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Blumenstein Orcas

Discussion in 'Speakers' started by Merrick, Oct 3, 2016.

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  1. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 8, 2016
    JK47, Oct 8, 2016
    #41
  2. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Armaegis, Oct 8, 2016
    #42
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    We should CNC cut slices of curved horn enclosures and sell them as flat packs to members.
     
    purr1n, Oct 8, 2016
    #43
  4. batriq

    batriq Probably has made you smarter

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    I just bought the book from amazon.co.jp: https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4062741792/ (along with some cookbooks)
    Marv, happy to lend it to you if you'd like.
     
    batriq, Oct 8, 2016
    #44
  5. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    Comb filtering FTW
     
    OJneg, Oct 8, 2016
    #45
  6. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    Sort of like these?

    http://telavox.web.fc2.com/speaker_box.html

    Currently I am trying to do more PVC pipe builds. Bass-reflex and transmission lines are doable and I even have ideas for a PVC BLH.
     
    Cspirou, Oct 8, 2016
    #46
  7. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    I may need to learn how to DIY if I want to go further into speakers. It seems extremely rewarding.
     
    Merrick, Oct 8, 2016
    #47
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The Sigma 4" should work in the P1000 BLH horn enclosure. TH parameters are close enough. Same Qts. FE108ez Vas is slightly higher, but this offset by lower Fs.
     
    purr1n, Oct 8, 2016
    #48
  9. Pyruvate

    Pyruvate Friend

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    I'm at a good spot with my 2 channel rig (well, at least that's what I tell myself) so I figure that this will be a good time to delve into the world of DIY. I'm looking forward to building one of the Madisound FR kits (especially the BK12 one Marv posted above). I've also found some good bang for the buck DIY amp kits (ie http://diyaudiostore.com/products/amp-camp-amp-kit, looking at the BH quickie for an easy tubed pre build). I'm hoping that learning more about the electronics and circuitry would help me in the future in regards to which direction I would ultimately pursue.
     
    Pyruvate, Oct 8, 2016
    #49
  10. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Let me know how it goes. I've never done any electrical DIY so I may need to buy some starter solder kits just to get used to what it entails.
     
    Merrick, Oct 8, 2016
    #50
  11. Rotijon

    Rotijon Friend

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    If anybody is making them flatpacks, do know you have a customer here.
     
    Rotijon, Oct 9, 2016
    #51
  12. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    If you need a good amp for high efficiency speakers, why not give everyone the finger and build this - http://www.neurochrome.com/product/modulus-86/

    I built one and it was the best I've heard for my LS50ies. Too bad that 65W wasn't enough.

    P.S. The guy who designed this is a senior EE at Texas Instruments.
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2016
    Hrodulf, Oct 9, 2016
    #52
  13. shaizada

    shaizada Friend

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    I had a thought that I wanted to share about the Orca's before things get out of perspective here.

    The Blumenstein Orca is a stunning sounding speaker regardless of the price. But it will appeal to a certain listening palette and is master at that.
    It is not a speaker that is best for the High SPL seeker who wants to tear down the walls.

    This is a speaker for the heart. It will take away the mental crud from your day as you relax into the evening.
    Yes, they can rock as well.

    But please don't think they are gods gift to mankind :) If you align your mental map to understand this, it is one of the most satisfying listening experience with the proper amp and back end electronics. I absolutely love these Fostex drivers...but clearly, they can fool you with their simplicity. I see that the cabinet and speaker box itself is very VERY important to bring out their best. Can't shove them into just any kind of box and expect them to sing to their best potential.
     
    shaizada, Oct 9, 2016
    #53
  14. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    I built a lm1875 from chipamp.com. It's only about 25 watts but it works for my fe83 setup as nearfields. Specs say the drivers can handle up to 15watts so I wasn't too worried running out of power.

    I really want to build the modulus-86 though. Also interested in his ultra-low distortion line driver for SE -> BAL preamp duties.
     
    Cspirou, Oct 9, 2016
    #54
  15. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    The Modulus, while using an IC amplifier, is not a regular chipamp (think - gainclone). LM series IC power amplifiers, when implemented correctly will make decent everyday amps. You can read up in Neurochrome website, the adventures of correctly implementing the LM3886 IC - http://www.neurochrome.com/taming-the-lm3886-chip-amplifier/

    The Modulus is a composite amplifier, meaning it has a low power opamp driving the power IC with a shared negative feedback loop. In this circuit the distortion profile becomes dictated not by the LM3886, but rather by the LME49710 opamp. Which is why it has so many zeroes in it.
     
    Hrodulf, Oct 9, 2016
    #55
  16. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    He's also recently come out with a more typical implementation called the LM3886 Done Right.

    http://www.neurochrome.com/lm3886-done-right/

    While I like my chipamp there are certainly noise problems with it at high volumes. I would not be surprised if it's not the best implementation, but it's an excellent first project.
     
    Cspirou, Oct 9, 2016
    #56
  17. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    I think few people have heard a good, small fullrange fostex driver in a good cabinet. As @batriq mentioned, you can get some crazy good deals. Before I saw this thread I ordered the P1000-bh for the f103s I got for $10. I've done custom enclosures before and well tuned parts express cabinets and I can tell you guys, you can find something magical with a nice fostex driver (even the $38 drivers in the orca) and some appropriate box designs.

    At 89dB efficiency, 1m from the speaker you'd max at 92dB output from your 2wpc amp. Drop 15dB for headroom for transient peaks and you're looking at a usable output of 78dB at the 1m distance, adjust down for listening position (guessing 73-75dB or lower). Anyone telling you you're powering them adequately from a 2wpc amp is bonkers. Math should be used when picking an amp.
     
    zerodeefex, Oct 9, 2016
    #57
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The Orca is a not-so-expensive solution for people who don't want to or can't build (95-99% of us), or want something that looks fantastically and meticulously finished. For those of us who love building and tweaking, or are simply too cheap, there's nothing stopping us from building essentially the same thing. Heroic or semi-heroic cabinet construction with internal bracing and thicker front baffles is the defacto method among DIYers these days. No one serious builds a box with just six walls anymore, which is what my roommates and I did in 1989 for a few subwoofers. In hindsight, we were retards, but so were all the other speaker manufacturers at that time. Heck, even the small Part Express cabinets today have pretty heroic construction with well implemented internal bracing and 1" baffles. As far as specific implementation, it's just a matter of adjusting internal volume and port tuning. The Orca doesn't look like its doing anything crazy with dual ports and two internal sections (which BTW is not a bad idea if you want to be using them far from a wall.)

    For those so inclined, so I would encourage you to buy the Madisound kits and start learning. Being able to build your own, and learn how to construct a speaker that exactly fits your vision, is so much more rewarding.
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2016
    purr1n, Oct 9, 2016
    #58
  19. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    You guys have convinced me to try DIY. But since I'm brand new and don't have any experience, I will use the Orcas for my listening while I learn and as a point of reference.
     
    Merrick, Oct 9, 2016
    #59
  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Definitely. Use the Orcas as a reference.

    I owned two commercially available speakers, one from Linn (active system) and the other from the now defunct Platinum Audio. That was twenty years ago. I will never buy an audiophile speaker again.
     
    purr1n, Oct 9, 2016
    #60
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