End Game Speaker Quest - The Final Chapter

[MKR]

It is common for builds to have pictures of assembly. People enjoy it. Could you share the cabinets?

Will post pics of finished speakers as soon as I have them

 

[Pearljam5000]

Will you be able to switch the tweeters?

 

[Duke]

It is common for builds to have pictures of assembly.

Really?

I've been a dealer of built-to-order electrostats for twenty-six years; a manufacturer of home audio speakers for twenty years; and a manufacturer of bass cabs and the occasional custom studio monitors for sixteen years. I cannot recall a single time when a customer asked me for "pictures of assembly".

Not saying it never happens, but ime it is not "common".

And especially with speakers like the ones MKR is getting, wherein the internal construction of the cardioid enclosures is the result of a great deal of research and development on the part of the designer, imo it would be out of place to expect him to require that the manufacturer provide "pictures of assembly" so he can post them on a public forum.

So I can understand your curiosity, but imo that would be asking too much of the manufacturer.

 

[MKR]

Will you be able to switch the tweeters?

Not sure what you mean. You are referring to swappable midrange heads? This was only on the demos to enable my decision of planar vs coax. That decision has been made (planar). There was a time I was considering a speaker with both driver types, electronically switchable. But in the end I decided I would most likely spend 95% of my time listening to planar anyway. So the added complexity and cost of a “dual” system just couldn’t be justified. Go back and read through the thread, seems you missed some prior details

 

[MKR]

Really?

I've been a dealer of built-to-order electrostats for twenty-six years; a manufacturer of home audio speakers for twenty years; and a manufacturer of bass cabs and the occasional custom studio monitors for sixteen years. I cannot recall a single time when a customer asked me for "pictures of assembly".

Not saying it never happens, but ime it is not "common".

And especially with speakers like the ones MKR is getting, wherein the internal construction of the cardioid enclosures is the result of a great deal of research and development on the part of the designer, imo it would be out of place to expect him to require that the manufacturer provide "pictures of assembly" so he can post them on a public forum.

So I can understand your curiosity, but imo that would be asking too much of the manufacturer.

Couldn’t have said it better myself, thanks @Duke

 

[getdadams]

I'm surprised Soundfield didn't use the Radian 10" driver (and tweeter for that matter). I hear mixed reviews on the GRS version. Maybe the DSP fixes any issues with them.

 

[levimax]

Thanks Duke! Interesting. Will certainly keep this in mind. Sadly it seems there are few shipping companies left anymore you can trust, regardless of time of year. And no matter how well you pack they find a way to cause damage. UPS and FedEx are especially bad shipping large fragile items and not damaging

Something like big and heavy speakers are different than what companies that focus on "parcels" are used to and also different than what "trucking" companies are used to which is palletised freight. If possible I would have the speakers carefully and strategically packed and shipped on a pallet. If this is done correctly it will reduce the chance of damage greatly and most likely not cost any more than shipping with a parcel company, probably less. The issues are making sure the pallets are packed correctly and the ability to deliver / unload / receive the pallet and the end destination.

 

[MKR]

I'm surprised Soundfield didn't use the Radian 10" driver (and tweeter for that matter). I hear mixed reviews on the GRS version. Maybe the DSP fixes any issues with them.

Thanks for raising this topic, a fair comment. I have discussed this at length with Soundfield. From a performance aspect, if the Radian provided a significant (audible) advantage over the GRS, I can assure you Soundfield would be using it. The only thing you get with Radian is a much higher price

Have you compared the performance specs of the GRS vs Radian and come to your own conclusion? What “issues” does DSP fix exactly?

One thing I can say with certainty is I have spent several months now with the GRS and it is superb, I can find no fault. Subjectively speaking, one of the best, if not the best midrange/HF presentations I have ever heard from any driver.

 

[MKR]

Something like big and heavy speakers are different than what companies that focus on "parcels" are used to and also different than what "trucking" companies are used to which is palletised freight. If possible I would have the speakers carefully and strategically packed and shipped on a pallet. If this is done correctly it will reduce the chance of damage greatly and most likely not cost any more than shipping with a parcel company, probably less. The issues are making sure the pallets are packed correctly and the ability to deliver / unload / receive the pallet and the end destination.

Fully agree. Soundfield ships their larger speakers via freight, not parcel service

 

[getdadams]

Thanks for raising this topic, a fair comment. I have discussed this at length with Soundfield. From a performance aspect, if the Radian provided a significant (audible) advantage over the GRS, I can assure you Soundfield would be using it. The only thing you get with Radian is a much higher price

Have you compared the performance specs of the GRS vs Radian and come to your own conclusion? What “issues” does DSP fix exactly?

One thing I can say with certainty is I have spent several months now with the GRS and it is superb, I can find no fault. Subjectively speaking, one of the best, if not the best midrange/HF presentations I have ever heard from any driver.

I do have a pair of the GRS but not the Radian yet. There were some tests done on another website (diyAudio - search New planar drivers at Parts Express) and I think the GRS has a bigger peak up top plus more distortion than the Neo10. Also, the lack of corrugation on the GRS doesn't allow it to go quite as deep. I believe the Radian LM10 was closer in performance to the Neo10 but I think that testing was from another thread.
So, I haven't been able to compare myself yet, but I will be once I get a pair of the Radians. As far as the DSP, much easier to tame that peak on the GRS mainly.

 

[getdadams]

My plan is to build something similar to the Giussani Research Delta 9 below. Besides the GRS 10", I have Eminent Technology LM10 and Monsoon planar drivers to try out. Once I get the Radians, I'll be able to do measurements and listening tests to see which performs better. Currently I have a minidsp 4x10 but have plans for a better DSP once I get the speaker figured out.

 

[MKR]

My plan is to build something similar to the Giussani Research Delta 9 below. Besides the GRS 10", I have Eminent Technology LM10 and Monsoon planar drivers to try out. Once I get the Radians, I'll be able to do measurements and listening tests to see which performs better. Currently I have a minidsp 4x10 but have plans for a better DSP once I get the speaker figured out.

View attachment 494686

Very cool, best of luck with the build! Passive or active? You should post build progress in the ASR DIY thread

 

[Pearljam5000]

Very cool, best of luck with the build! Passive or active? You should post build progress in the ASR DIY thread

Which one is closer in design to yours?

 

[MKR]

View attachment 494699View attachment 494700
Which one is closer in design to yours?

Well, all active and full range cardioid of course. Plus some additional similarities, but mine are another ball game compared to these. I suppose the CT63PL is closest simply due to the planar midrange. But again mine take things to another level.

 

[getdadams]

Very cool, best of luck with the build! Passive or active? You should post build progress in the ASR DIY thread

I’ll be using minidsp 4x10 and ICEpower amps to start. Plan is to upgrade dsp later. I will post progress once I can get started.

 

[getdadams]

Here’s a previous passive build I did with BG Neo8 and 3. I love the way these sound. They can also take some serious volume. They were designed such that the back wave of the planar could be opened and various treatments could be used to attenuate it or just go fully dipole. Currently they are sealed due to positioning in my upstairs room.