[ProjectDML]

New to DMLs.

There are so many exciter choices at Parts Express.

Thrusters seems to be a popular choice but are any clear advantages going with it vs the High Efficiency units?

Could experienced builders share their reasons for their exciter choices?

Thank you.

Allister

[FullRangeMan]

I like big excitets in a line array of 5 or 7 units.

[AK-Grwn_v2]

It’s been a while since I did my own playing around with dml panels. Iirc the transducers don’t cost too much. May pick a few you are interested in and buy a couple of each?

[AK-Grwn_v2]

Nice. Looks like some of the newer offerings from Dayton audio have interchangeable mounts. Would make trying out different panels much simpler experience.

[ProjectDML]

I like big excitets in a line array of 5 or 7 units.

That’s certainly a different direction from what I’d read so far.

The Tectonics only had 4 exciters in a parallelogram like array.

What were the benefits of so many exciters in a line besides SPL? More bass? Flatter FR?

pick a few you are interested in and buy a couple of each?

So it just comes down to experimentation …

Was hoping that there were definite differences rather doing newbie WAGs …

[FullRangeMan]

One can use a biger panel.

[AK-Grwn_v2]

So it just comes down to experimentation …

Was hoping that there were definite differences rather doing newbie WAGs …

There is a crazy long thread on one of the diy audio forums with a ton of info on this. Called A Study of DML as a Full Range Speaker. Over 600 pages long at this point.

The YouTube channel tech ingredients has a couple excellent videos talking about panel types sizes and exciter placements. Excellent introductory videos. I just followed the 2/5 & 3/5 rule that is explained in the tech ingredients video using one Dayton exciter per panel and ended up with something that I still use today in my garage.

If I were you I’d go with one of those exciters with the interchangeable mounts. Experimenting with different panels and placements will be half the fun.

[kd4ylq]

Please pardon my ignorance, but just what are DML exciters? I've never heard of this acronym before.

[FullRangeMan]

We also have a thread on NXT speakers.
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=70541.0

[newzooreview]

Please pardon my ignorance, but just what are DML exciters? I've never heard of this acronym before.

"Distributed Mode Loudspeakers (DML) use exciters to induce vibrations in flat panels, producing sound through uniformly distributed modes. DMLs have a slightly restricted frequency range (100 Hz to 18,000 Hz) but broad dispersion (up to 160 degrees), and aesthetic flexibility."

More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributed_mode_loudspeaker