[studiotech]

I have them both, indeed.  The panels, I suppose, is a shot in the dark. I was interested as soon as I saw JohnR mentioning them.
And I managed to get them delivered while visiting Sydney last three weeks.

/Erling

You are currently my hero!  Will you be able to post some sweeps?  And make sure to check at both lower and high SPL levels please.

Greg

[JohnR]

 

[lowtech]

I'd be interested in your opinion of how this setup sounds (once you work all the kinks out) compared to the new LX521.  (I know you'll want to build one of those just as a reference to see if you've hit the mark... or not).   

[josh358]

Excellent, thanks!

[JohnR]

I'd be interested in your opinion of how this setup sounds (once you work all the kinks out) compared to the new LX521.  (I know you'll want to build one of those just as a reference to see if you've hit the mark... or not).   

Funny

[Hank]

Thanks for the shipping cost estimate.  Comparison to the Neo10 will be very interesting!

[JohnR]

Comparison to the Neo10 will be very interesting!

I'm still not really sure why.

?

[josh358]

As a practical matter? Since they're both planar dipole mids and fit in a similar space. I've heard that the Neo's are close to stats, but if stats can do better as a replacement for the Tympani IVa midrange, I think I'd choose the stats (though there are other issues like reliability to consider).

[tnargs]

I'm still not really sure why.

?

I would actually rather read your impressions of the mini panels on their own merits, please.

Comparison with some other product that is of a completely different technology but happens to be also flat panel, is of no more interest to me than comparison to curved panels, fullrange cones or 3-way mid-high horn assemblies.

This is a brand-new product: I am really interested in it on its own merits, and as I said in an earlier post, I am sitting on the edge of my seat! This is a brilliant thread, thanks ever so much John.

[Trismos]

As a practical matter? Since they're both planar dipole mids and fit in a similar space. I've heard that the Neo's are close to stats, but if stats can do better as a replacement for the Tympani IVa midrange, I think I'd choose the stats (though there are other issues like reliability to consider).

Comparing products is valid and natural.

[studiotech]

Comparing products is valid and natural.

I'd have to agree here.  Just checking one item in solitude can be a dangerous exercise to make.  Comparison or shoot outs is really the best, most consistent way to judge performance or at least personal preference.  Sonic memory is particularly fickle.  Not that we don't want to hear more about those panels John....I'm very curious for more impressions once you whip a pair up to your satisfaction.

Greg

[josh358]

I would actually rather read your impressions of the mini panels on their own merits, please.

No need for concern, it looks like it's Scorpion who will be doing the comparison rather than John.

My own curiosity is personal and practical, since I've been planning to use the Neo's. I don't mean to interfere with anyone's evaluation and I'll be reading what John has to say with interest as well.

[JohnR]

Since they're both planar dipole mids

The mini-panel isn't a mid... although you could of course use it as one. I do suspect what people will find is that the design tradeoffs are not really in their favour. But as always, it will depend on the design of the speaker overall - cost, configuration, capabilities of the other drivers, desired dispersion pattern...

I'm unclear on how you can replace the mids on the Tympani IV - that's the one that looks like a room divider?

tnargs, hopefully I'll get prototype baffles made in the next couple of days. The design brief for this one is the mini-panel and an 8" OB mid in a relatively narrow panel, and separate dipole subs located in accordance with these principles. More on the reasons for that later

[josh358]

The mini-panel isn't a mid... although you could of course use it as one. I do suspect what people will find is that the design tradeoffs are not really in their favour. But as always, it will depend on the design of the speaker overall - cost, configuration, capabilities of the other drivers, desired dispersion pattern...

I'm unclear on how you can replace the mids on the Tympani IV - that's the one that looks like a room divider?

Yes, the three-panel ones. Unlike on the single-panel Maggies, the midrange is a separate driver, in its own panel next to the ribbon tweeter, and it's the weakest range. It comes out as a unit and leaves a nice slot. When the mids died on Satie's Tympani IV's, he replaced them with a line of six Neo-8's with excellent results. So I've been planning to do something similar with my IVa's using the Neo 8's, 8s's, or 10's -- but since it will be a while before I can do this I'm open to other possibilities.

The IVa's woofer crossover is actually unusually high, between 250 and 400 Hz. (There's also an acoustic crossover between the low bass and midbass panels, so in a sense it's a four-way system.)

[hum4god]

Hi

i asked ER audio a few questions and let them know about the discussion here . the answers were always fast and very thorough and the latest answer from them i thought i would  post :

Hi Malcolm,
 
I've read through the forum thread re the 440 panels and found it most interesting. I rarely visit audio forums (or any forum for that matter) as they become very time consuming. In this case I'm happy to answer any queries the forum members have and have no objection to my responses being published on the forum.
 
One question was raised about power handling. The 440 panel comes with a degree of protection in the form of a series of MOV's across the panel, already installed in the power supply box. These components are invisible to the signal until their threshold is reached, they then conduct causing a soft clip of the waveform. Now, while the panel has this protection it doesn't mean that they can be over driven without damage. If the MOV's are subjected to continuous overdrive they will rapidly age and become ineffective, possibly leading to panel or drive circuitry damage. They are really intended to control short term spikes rather than continuous over voltage.
 
Hope this helps
 
Best regards
 
Rob

[JohnR]

Here's a pic of a standalone panel frame that Rob sent me, thought it might be of interest:



Definitely along the lines of the "mini stat" as I suggested in the first post.

Pricing TBD.

Back in baffle-building land, the panels come with three flying leads, about 30cm long. Rob says it's OK to desolder them and solder a longer wire on, just don't get the terminals too hot or the plastic will melt. You'll need high voltage wire, Rob can supply it to order.

[medium jim]

JohnR:

With the stand alone frames, the configuration possibilities certainly have increased.

Jim

[studiotech]

Mmmm, that looks very nice.  Reminds me of the mini Maggies with that tilt back.

[SteveFord]

I wonder how those would mate up with the DMW? 

[JohnR]

I wonder how those would mate up with the DMW?

Really not sure, I don't know what's in the DWM in terms of electronics. Is there crossover adjustment? Highpass on the passthrough to the mini Maggies. How is a second one wired on? etc