Mike's Emerald Physics CS2.3 System

[SolidSqual]

Hey Guys,

Some pics of my new speakers are well over do. Frankly, this thread is tardy because I've been spending all my time either working or listening to tunes.

These speakers sound utterly terrible out of the box, which was the case more or less with the CS2s, but even worse here. However, after 24 hours, the compression driver really started to open up. I got 300 hours on them now and can honestly say the sound is leaps and bounds better than my old CS2 setup.

The current pics only display my digital setup. I'll have some new ones eventually once I have my analog gear presentable.

Enjoy,

Mike

[jimmydep]

Mike, those are pretty speakers.......But just a dumb question, where are the tweeters?
I'm assuming the top speaker is a coaxial.....

Jimmy

[SolidSqual]

The tweet screws into the back of the 12 inch woofer.

[danz1906]

Very nice speakers!

[GV#27]

These are fully active are they not?I ask because in one pic I see an elelecrolytic cap (and possibly some other components) so I assume these must be for contouring or impedance eq ?

[unc2701]

IIRC, It's biamped- the top end has a passive crossover between two coaxial drivers, then there's an active crossover splitting the coaxial and those 15's. Plus the 15's are EQ'd to boost the IB rolloff.

PS, those might have knocked off the DQ-10's for the ugliest naked speakers.

[GV#27]

IIRC, It's biamped- the top end has a passive crossover between two coaxial drivers, then there's an active crossover splitting the coaxial and those 15's.

Ah Ok thanks that makes sense,but hopefully that "lytic" isn't in the hi pass network:

Plus the 15's are EQ'd to boost the IB rolloff.

I would think that would be done electronically,likely in the DBX unit listed?

DQ-10's for the ugliest naked speakers.

Yep the DQ10's nude were some ugly.

[unc2701]

Ah Ok thanks that makes sense,but hopefully that "lytic" isn't in the hi pass network:
I would think that would be done electronically,likely the DBX unit in his rig list.e

Yep the DQ10's nude were some ugly.

Sorry, wasn't clear- the EQ & bottom-end crossover are _both_ active & done by the DBX.

Huh- I thought they were shipping those with the DCX2496, not the DBX. Solid must have upgraded.

[BlueFox]

Is this the setup your girlfiriend's friends were playing with?

Interesting speaker design. Does the individual speaker size eliminate the need for a boxed enclosure?

[GV#27]

I thought they were shipping those with the DCX2496, not the DBX.

The Behringer is a wonderful and versatile tool for DIYer's but I'm unfamiliar with the DBX unit.

[GV#27]

Interesting speaker design. Does the individual speaker size eliminate the need for a boxed enclosure?

The thinking is that by removing the box you remove it's associated resonances and colourations.However doing so results in reduced low frequency efficiency,extension and output capability.The use of multiple big drivers and specalized eq will allow for much of it to be gained back.

[unc2701]

The Behringer is a wonderful and versatile tool for DIYer's but I'm unfamiliar with the DBX unit.

Yeah, the dcx is a hell of a lot easier than prototyping crossovers... The DBx is pretty close- played with one briefly. More expensive, tho.

[SolidSqual]

I got the dbx 260 coming back my way here soon. Clayton is doing some final updates to the programming. Those pics are of my modded Behringer.

[SolidSqual]

Yeah, the speakers are pretty ugly naked, but I think they'd be pretty sweet with the wood finish and holes large enough to display the drivers. I may make some panels to test this theory.

[Conradicles]

I think they are beautiful naked. O.K...that sounded like something I told many old girlfriends.

[F1nut]

Nice looking rig Mike. What's the reason for the small openings with the front panels in place and can you notice a difference with the panels on/off?

[SolidSqual]

Nice looking rig Mike. What's the reason for the small openings with the front panels in place and can you notice a difference with the panels on/off?

I'm not sure why the small openings are there, but I will be putting together some questions like this to ask Clayton. The bass decreased when I took the panels off and also lost some accuracy. So evidently they are more than just an aesthetic function. Actually, I think maybe some of the bass is reflected to the rear of the speaker and subsequently loads the room . . . not sure really. It's a bizarre effect when you remove and replace the panel.

And, yes, this is the system my girlfriend's friends were effing with.

[unc2701]

I'm not sure why the small openings are there, but I will be putting together some questions like this to ask Clayton. The bass decreased when I took the panels off and also lost some accuracy. So evidently they are more than just an aesthetic function. Actually, I think maybe some of the bass is reflected to the rear of the speaker and subsequently loads the room . . . not sure really. It's a bizarre effect when you remove and replace the panel.

And, yes, this is the system my girlfriend's friends were effing with.

I'll try to find the link, but Martin King did some research on different panel configurations with OB speakers. Basically you can manipulate the frontwave/rearwave cancellation quite a bit by changing the shape of the baffle.

So my guess is that the openings make the frontwave bass more directional thus reducing the cancellation. The grills don't look tight enough to create a loaded chamber between the the driver and the grill, but I could be wrong.

So you got updated progs for the Behringer, too? I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on that vs the DBX.

[Face]

Here's some good reading on open baffle and dipole speakers. http://www.musicanddesign.com/

System looks great Mike. The DBX is supposed to be the bee's knees(and should be for the price).

[Ern Dog]

Mike- This looks like a nice high-end setup. Those bass drivers are huge! No need for a sub. When can we come over?

[Jim Shearer]

For those interested in a discussion of open baffle (OB) design, Martin King's web site is: www.quarter-wave.com

There is life outside the box!

[tonyb]

Looks nice....though not my cup of tea,but I have the same question about the small holes infront. Seems more restrictive. Maybe they wanted to force the sound through it.

[BB3]

Jesus Mike ! What A Neat Looking Setup You've Got There. You Must Be Very Proud.

If You Don't Mind Me Asking.....What Type Of Audio Racks Are Those ? I Absolutely Love The Way They Look.

Other Than That Mike, Take Care Of Yourself And Happy Listening.
-----Bill(BB3)

[sTiLlLeArNiNg]

Odd/interesting looking speaker's but VERY nice setup! :)

In case i missed it what are you using for amplification?

[comfortablycurt]

Jesus Mike ! What A Neat Looking Setup You've Got There. You Must Be Very Proud.

If You Don't Mind Me Asking.....What Type Of Audio Racks Are Those ? I Absolutely Love The Way They Look.

Other Than That Mike, Take Care Of Yourself And Happy Listening.
-----Bill(BB3)

Those are VTI racks...The BL series to be specific.

[SolidSqual]

Odd/interesting looking speaker's but VERY nice setup! :)

In case i missed it what are you using for amplification?

I have two Wyred4Sound Stereo Amps, one for each speaker. Each amp has two independent D-class amps within. I got 500 watts for the subs and 250 watts for the mids and highs.

[kevon27]

Please excuse my ignorance. But how can those speakers produced any bass without it being in a enclosure?

[kevon27]

Second question.. How can you have a horn/tweeter driver stuck inside of a woofer magnet? Can does speaker produce any sort of high range sounds?

Dude, you are confusing me... Please explain (for the uneducated) how your speaker works.
thanks

[Jim Shearer]

Please excuse my ignorance. But how can those speakers produced any bass without it being in a enclosure?

As I said before, read:
www.quarter-wave.com
Look under OB theory and under Projects (Lowther OB)

And if you want to try a simpler and WAY cheaper OB speaker, try building the passive OB Martin discusses. (The Em Phy uses an active XO and major EQ.) I built a version of the passive OB speaker using the Eminence Alpha 15a and Fostex FF85k. Photo below shows the OB with an FE108eSigma Metronome to its right and an F120A Metronome behind it. Read about in a major OB thread on DIYaudio.com . My build is described starting on page 48, reply #479. link:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/full-...rticle-48.html

If you like Magnaplanar and electrostatic speakers, you will probably enjoy OB.

Warning: Speaker building is addictive!!

Cheers, Jim

[BB3]

Those are VTI racks...The BL series to be specific.

Thank you Mike for getting back to me on this. I really appreciate it.---Bill(BB3)