The Monolith open baffle planar speakers

Captainhemo · « **Reply #120 on:** 30 Jul 2018, 08:48 pm »

Here's response Danny measured in the new baffle.

jay

HAL · « **Reply #121 on:** 30 Jul 2018, 09:18 pm »

Jay,
The frequency response from Danny looks great!

Prototype dspMusikLCD digital XO is in work to bi-amp the planar speakers with the HX300 servo amps for the subs. The original crossover I did for the early planar prototypes is very close. Now to tweak it a bit.

Rich

HAL · « **Reply #122 on:** 29 Aug 2018, 07:28 pm »

UPS shows The Monoliths baffle flat packs should be here this week. Will post pictures when they arrive and are then built.

The dspMusikLCD is ready to try for testing.

Time for some glue up and driver install soon.

HAL · « **Reply #123 on:** 30 Aug 2018, 09:16 pm »

IT... BEGINS...

The Monoliths flat pack baffles have arrived and Danny and Jay's team did a great job. Packed to survive!

Now to see if I can do justice to them in glue-up and updated dspMusikLCD crossover.

Captainhemo · « **Reply #124 on:** 30 Aug 2018, 10:31 pm »

Yup, we pack so they are almost bomb proof

You'll do fine gluing them up Rich, just have a damp Q-tip handy to wipe any glue squish out of those nice reveals I cut for you. You won't need much clamping force for these, just enough to keep things snug while the glue sets off.
They should look great on top of those modular duals we sent you, looking forward to seeing pics and hearing your impressions

jay

HAL · « **Reply #125 on:** 31 Aug 2018, 09:05 pm »

Glue-up has begun.

Started with the short side wing and small clamps. Glue and let set.

Attach bottom plate to baffle and short side wing with glue and clamp let it set.

After that will attach the long side wing with glue and let it set over night.

HAL · « **Reply #126 on:** 31 Aug 2018, 10:28 pm »

Baffle #1 is glued and drying. Will let it set overnight and glue baffle #2.

Captainhemo · « **Reply #127 on:** 1 Sep 2018, 04:05 am »

HAL · « **Reply #128 on:** 1 Sep 2018, 04:50 pm »

Baffle #2 is glued and drying for 24 hours. Then will install the GR Neo3 and BG Neo10 to start testing.

HAL · « **Reply #129 on:** 1 Sep 2018, 09:09 pm »

First look at the new planar baffle on the 2x12" servo sub base.

Once the second baffle glue dries tomorrow, will install the drivers.

HAL · « **Reply #130 on:** 3 Sep 2018, 08:34 pm »

Had the BG Neo3-PDR's and BG Neo10's out of the original open baffles and installed one set in the new open baffle today with wiring to get ready for testing. Will be installing them in baffle #2 soon.

Will compare them to the GR-Neo3 as well along the way. If it is just sensitivity differences, easy to adjust for it in the digital crossover.

HAL · « **Reply #131 on:** 4 Sep 2018, 05:53 pm »

Baffle #2 has planar drivers installed and wired for testing.

Full front view of The Monoliths.

HAL · « **Reply #132 on:** 7 Sep 2018, 01:14 am »

Stereo setup of The Monoliths ready for some listening trials with the first version of the dspMusikLCD 2x8 digital crossover.

Have adjusted the time delay for the servo subs to match the planars distance offset.

Tyson · « **Reply #133 on:** 7 Sep 2018, 07:39 pm »

Nice! How do they sound?

HAL · « **Reply #134 on:** 7 Sep 2018, 08:30 pm »

First listening sessions with tweaking in the dspMusikLCD crossover and it is sounding very good. Some of the ideas from tweaking this may do good things for the line array as well!

Planars and servo subs are definitely my thing.

Tyson · « **Reply #135 on:** 7 Sep 2018, 08:47 pm »

There's something special about the Neo10 and Neo3 combo, IMO. I think it has to do with the fact that the drivers are the same material and same geometry. There's a cohesiveness to the sound that speakers using cone drivers (and/or dome tweeters) just can't match. It's hard to describe, but once you've experienced it, it's really hard to go back.

HAL · « **Reply #136 on:** 23 Sep 2018, 06:49 pm »

Got to use a very large room for measuring The Monoliths planar open baffle and from those did the updated digital crossover design.

Now that I have the updated speaker dspMusikLCD digital crossover design running it sounds even better than the first version. Running the planars with a pair of Parasound ZAmp v.3's and the Rythmik HX300's for the subs. They play cleanly and plenty loud in a living room that I have them in that is more normal size. Put some PI Audio Group diffusor panels behind them and helps tame the room a lot.

Just when you want to sit down and do more listening, time to disassemble the speakers. The two 2x12's go tomorrow for finish application.

HT cOz · « **Reply #137 on:** 24 Sep 2018, 04:01 am »

These look great! You guys should consider a version using the V2 base bins. Link to V2 http://gr-research.com/v-2.aspx Danny has the drivers in stock and they can be made with a narrower baffle which would be an even better look. It substantially lowers the overall cost which would be appealing for many who have more limited budgets...

HAL · « **Reply #138 on:** 24 Sep 2018, 06:30 pm »

Interesting idea.

Not sure the V2 bass section can go up high enough in frequency to crossover to the Neo10's. A good question for Danny.

gregfisk · « **Reply #139 on:** 25 Sep 2018, 05:20 am »

Rich, you used to own the Super Vs correct?

How do these compare in your opinion, does the top end compete with the Super V and can they play as loud?

This design seems like a good compromise without going all out for the Super 7s which have a lot more costs involved.

Thanks for your input,

Greg