[jimdgoulding]

Oh, man, that was cool!  First time I've been to a meet this organized.  Only the second time, period.  FredT300B put me on the upstairs landing and a member inserted a Mod-Wright/Sony player that made more of a difference that I could imagine.  At first, I thought Fred's standmounts didn't have enough bottom end to be practical but that all changed.  Fred builds some good sounding dynamic speakers, yo, and oughta be on everyone's short list.  The micro trip of the meet was that Fred had us listen to 5 different capacitors that he had rigged so he could substitute in seconds.  The consensus was that the most expensive ones came in third place.  He had a nice brown ale in with the refreshments.  I even got a few converts.  Damn nice way to spend a Saturday morning, IMO.  Think I'll invite a few members (Houston Audio Society) to my listening room and abode.  There was even two ladies amongst the group that I couldn't help but stay glued to.  Thanks for the invite, Fred,  I enjoyed it immensely!

[satfrat]

Jim, would you like to expand on FredT300B's 2-way speakers, preferably with pictures? 

[FredT300B]

Jim, would you like to expand on FredT300B's 2-way speakers, preferably with pictures? 

They're the RS180 Modula MT, designed by Jon Marsh. Mine are in the Parts Express 0.75 cu ft curved side enclosures.

http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=13154&page=1&pp=50

[satfrat]

Jim, would you like to expand on FredT300B's 2-way speakers, preferably with pictures? 

They're the RS180 Modula MT, designed by Jon Marsh. Mine are in the Parts Express 0.75 cu ft curved side enclosures.

http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=13154&page=1&pp=50
http://fredt300b.smugmug.com/gallery/4551361_Ftvcd/1#268188209_Wmbde

Thanks Fred,,, a lot of good reading for sure. And just to stay on topic with Jim's thread:



Cheers,
Robin

[jimdgoulding]

They look a lot better than that in person.  The veneer on the curved box is a high gloss, rich tone Rosewood, I believe.  And those woolie things on the front are being reshaped to fit inside of the grilles.  I put some muscular music on with quite a lot of low end dynamics and they rose to the occasion while keeping things clean and well sorted out.

[jimdgoulding]

Discovery time.  Maybe for you, definitely for me.  I listen with dynamic speakers and am in the habit of checking to see if the allen bolts holding on my mid/bass drivers need tightening every six months or so.  Tonite, I checked and only one needed a little minor tightening but while I was at it I thought I’d have a look at the Philips screws on my tweeter plates.  I never had before.  Didn’t imagine that they might benefit from the same cause there is so much less energy involved.  Well, they needed tightening!  Afterwards, I put on a Sylvia McNair recording of Jerome Kern songs on Philips because her voice is so natural and articulate on this and BOOM, everything about what makes this recording excellent snapped into place.  Previn’s touch on the keys, the hammers on the strings, the notes themselves, McNair’s mouth sounds, just wow!  Next up was Telarc’s hybrid Carmina Burana and everything was so finite in space it was scary real!  This had been becoming less resolute over time unbeknownst to me but looks like it's all better now.  Thought a few of you might benefit from this experience.  I'd like to know if you do so I'm not the only dummy around here.     

[jimdgoulding]

Insane in the membrane!  Got this earlier.  Bout the most candid customer review I've had the pleasure of receiving.  Dude is definitely tripping:

"I got a package in the post today, a box from Amazon?  But I haven't bought anything from amazon lately.

Inside however was not some nasty crappy compressed pop CD, but 8, yes eight, pieces of Jim's best felt, all lovely and custom cut to my needs.

On my speakers they make at least as much difference to the mid as they do to the treble so it seemed sensible to do the entire front of speaker for maximum effect.

http://media.bestkiteboarding.com/mm/surrounds.jpg

Well they ain't pretty, but jesus H goddam christ, do they ever make a difference. Not a little difference, like a cd clock, or a new swanky set of cables, but a big used to sound like a shitty live recording from the audience position into a dictaphone, to a professionally miked live album difference.

Even with the standard set I didn't realise how much reflection and refraction was contributing to the sound I hear.  I listen in the near field and have a heavily damped back wall, so as I sit in front of the first reflection point I really do hear pretty much just my speakers, big headphone style.

I was in no way ready for the difference this made, I lose a couple of db for sure, but I get to hear so much more, much more clearly defined and with sharper leading edges and better decay.

If my old sound was lit with softbox lights, its now lit with 'frickin lazer beams'.

The addition of the wadia i-transport the other week compared to my cd player spinning the disc pales into insignificance compared to this, seriously, the best money I have ever spent on music enjoyment."  S. Clark, Hifi Wigwam, UK

Not the most revealing response I've gotten but easily the most emotional  .  I'm still at it as you can see. 

[satfrat]

Insane in the membrane!,,,,,,, Dude is definitely tripping:

Sounds like a classic case of too much mercury in that Brit's fish n' chips. 

But I do like the full-woolie look for that monitor.

Cheers,
Robin

[lonewolfny42]

Jim....
Do you happen to know what speaker that is ? Thanks...

[jimdgoulding]

Epos 14's. 

[lonewolfny42]

Thanks....

[jimdgoulding]

Looks like he's done away with the entire enclosure, doesn't it?  Think I'll email him and see WTF is going on.

Later.  I just did, but in a reply-

Simon, am I to take it that you liked the effect somewhat?  No need to be bashful.  Let's hear how you really feel!  Just kidding, mate, you've done a very good job of that already and I'm glad for you.  Always happy to bring a man and his music more closely together.  Question . . in the photo, it looks like you've done away with the enclosures altogether.  What's up with that?

I'd like to know if the sample pair is still floating around for those of you for whom this mod is intended to audition in your systems.  Anybody know anything about that?  Diffraction is endemic to virtually all box speakers to one degree or another.  end

Later still.  He replied that they are standard 14's, box and all, just came out that way in the photo.

[jimdgoulding]

Very nicely put by an inmate with over 7000 posts on Audio Asylum:

"The felt damps the surface acoustic wave that propagates along the enclosure panel face. This wave moves at a different speed than the air-borne waves from the tweeter. The surface wave becomes air-borne at the enclosure edge, where it becomes a source of confusion to the listener.

Thus, the felt is for the enclosure, not the tweeter. What is important is that it be large enough in area to be effective. It should also have a natural absorption property. Synthetic fibers are sonic filters, as all the fibers are the same length and share the same resonant frequency. Wool felt is the best in this regard, IME."

Who knew?  Ahem.  Anybody new to this topic and/or would like to know more, click on that green ball under my avater.  Listen to a little interesting music while you are there.  All the best. 

I just gotta add this (Jul 28).  Just watched Roger Sanders' video about his new speakers.  You should, too, but dang if I can find the address (don't remember how I got there at this hour).  This boy is preaching my sermon!!  But only the half that pertains to late arrival of which using my thing there will be less.  I just noticed that over 7000 members have viewed this post you are now viewing.  Thank you to the few (relatively) who have invested your hard earned money in the recreation of those bits and grooves in the front end of your room.  You know I feel ya.  But what's up with the rest of you dudes for whom my mod is intended (that would be box speaker type dudes) is what I wanna know?  Like Roger Sanders, how much more user friendy can a fool for the music make it?  You've never risked so little money in your life and had a better return.  And that's only if you decide to keep it!  Somebody please tell me cause I can't figure.

[jimdgoulding]

I'm bumpin this mutha to add a paragraph to the reply above.  My own.  Thank you.

[satfrat]

I just gotta add this (Jul 28).  Just watched Roger Sanders' video about his new speakers.  You should, too, but dang if I can find the address (don't remember how I got there at this hour).  This boy is preaching my sermon!!  But only the half that pertains to late arrival of which using my thing there will be less.  I just noticed that over 7000 members have viewed this post you are now viewing.  Thank you to the few (relatively) who have invested your hard earned money in the recreation of those bits and grooves in the front end of your room.  You know I feel ya.  But what's up with the rest of you dudes for whom my mod is intended (that would be box speaker type dudes) is what I wanna know?  Like Roger Sanders, how much more user friendy can a fool for the music make it?  You've never risked so little money in your life and had a better return.  And that's only if you decide to keep it!  Somebody please tell me cause I can't figure.

I think this might be what you're referring to Jim cuz it sounds just like what I heard when I first installed your woolie surrounds on my Odyssey Lorelei's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdf3VA06iSA


Cheers,
Robin

[jimdgoulding]

I just gotta add this (Jul 28).  Just watched Roger Sanders' video about his new speakers.  You should, too, but dang if I can find the address (don't remember how I got there at this hour).  This boy is preaching my sermon!!  But only the half that pertains to late arrival of which using my thing there will be less.  I just noticed that over 7000 members have viewed this post you are now viewing.  Thank you to the few (relatively) who have invested your hard earned money in the recreation of those bits and grooves in the front end of your room.  You know I feel ya.  But what's up with the rest of you dudes for whom my mod is intended (that would be box speaker type dudes) is what I wanna know?  Like Roger Sanders, how much more user friendy can a fool for the music make it?  You've never risked so little money in your life and had a better return.  And that's only if you decide to keep it!  Somebody please tell me cause I can't figure.

I think this might be what you're referring to Jim cuz it sounds just like what I heard when I first installed your woolie surrounds on my Odyssey Lorelei's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdf3VA06iSA


Cheers,
Robin

Thank you, Robin.  That's it.  See what this man has to say about waveform behavior and how it effects what we hear in the end and understand the benefit of nothing coming off our speaker baffles and a measurable reduction in what is hitting our sidewalls- our off axis frequecy response.  After hearing these, then coming home and listening to my speaks, is just more proof positive of the benefit of using my thing.  Your comment relates precisely to this.

[Captain Humble]

Jim,
There isn't much cabinet around my tweeters.
You think they'll work with these and are they available in Black?

Thanks,
Jeff

[AudioSoul]

   Hi Jim, David Kaiser here. I just wanted to chime in and say that the woolies you made for my
   Audiophysic Yara's are great. It is truely amazing that these things can really transform a speaker.
   I Get a more natural midrange and the treble is more natural and coherent. I just purchased some
   Usher S-520"s. Have you made any for that speaker yet?. Let me know, I will make a template like I
   did for the Yara's, Thanks........DK

[jimdgoulding]

Good Captain-  Made some round ones just to cover the tweeter plate for a fellow in Cape Town very recently.  I dyed them black for him because he is in Cape Town and I just had to add that address to my list of customers and because he agreed to burn me three CD's that he says will smoke any female vocal recordings commonly thought of as state of the art (tho they haven't arrived yet).  Point being I can do that for you if you would like.  Half of your tweeter is baffleless so I don't imagine the effect will be as dramatic as some.  But if it doesn't make you a happier camper you can return them and get a refund.  I know I will be able to re-use them.  If you will visit my website you can see how to order.  Cheers.

Hey Soul.  Nice to run into you again.  Put a template together for me, you bet!

[jimdgoulding]

Ya'll seen this?  Sort of a bible.

Loudspeaker construction

Construction of a loudspeaker enclosure which minimizes wall vibrations and edge diffraction, and provides time-alignment of the drivers.
www.silcom.com/~aludwig/Loudspeaker_construction.html - Cached

Get a load of that animated cartoon on diffraction.  Those green and red lines is precisely what you are not having to filter out when you listen.  It's no longer there.  And you can imagine what is there without the corruption to waveform purity if you will.  Purity being the operative word and what it means to the rendition of subject and object.

While I'm at it, I would like to dispel something that I have gotten in conversations with sceptics about the use of my "woolie pads" (it's just too hard for some, even educated fellows, to believe that these small things do all they do) about a likely deviation to the frequency response intended by a manufacturer minus baffle "reinforcement".  In before and after frequency response studies provided to me by Danny Richie on his AV1's and a fellow down under on his Dynaudio Special 25's using DEQX, the only deviation (what a misnomer) is a smoothing out of peaks and valleys- strongest near the crossover but extending well beyond- up to +/- 3db just as the author describes as a diffraction effect.  The on axis response curve becomes straighter and just as extended.  The only db's that are missing are the ones that are (being) deviated in the first place!  Well, they're not literally missing, just back where they should be.

And it gets better.  In the before and after impulse (time) studies I've seen, the drivers measure more in sync in time!  That's because, it is my contention, the test mic is "hearing" those diffracted waveforms from the naked baffle and then not hearing them from the damped baffle.  Something is responsible for the improvement.  This translates to more coherency of the drivers under consideration right where it matters the most.  Right in real time and space.  Right where you sit.  If that don't add up to money in the bank, I must be insane.