[dweekie]

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=31387.msg278668#msg278668

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=33964.msg301670#msg301670

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=36331.msg329856#msg329856

Few examples.  The Hawthorne forums is a good place for some Silver Iris ideas.

[JohninCR]

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=31387.msg278668#msg278668

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=33964.msg301670#msg301670

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=36331.msg329856#msg329856

Few examples.  The Hawthorne forums is a good place for some Silver Iris ideas.

Forget that 3rd link.  Waveguides need to be square or round.

Here's where my most listened to pair of B200's live.  Some day I'll get back around to tweeking their vibration issue and see how far I can take the OBRLH approach in the first link above, but it won't be any time soon.

John

[-Richard-]

I had the original Silver Iris Coaxials... before Darrel upgraded the crossover network which he said in a recent email exchange creates a better integration of both drivers.

It did some things very well... the already mentioned big room filling sound. However that early iteration emphasized the lower mid-range in a way that "colored" many of my recordings... its personality stamped itself on every piece of music I played through it... and it seemed to pull voices down as well... Frank Sinatra, for example sounded chestier than he should. John is correct in suggesting that the coaxial tweeter is not the most refined out there... a bit of spot-lighting could be heard on certain recordings.

I grow-up in the 1950's and I thought this original SI coaxial sounded very much like speakers I heard during that marvelously inventive decade... meaning that it had a nostalgic "sound" to it that was pleasant... so much better than many of the so-called "neutral" sounding box-speakers one hears today... cold and clinical sounding with no blood... no sense of the human dimension.

I am now using a 2-way OB with the B200s' and the Alpha-15's. I recently sent my Luminous "passive" preamp back to Tim to change the circuit so it has less "resistance"... it now allows me to use my Jeff Korneff 45 SET tube amplifier without the need for a preamp with "gain"... the results are startling... hallucinogenic 3-D rich tonal presentation that bristles with life and energy... it sounds entirely alive!!!!! Admittedly some CD's cannot be played to the level I would sometimes like... but most of my CD's sound quite convincing... and it even plays DVD's to "realistic" levels... a major plus since Deb and I watch all our films played through our OB's... quite a revelatory experience!!!!

No sense of anything missing on the top end... and the "organic" space of a non-coaxial wide-range driver is highly welcome.

I use no EQ outside of a simple copper coil inductor between the B200 and the Alpha... they are hooked up in parallel bringing them down to a slightly less than 4 ohm load.

I find my OB's now sound better and more tansparent than electrostatic speakers... including Quad's... and the dynamics rival live performances.

I have a sense that large drivers used in wide-range applications on OB's will favor larger scale musical offerings and high volumes... since Deb and I listen to intimate smaller scale music most of the time I do not see myself ever needing more than an 8" inch driver. Some friends are even preferring smaller drivers for duties above 160 Hz or so. Quite understandable.

Warmest Regards ~ Richard

[Folsom]

Richard what type of baffle are you using?

John your stuff looks difficult to build!

[-Richard-]

Hi Destroyer of Smiles ~

You will find pictures of my current baffles here:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=47314.40

If the link does not work, go to Page 2 of the Open Baffle Forum and find: B200 and Eminence Alpha-15A report ~ go to page 5 of that thread... Scorpion was kind enough to publish several pictures of the baffles for me.

It is a simple "flat" baffle with narrow angled-out wings in the back that also serve to help the upper shelf and base to have some structural integrity. Like many of you... a work in progress.

I have attached the Alpha-15 "woofer" behind the baffle to a 3/4" plywood collar... the collar attaches to the actual baffle back... the collar combines with the 3/4" baffle to form a 1.5" wave guide.

It is very curious that I cannot detect any movement from either driver (the B200 or Alpha-15) even during particularly intense musical passages... that kind of composure suggests that both drivers must be well designed.

Baffle size: 36.5" X 23" / 3/4" Maple with rounded edges on sides.

Warmest Regards ~ Richard

[Folsom]

I think I can make some simple baffles... Next question, any comparable drivers I am not aware of? (Same price range and OB)

[JohninCR]

John your stuff looks difficult to build!

Compound angles just take a geometry refresher.  Getting them cut perfectly is another story.  Getting those roundovers to fit properly took real patience, since it's only a 45° from the front perspective.  I only had one shot at it, because that wood (Guanacaste) is difficult to find any more in decent thickness after they made it the national wood of Costa Rica.  Definitely get your feet wet with some nice easy flat or angular folded baffles before attempting waveguides.  Quick experimenting is half the fun.

John