AudioCircle

Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Open Baffle Speakers => Topic started by: larsss on 16 Jun 2012, 09:38 pm

Title: 18 inch Open baffle woofer
Post by: larsss on 16 Jun 2012, 09:38 pm
Any recommendation 18 inch open baffle woofers, crossover frequency 500hz.

Title: Re: 18 inch Open baffle woofer
Post by: JBspeakerman on 3 Jul 2012, 10:56 pm
 :cry:

It's been interesting that no one has responded to this basic question??  As is usually the case, what you're design goals are as well as where you are and the amount of money you can spend all come together.  So....

Tell us a bit more about what you wish to accomplish, and I suspect, suggestions will flood in.  BTW, I have purchased and tested 12 different 18" woofers.  Unfortanately there is no clear, one size fits all winner.  Look forward to your reply.
Title: Re: 18 inch Open baffle woofer
Post by: mcgsxr on 3 Jul 2012, 11:26 pm
I am looking forward to the more info too.

Years ago I thought about going with 18's on OB, though I was looking strictly below 150Hz.

Multiple Pyle Pro 18's or Goldwoods would have done it, but I ended up satisfied with 12's.
Title: Re: 18 inch Open baffle woofer
Post by: larsss on 4 Jul 2012, 12:50 am
The initial design included an 18 inch woofer combined with an Altec 511B horn. I evaluated the Acoustic Elegance 18 inch dipole, however as the crossover frequency was suggested at 300hz for that unit but could be used up to 500hz acc to John at AE and also if this unit was choosen I could not replace the horn with a tweeter limited in its lower frequency to for example 1000hz without going for a 3 way system.
I therefore ordered the AE Dipole 15 inch which have a usable frequency up to 2000hz and scheduled to be delivered within two weeks.
Title: Re: 18 inch Open baffle woofer
Post by: gooberdude on 4 Jul 2012, 12:57 am
Those AE woofers are totally bad-a$$.

I have 15" Hawthorne Auggies which are amazing.

Those interested could try e-mailing Darrel Hawthorne to see what he could do with an 18".  He doesn't market any, but has a great relationship with Eminence and might be able to help somebody out.   

Title: Re: 18 inch Open baffle woofer
Post by: MJK on 4 Jul 2012, 01:48 am
OK, an AE Dipole 15 on an OB works. How are you planning to cross it at 500 Hz and what kind of low end extension do you expect?
Title: Re: 18 inch Open baffle woofer
Post by: Bob in St. Louis on 4 Jul 2012, 01:50 am
Eminence Kilomax 18"

Just sayin'

Bob  8)
Title: Re: 18 inch Open baffle woofer
Post by: Danny Richie on 4 Jul 2012, 03:14 am
A word of advise. 300Hz to 500Hz is the heart of the mid-range. Avoid that range with the crossovers. Cross at 200Hz or less or 800Hz to 1000Hz and above.

And any 18" woofer is going to have a high moving mass figure. If you are looking for quality then think smaller and lighter.
Title: Re: 18 inch Open baffle woofer
Post by: larsss on 5 Jul 2012, 09:04 am
Those AE woofers are totally bad-a$$.

I have 15" Hawthorne Auggies which are amazing.

Those interested could try e-mailing Darrel Hawthorne to see what he could do with an 18".  He doesn't market any, but has a great relationship with Eminence and might be able to help somebody out.

Could you please inform what power amplifier / pre amp / cables etc. were used when the outcom / result sounded so bad. Was it really the Acoustic Elegance Dipole that was the reason ?
Title: Re: 18 inch Open baffle woofer
Post by: JohnR on 5 Jul 2012, 09:05 am
:) I think "totally bad-ass" translates from American as "very good".
Title: Re: 18 inch Open baffle woofer
Post by: Bob in St. Louis on 5 Jul 2012, 01:47 pm
:) I think "totally bad-ass" translates from American as "very good".
Yes, we do tend to get a bit excited about our music over here.  :P :lol:
Title: Re: 18 inch Open baffle woofer
Post by: gooberdude on 5 Jul 2012, 11:09 pm
Ha!!    The $ signs didn't confuse anyone, just the street slang. 

I seriously doubt that AE drivers are system dependent larsss.  Extremely well made & engineered. 
Title: Re: 18 inch Open baffle woofer
Post by: DogStar on 11 Jul 2012, 04:47 am
I am currently building dipole subwoofers. Initially, I considered the following three drivers described here:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/subwoofers/203547-selecting-drivers-dipole-subwoofer.html (http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/subwoofers/203547-selecting-drivers-dipole-subwoofer.html)

I finally decided on the BMS woofers:
http://bmsspeakers.com/index.php?id=bms_18n862 (http://bmsspeakers.com/index.php?id=bms_18n862)

Note that the BMS woofers are very expensive. However, as far as I can judge, the build quality is phenomenal.
 
On the other hand, when price is a consideration, I believe that the Beyma 18LX60V2 is a near optimal choice for a dipole low end woofer. This assessment is purely based on the specs., since I haven’t heard them.
 
The AE woofers look very interesting, but since I am located in Europe, I thought the hassle was not worth it.
Title: Re: 18 inch Open baffle woofer
Post by: berni on 20 Jul 2012, 03:57 pm
I am also making two 18" subs, for my Magnepan 20.1 extension with a very low xo of 40 or even 30 Hz.
They will be U-shape, with small but evident different shape to avoid cavity noise .
I will use the FI IB318(very similar to AE but even higher linear X max) drivers arriving in two days directly from US.
What do you think, could it work well?
 
here the specs:
IB318



SINGLE 2 | SINGLE 4
 
Fs: 22.3 Hz | 22.5 Hz
Re: 1.5 Ohms/coil | 2.8 Ohms/coil
Qms: 3.33 | 3.41
Qes: ..81 | .77
Qts: .65 | .62
Mms: 272g | 270g
Sd: 1210cm^2 | 1210cm^2
Vas: 381 l | 381 l
Spl: 89.1dB 1W/1m | 89.4dB 1W/1m
Bl: 8.43 N/A | 11.8 N/A
Xmax: 30mm 
Rms: 550W @ 20Hz 
Title: Re: 18 inch Open baffle woofer
Post by: berni on 31 Jul 2012, 09:09 am
First measurements with XO set at 0.5m distance (10, 15, 25, 30,40 75, 145 und 215 Hz) and one measurment on 0,5m and 2m distance with XO set at 30 Hz.
The driver ist still burning in, the Fs is coming down from 28Hz (now 25) , but must go down to 22.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=65864)

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=65865)
Title: Re: 18 inch Open baffle woofer
Post by: Nada on 16 Jun 2018, 04:53 am
Any updates please? This is still a relevant topic and the  IB318 in OB SPL's above are impressive.