a pure, simple design, go open baffle. Good sound, even including the "shout" which seems endemic to full range dynamic speakers. Even on a small OB, the 8's will deliver surpising bass.

I will continue to work on the OB's. But, they are on the "back burner" while I muddle through my restoration of my 102dB/1w EV Sentry IV's.

Cheers,
Geary

 

[4krow]

As for the shout problem, I agree. A device that I have tried has helped a lot, but must be fine tuned for every driver. It is made by Decware and is called the 'gizmo'. All I know is that it is a transformer with a pot connected to it. You can read more about it at the Decware site.

  As far as the speaker and the final results in this project, I was quite surprised that the speakers sounded as good as they did. No accounting for it, I must admit, but my customer and I were both surprised by the sound. I also have a set of 8" Alnico cast speakers and they are not the best that I have ever heard, but are acceptable. I am sure that the proper cabinet for these would be required. I used them as OB.