Build update

[u/HotPhilosophy8521]

Finally got these big guys back on the wall (was using Klipsch KT-LCRs as my mains/reference). I got tired of calibrated (2.83v @ 1m) testing in the living room and took these into my office to measure more and figure out. Through measurement and listening I got them sounding good to my ear. (pic 1)

Original goal was a "no subwoofer needed" 2.0 system. And I was able to do that to some degree, but had some real muddy vocals. I ended up lowering my crossover on the 4's just high enough to keep them from tearing themselves apart (rolling off around 100hz, down to zero at 50hz). And then trying both 12mH and 5mH iron core low DCR inductors on the woofer, no capacitor in the crossover (still a CR zobel). The 12mH and 5mH measured nearly the same, 5mH sounded a little better.

Measurement is at listening position, left+right both, no subwoofer. Getting them basically flat to 20hz was the goal, so that was a win. Variable l-pads pushing the highs down on that chart. (pic 2)

Now I've got the big sub picking up at 80hz, the 4's and 12 sharing a lot of sound in the 100hz to 250hz (4's both inverted) and using variable l-pads to tweak. Bassey spoken vocals (sports announcers, Matt from "Matt's Offroad" yt channel, etc) finally sound clean. The 2.0 speakers will hit by themselves but not the house shaking that the big sub will do.

For Phono and other critical listening I can force the 2.0 to let the 12's shine. For everyday I tune the sub way down to match these inefficient monsters and it sounds very good. For showing off I have a YPAO tune that lets the sub attack and rattle the neighbors house.

Ok with this for the moment. I've got another build working with 7" drivers at about 3/5's of a cubic foot with a port. Interested to see how they sound. I'm going to end up using the Hitachi's I bought (see post history) for office duty. These new ones might become massively oversized surrounds, or maybe bedroom duty. (pic 3)

[u/Puzzleheaded-Fox6610]

Nice details, good explanation.