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John Stockman (custom)  > Electronics > Speakers
Just a few of the speaker projects I have completed, plus a few pics of motorcycles, cats, crossover schematics and other people's speakers.
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John Stockman (custom) > Even with the sun shining on them, you still can't see the finish well enough, but I think my friend will be more than happy, considering how lousy they looked when I first got them. I found out what brand they were originally, but I'll refrain from revealing the name. I can't believe what is sold as "high-end"! These sold for around $300 when new, circa 1980, and had about $35 in drivers and what they considered a cross-over! I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I operated a business in this manner. But when they're stamped out like tuna cans, I guess you have to charge what will keep your business going.
John Stockman (custom) > Finished! Only one speaker is shown, because one of the Audax tweeters was defective. No output at all! I ordered a new one which should be here in a few days...I took the old one apart, but couldn't find anything wrong. No continuity between the terminals. The wires going from the terminals to the voice-coil are very small, maybe 36 gauge, but there were no breaks in the wires, so I don't know what  happened to it.
John Stockman (custom) > Here's a photo taken outside...since I have only one I won't be able to give a review just yet, but I can tell you that even with only one, the sound is very balanced and transparent. The sound doesn't come from the exact space where the drivers are located. I know already that they will be excellent at imaging, which is a trademark of a properly designed x-over. Fantastic job, Lou!

PS.  Sorry 'bout the delay in getting to how the finished PAIR sound! I realize this box is larger than what Lou specified...but part of the fun of DIY is playing around and experimentation! The cabinet size is not too far from what it should be and the XO and drivers are exactly as the design calls for. I must say my initial impressions of the sound from just one speaker is confirmed when listening to a pair...fantastic! The soundfield is transparent, wide, and deep. It extends past the physical placement of the speakers and the imaging is amazing. They totally disappear! The midrange is very well balanced, not blaring or nasal (like some of my first attempts at doing my own XO designs!), and smooth. High-end is also smooth with excellent detail and not a hint of harshness. You could listen to these ALL day without any "ear fatigue" that comes from some overly "bright" speakers. It's too bad these woofers are no longer available (I only bought two...dunce!), because I would really like to make another pair for myself. These sound so good that I'm going to make a couple more of Lou's designs!
John Stockman (custom) > Just a before & after shot...the old EPI's on the left, ready for new baffles to be glued on, and the new drivers recessed, mounted, new baffle attached on the right.
John Stockman (custom) > This is a SEAS 25TAFC/D (H537) tweeter with the back cup (top left), magnet (top right), and face-plate (front) removed. David Ralph has a web-site, www.speakerdesign.net/home.html#list, where he has some ideas and procedures to modify certain tweeters. After reading and studying what he has done, I decided to try it on this SEAS. The hole in the center of the magnet is filled with some open-cell foam, which is directly behind the dome; this allows the air behind the dome to go through the foam and into the back cup (chamber), but the hole is plugged by the white felt disc. The felt disc is extremely hard, and doesn't seem to pass any air at all, unlike the foam, which air passes through easily. David shows how to fill the cup with some special lambs wool. I just happened to have some of the kind he uses, from "Dr. Scholls" , believe it or not! The wool seems to absorb the sound waves coming from behind the dome, instead of blocking it like the felt disc does. You discard the disc and fill the cup lightly with the wool, which you can see in the following photos.
John Stockman (custom) > Here's the back of the face-plate...you can see dome/voice coil and the gasket.
John Stockman (custom) > Take out the disc and fill with some of "Dr. Scholls" lamb's wool; pretty simple, really. The cup is held onto the back of the magnet with some glue, and it comes off fairly easily, as long as you're careful with breaking the seal. David has excellent instructions on his web-site.
John Stockman (custom) > For the guys on the PE forum, here's a pic of the Vifa PL series drivers with a gloss black finish.  I added some tweaks to the cabinet, such as two extra braces, a coating of Cascade Audio VB-1 compound on all interior surfaces, SOLEN caps and MILLS resistors in the XO network, and I use West System epoxy for the glue-up. Internal wiring is Sound King 12 g. wire. I don't use circuit boards for the XO's, as I prefer to use 1/4" hardboard and solder the components together point to point.  The sound is great, with remarkable resolution and detail w/o being harsh. The mids are well balanced and they are very transparent with unbelievable imaging. When you close your eyes and listen to music you cannot tell where the speakers are located! The soundfield is wider than the physical placement of the speakers. You'd have to spend 3-4 times as much to get such a quality sound, and even then, the cabinets wouldn't be near as good.
John Stockman (custom) > Here's the inside of the PE kit that uses the 5.25" aluminum woofers and the silkie tweeter (MTM). I used some extra dacron batting I had laying around to cover the bare walls. The gray stuff is VB-1 from Cascade Audio. I put these together for a friend as front mains for his HT. They're wonderful speakers...well designed, great smoothness/balance, and excellent imaging.
Even with the sun shining on them, you still can't see the finish well enough, but I think my friend will be more than happy, considering how lousy they looked when I first got them. I found out what brand they were originally, but I'll refrain from revealing the name. I can't believe what is sold as "high-end"! These sold for around $300 when new, circa 1980, and had about $35 in drivers and what they considered a cross-over! I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I operated a business in this manner. But when they're stamped out like tuna cans, I guess you have to charge what will keep your business going.
 > Even with the sun shining on them, you still can't see the finish well enough, but I think my friend will be more than happy, considering how lousy they looked when I first got them. I found out what brand they were originally, but I'll refrain from revealing the name. I can't believe what is sold as "high-end"! These sold for around $300 when new, circa 1980, and had about $35 in drivers and what they considered a cross-over! I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I operated a business in this manner. But when they're stamped out like tuna cans, I guess you have to charge what will keep your business going.
Even with the sun shining on them, you still can't see the finish well enough, but I think my friend will be more than happy, considering how lousy they looked when I first got them. I found out what brand they were originally, but I'll refrain from revealing the name. I can't believe what is sold as "high-end"! These sold for around $300 when new, circa 1980, and had about $35 in drivers and what they considered a cross-over! I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I operated a business in this manner. But when they're stamped out like tuna cans, I guess you have to charge what will keep your business going.
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Keywords: speakers
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