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In the Forum: Horn-Loaded Speakers
In the Thread: Deep End DIY - Australian take one Macondo.
Post Subject: This has turned into a much larger DIY project than I initially intended...Posted by anthony on: 4/5/2017
...I think it has something to do with a small obsessive part of my personality, but as I have spent more and more time on this project I have wanted to do a better job as far as quality of workmanship and design and aesthetics are concerned. After all, if I get it right I could be sitting in front of this system for the remainder of my days.
Over the past few months I have spent a lot of time in CAD to get a good layout in the DSET amplifer and a unique visual presentation of the entire system that is a little bit industrial, a little bit retro and a little bit timeless. I am happy where the design is at right now and will shortly order the steel to be cut and will start putting together something that makes some sound.
Here is the current concept:
Notice the amplifier is attached to the horn stack and the woofer array is very modular. Here is the view from the listening chair:
The tubes are largely out of sight, which is good and the given the enormity of the objects it all cuts quite a slim silhouette. Below is more detail on the woofer array that I have nicknamed the Bass Cannons for obvious reasons:
They are a modular design. If I want a stack of 4 then I just put four up, likewise if I want 8 then I put up 8. Each Cannon can be shifted forward and backward to suit my whim, but I do like the look of them curved to be equidistant from the listeners head. The Cannons are 1m (40") long and 4.8mm thick steel. Front and back plates will be welded on and the 25W/8565-00 drivers just screwed onto the front plate. The external bracing not only applies pressure to the pipe wall which pre-stresses it and increases rigidity, but they are also the means by which the Cannons above can be attached. Quite a simple concept.
I have the first steel here to make up a couple of Cannons and test to make sure that I can get them to work appropriately. Fingers crossed that they work out otherwise it is back to the drawing board.
As you can see from the side I have tried to make the main pillar for the horn stack to look as though it has sprouted and grown from the floor. It will be powdercoated matte black but the portion of the frame on the floor will be powdercoated to match as closely as possible the colour of the carpet. The DSET sits up on the horn pillar and its power supply down on the floor below. Three short cables will interconnect those boxes. On the very top of the horn pillar is a platform to which I can add another channel if required. I may need to put in another bass channel so that may prove a good spot, or I can experiment with an Injection Channel.
From the rear:
Below you can see how the DSET wraps around the horn pillar. This is very intentional. The speaker cables will exit the amplifier case in that recess behind the horn pillar and makes their various transits to their respective drivers within the horn pillar...no visible speaker cables! The idea of being able to hide the speaker cables is one of the big attractions of having the DSET mounted to the horn stack. Plus I intend to solder the speaker cables directly to the output transformers.
Notice the theatrical LED 'tears' that indicate the current power status of the various amplifier sections.
Shortly I will make post more information about the amplifier in that thread.
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