First Build with X-LS Kit - pics

grimace · « **Reply #20 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 03:39 pm »

They look good! I find a beer or two help me with the assembly too

freerider · « **Reply #21 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 04:19 pm »

Thanks! What isn't better with

A little after midnight, I took a break, shut out the lights, sipped another cold one and just listened to tunes on my garage setup for 30 minutes or so in the glow of my stereo lights. Quality time.

Garage setup = Acoustic Research bookshelfs, BIC 12" sub, old HK receiver.

Ron · « **Reply #22 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 07:41 pm »

Suggest that you trim the foam back between 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" from behind the front baffle board. Also, lightly fill the back half of the enclosure with dacron poly-fil from bottom to top. Be careful not to block the port opening with the poly-fil. Nice job so far for it being your first speaker building project.

Ron · « **Reply #23 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 07:54 pm »

Just noticed that from the pictures that your cabinet doesn't have a rear port. I was thinking the X-LS cabinet was suppose to be rear ported or did you just decide to go with a sealed cabinet?

Ron · « **Reply #24 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 08:01 pm »

Opps!!! After looking at the pictures again I saw that you do have a rear vent near the top. Sorry about that.

freerider · « **Reply #25 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 08:45 pm »

No problem, thanks for the advice!

Also, thanks for the encouragement. When I compare them with some of the works of art on this forum, they look horrible, but I guess that's not a very practical or fair comparison.

freerider · « **Reply #26 on:** 4 Sep 2011, 06:58 am »

So I finished the first speaker tonight (bare MDF), and took it for a test drive. First thing I noticed, was that it was harder to drive than any other speaker I own. When doing a comparison with a similarly size bookshelf speaker, I had to turn up the volume nearly 1/3 to 1/2 again as much to get equivalent SPL.

What is the sensitivity supposed to be on the x-ls? Is this normal?

Nick77 · « **Reply #27 on:** 4 Sep 2011, 11:18 am »

I dont know how easy or hard it is to drive the xls but driver break-in is very real. Give'um 50hrs or so to loosen up. I have had drivers start out with low output before.

eclein · « **Reply #28 on:** 4 Sep 2011, 12:34 pm »

I'll second that break-in piece, just got new 90db sensitive speakers Friday and had to turn my system up higher than normal for a few db more sensitive speakers, then I noticed through the day I was backing down the volume a bit every few hours and the second day they were considerably more sensitive than 24 hours previously....and it continued at a slower pace through the weekend......

HAL · « **Reply #29 on:** 4 Sep 2011, 12:44 pm »

The X-LS are a fairly easy load for amps.

The specs are 87dB/1w/1m and 8 ohm load.

My Onix A-120MKII SS integrated amp is about 120wpc and can drive them loud if wanted.

Danny Richie · « **Reply #30 on:** 4 Sep 2011, 02:56 pm »

Overall SPL levels are not going to change with burn in, other than a little in the bottom end. Having to turn them up that much louder sounds a bit odd unless your other speakers have very high sensitivity.

HAL · « **Reply #31 on:** 4 Sep 2011, 03:19 pm »

If you walk around in the room with X-LS playing do you have any spots that get loud at your current volume setting? If so, it might be room placement for the speakers.

Just a thought.

freerider · « **Reply #32 on:** 4 Sep 2011, 11:18 pm »

Well, the last 24 hrs has been an interesting audio journey. These X-LS definitely need 4-6db more power to run than my other speakers at an equivalent listening level. My Polk RTi 12s are listed at 90db sensitivity, so that's not too far off from the difference I'm measuring (87 for the X-LS).

I was discouraged at first thinking maybe I'd done something wrong with the build, but when I finished the 2nd speaker and heard that it was exactly the same, I decided I need to go do some real critical listening to see what I had just created.

Finished set:

My wife and I listened to the AR 206 HOs, Polk RTi12's and the X-LS side by side.

To make a long story short, we have basically been acclimated to bad sounding speakers over the years, so that we didn't understand at first how good the X-LS actually sounded. The X-LS have a huge sound stage compared with the ARs, and a much warmer tone with solid, punchy bass. No matter how loud I cranked them, I wasn't getting the same ear fatigue I've experienced with my Polks and ARs.

Now this may come as a surprise, considering the ultra high-end crossover, 1/2" particle board construction, and no bracing or dampening material that comprise the AR 206 HOs. But it's true, the X-LS did sound better than this speaker, even though the X-LS it requires a few more watts.

What is most disconcerting, is that the X-LS, while not having as much base, are more enjoyable to listen to, than the Polk RTi12's which I shelled out $800 or so for several years ago. I wasn't expecting that when I purchased this kit. I thought I was just going to get a nice set of garage speakers.

Danny Richie · « **Reply #33 on:** 5 Sep 2011, 04:09 am »

Quote

Now this may come as a surprise, considering the ultra high-end crossover, 1/2" particle board construction, and no bracing or dampening material that comprise the AR 206 HOs. But it's true, the X-LS did sound better than this speaker, even though the X-LS it requires a few more watts.

Huh? That crossover you pictured is just cheap parts. 1/2" particle board, not so good. No bracing or damping, not good either. Maybe you meant this comes as NO surprise?

Quote

What is most disconcerting, is that the X-LS, while not having as much base, are more enjoyable to listen to, than the Polk RTi12's which I shelled out $800 or so for several years ago. I wasn't expecting that when I purchased this kit. I thought I was just going to get a nice set of garage speakers.

No surprise there either.

If you want to really freak out, then put a few more days of play time on the X-LS. Put them on real stands, and get them away from those other speakers. And just for fun, pull them several feet out into the room. Then you'll really hear some good imaging.

freerider · « **Reply #34 on:** 5 Sep 2011, 04:26 am »

Sorry for the confusion, but my comments on the AR speaker quality were meant to be sarcastic. It's total junk.

I'll take your advice Danny, and play with the x-ls positioning. I'm looking forward to many listening sessions with these.

Just had a new friend over who is a musician and been an audio engineer in recording studios for many years. He liked the X-LS quite a bit better than the Polks as well.

Danny Richie · « **Reply #35 on:** 5 Sep 2011, 04:44 am »

Back when I was still developing this little speaker, it became very apparent that it was going to be a giant killer.

So when I was saving the measurements and putting them in a folder, there was still no name for this speaker. I had to name the file folder something. So I named it and referred to it as KD for King David. David, being the Giant killer as he slue Goliath.

This little speaker was going to be the King of all giant Killers.

Then there was the Encore version, Sonicap upgrades, etc, oh my...

freerider · « **Reply #36 on:** 11 Sep 2011, 11:10 am »

Quote from: Danny on 5 Sep 2011, 04:44 am

Back when I was still developing this little speaker, it became very apparent that it was going to be a giant killer.

So when I was saving the measurements and putting them in a folder, there was still no name for this speaker. I had to name the file folder something. So I named it and referred to it as KD for King David. David, being the Giant killer as he slue Goliath.

This little speaker was going to be the King of all giant Killers.

That's awesome!

freerider · « **Reply #37 on:** 12 Sep 2011, 11:27 am »

What is the difference between the X-LS and the A/V-1? Is one better than the other?

Danny Richie · « **Reply #38 on:** 12 Sep 2011, 03:47 pm »

Quote from: freerider on 12 Sep 2011, 11:27 am

What is the difference between the X-LS and the A/V-1? Is one better than the other?

Driver wise the A/V-1 uses the smaller M-130 woofer verses the larger M-165 woofer used by the X-LS.

The GR-T3 tweeter in the A/V-1 is a little better quality than the tweeter used in the X-LS and the GR-T3's are pair matched when sent out in A/V-1 kits.

The crossovers in the X-LS are pre-assembled on a circuit board using good quality parts all sourced from China. The crossover in the for the A/V-1 use higher quality parts from Erse but must be assembled.

freerider · « **Reply #39 on:** 12 Sep 2011, 04:16 pm »

Can I assume the X-LS Encore's tweeter will leapfrog the A/V-1 tweeter?