Looking for assistance with turning a horn for a compression driver.

[JayMan72]

Hey team,

I have always been interested in speaker design and building. It’s what got me started in wood working in the first place. I am investigating the idea of building a set of stereo speakers specifically for “Audiophile” level music reproduction. I am interested in building a 2-way speaker with a compression driver for the mids and highs. Now here is where I am hoping to get some guidance.

I would like to turn the horn for a compression driver. I have looked and found a bunch of info on the science but very little on practice how too. Is there something out there that could assist in helping me plan the horn shape?

Have any of you successfully made your own horns for loud speakers?

TIA
Jay

BTW - I have also cross posted this in the AVS forum as well.

 

[tvrgeek]

I too got more serious in woodworking for my speaker building. Quite a rabbit hole. I am now turning more to small hand tool work but not giving up my full shop!

If you can find anything from the late Earl Gedlee that would help. Impedance matching the throat is the big issue of which I never found definitive guidelines. There are various flair shapes, each with advantages, each without. I might look in my library as I have the four volumes from the AES on loudspeakers. There were articles in Speaker Builder and a few on-line calculators.

I am a long time ( 50 year) speaker builder. Not a fan of horns probably as so many are not done well. (yea, everything Klipsch ever made) I recently bought a pair of speakers that are better than I have built, Quad Revela's. So probably time to call it quits. When we had only tubes, horns were a big deal. Now we have MOSFETS for amps, ribbon tweeters, and planers, so I don't see much reason to do horns. I can deal with an 85dB system rather than 95dB. Of course is a pair of old Cary OTL monoblocs fell into my lap, then my view may change.

Shameless plug, I have a pair of Seas/SB speakers to sell and all my coils, caps, resisters, a few drivers, measurement equipment, library....

I have recently come to the conclusion we had it right back in the 70's. Monkey coffins. 10 inch, 4 inch, 1 inch, Sealed of course. If I were to build another I think I would base it something like a Mark "full range" as the mid, 400 to 4K, ribbon tweeter etc. Getting the crossover out of the female vocal range and keeping the coherency between the woofer and mid so a kick drum sounds like a kick drum, not a thud. Few can do this well.

Give me a shout, I would love to argue concepts over a pint.

 

[tvrgeek]

I noticed an "about me" for a gentleman with a CNC shop.
I have done shallow wave guides on my lathe.

 

[JayMan72]

I too got more serious in woodworking for my speaker building. Quite a rabbit hole. I am now turning more to small hand tool work but not giving up my full shop!

If you can find anything from the late Earl Gedlee that would help. Impedance matching the throat is the big issue of which I never found definitive guidelines. There are various flair shapes, each with advantages, each without. I might look in my library as I have the four volumes from the AES on loudspeakers. There were articles in Speaker Builder and a few on-line calculators.

I am a long time ( 50 year) speaker builder. Not a fan of horns probably as so many are not done well. (yea, everything Klipsch ever made) I recently bought a pair of speakers that are better than I have built, Quad Revela's. So probably time to call it quits. When we had only tubes, horns were a big deal. Now we have MOSFETS for amps, ribbon tweeters, and planers, so I don't see much reason to do horns. I can deal with an 85dB system rather than 95dB. Of course is a pair of old Cary OTL monoblocs fell into my lap, then my view may change.

Shameless plug, I have a pair of Seas/SB speakers to sell and all my coils, caps, resisters, a few drivers, measurement equipment, library....

I have recently come to the conclusion we had it right back in the 70's. Monkey coffins. 10 inch, 4 inch, 1 inch, Sealed of course. If I were to build another I think I would base it something like a Mark "full range" as the mid, 400 to 4K, ribbon tweeter etc. Getting the crossover out of the female vocal range and keeping the coherency between the woofer and mid so a kick drum sounds like a kick drum, not a thud. Few can do this well.

Give me a shout, I would love to argue concepts over a pint.

Scott, where are you located. Talking about speakers and speaker design are always on my short list of things I like doing. Add a pint to the mix and we have the makings of a good, albeit slightly geeky, time.

 

[tvrgeek]

I am way up in Hillsborough.