AudioCircle

Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Owner's Circles => Selah Audio Owners => Topic started by: Rick Craig on 27 Jul 2016, 05:39 pm

Title: DB Desktop Arrays
Post by: Rick Craig on 27 Jul 2016, 05:39 pm
Named in honor of Don "DB" Keele, the crazed CBT inventor...


(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=147616)


Title: Re: DB Desktop Arrays
Post by: Armaegis on 27 Jul 2016, 05:50 pm
So many binding posts... is that for quad-wiring or is there actual full quad-amping external crossover shenanigans going on there?

Also, this seems like a perfect time to use a Neutrik Speakon 8-pole connector.
Title: Re: DB Desktop Arrays
Post by: Rick Craig on 27 Jul 2016, 06:30 pm
So many binding posts... is that for quad-wiring or is there actual full quad-amping external crossover shenanigans going on there?

Also, this seems like a perfect time to use a Neutrik Speakon 8-pole connector.

Yes, the Neutrik would be easier; however, I wanted to easily change from all active (four channels) to passive (one channel) shading / attenuation. My wife has a saying "just because you can doesn't mean that you should". In this case I did because I could. That means using a MiniDSP  with eight channels of outputs and an amp with twelve channels. Using resistors I only need two channels.
Title: Re: DB Desktop Arrays
Post by: hdspeakerman on 27 Jul 2016, 10:28 pm
How much for a pair? 
Title: Re: DB Desktop Arrays
Post by: Armaegis on 28 Jul 2016, 03:21 am
Will you implement a way to easily switch between 2/8ch mode?

Also... why would you need 12ch of amplification? Do you have a centre channel in there as well?
Title: Re: DB Desktop Arrays
Post by: Rick Craig on 28 Jul 2016, 03:49 am
How much for a pair?

Based on the cabinet and driver cost I would have to sell them for $400-$450/pair. This pair is "B" stock as two drivers have a corner that was damaged a little from initially using a wrong screw type and too much torque when tightening. Both play fine though and the cabinets are in good shape. Asking $200 plus shipping.
Title: Re: DB Desktop Arrays
Post by: Rick Craig on 28 Jul 2016, 12:15 pm
Will you implement a way to easily switch between 2/8ch mode?

Also... why would you need 12ch of amplification? Do you have a centre channel in there as well?


2-channel is obviously more practical / economical so no plans for making it easy to switch. The main reason for the four inputs was to make it easy to test and show how a CBT operates. I have a 12-channel amp I use for testing but could have used four stereo amps or eight monoblocks.
Title: Re: DB Desktop Arrays
Post by: Armaegis on 28 Jul 2016, 04:53 pm
2-channel is obviously more practical / economical so no plans for making it easy to switch. The main reason for the four inputs was to make it easy to test and show how a CBT operates. I have a 12-channel amp I use for testing but could have used four stereo amps or eight monoblocks.
Fair enough.
What are the dimensions on these? They look like they could make for a nice desktop system if they're ok in nearfield.
Title: Re: DB Desktop Arrays
Post by: Rick Craig on 28 Jul 2016, 05:37 pm
Fair enough.
What are the dimensions on these? They look like they could make for a nice desktop system if they're ok in nearfield.

7" high , 3.5" wide, and 7" deep. I use equalization to extend the bass and they work well for nearfield listening.
Title: Re: DB Desktop Arrays
Post by: Armaegis on 28 Jul 2016, 06:04 pm
Oh wow that's much smaller than I thought. So those are... 2" drivers?

Now if you could only cram in a mini class D amp into the boxes, it'd make for some keen active monitors.
Title: Re: DB Desktop Arrays
Post by: Rick Craig on 28 Jul 2016, 06:20 pm
Oh wow that's much smaller than I thought. So those are... 2" drivers?

Now if you could only cram in a mini class D amp into the boxes, it'd make for some keen active monitors.

Yes, a VERY small amp.  :D

Here's an on-axis curve and off-axis (30 degrees horizontal) taken with the speaker on a monitor stand (and the usual floor dip reflection at 200hz). DSP equalization was used to flatten the response and extend the bass. The drivers are 2.5" from SB Acoustics. I usually don't like full-range drivers but these are much better than the norm.


(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=147654)


Title: Re: DB Desktop Arrays
Post by: Armaegis on 28 Jul 2016, 06:42 pm
https://www.amazon.com/microFidelity-Audio-Amplifier-Model-Black/dp/B004HW3KKE

Small enough for you?  :green:
Title: Re: DB Desktop Arrays
Post by: Rick Craig on 28 Jul 2016, 09:16 pm
https://www.amazon.com/microFidelity-Audio-Amplifier-Model-Black/dp/B004HW3KKE

Small enough for you?  :green:

Amazing how small the little chip amps can be.
Title: Re: DB Desktop Arrays
Post by: Doublej on 29 Jul 2016, 02:14 am
https://www.amazon.com/microFidelity-Audio-Amplifier-Model-Black/dp/B004HW3KKE

Small enough for you?  :green:

It still needs a power brick. It's like the micro computers they are selling these days. They make a big deal about how they are really small and forget to tell you that the power supply is almost as big as the computer.

Title: Re: DB Desktop Arrays
Post by: Armaegis on 29 Jul 2016, 05:11 am
Ah if only Edison had won the AC DC wars (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Currents), perhaps our power supplies would be much smaller today...
Title: Re: DB Desktop Arrays
Post by: JohnR on 30 Jul 2016, 03:41 pm
Ah if only Edison had won the AC DC wars (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Currents), perhaps our power supplies would be much smaller today...

[Edit] Oh.. sorry, I suppose I need to read better. But still, even if he had, you still would have to convert from high voltages to low. And how would you do that? (He "lost" for good reasons I believe ;) )