Suggestions for first DIY Project: Carmody “Pit Vipers” or SB Acoustics "GEMA"

[Wizard509]

I am looking at these two options for use with Hypex plate amps: Pit Vipers and SB Acoustics GEMA .

The speakers will be mounted on the front wall of a hobby shop that measures 30 feet deep by 50 feet wide.

This will be my first attempt at loudspeaker DIY, but I have some woodworking experience and do not anticipate having any significant problems building the enclosures.

I have a UMIK-1 and a stand for it. I am willing to cobble up a turntable for the speaker measurement process.

Please provide any suggestions or questions that may help me make a final decision on speaker selection.

Thank you.

 

[RickS]

Is the shop temp/humidity controlled?

 

[Wizard509]

Is the shop temp/humidity controlled?

For the most part, but there will be times when it will be open air. Are you concerned about humidity affecting the electronics?

 

[Roland68]

For the most part, but there will be times when it will be open air. Are you concerned about humidity affecting the electronics?

Normal electronics are never immune to moisture, and neither are speaker chassis.

 

[RickS]

Maybe, but in this case, was asking for speaker drivers. Would be looking for drivers with better humidity resistance and die cast frames.

 

[Wizard509]

Maybe, but in this case, was asking for speaker drivers. Would be looking for drivers with better humidity resistance and die cast frames.

How do I identify speakers that will be better suited for the application (aside from the frame construction)?

 

[RickS]

How do I identify speakers that will be better suited for the application (aside from the frame construction)?

Cones should be coated paper, polypropylene or metal. Will look more later, but gtg to dentist rn.

 

[Wizard509]

Cones should be coated paper, polypropylene or metal. Will look more later, but gtg to dentist rn.

Thanks.

Hope your dental visit is just for a check-up.

 

[RickS]

diysoundgroup had some designs that would be more appropriate (notably more so than the Gema), Matt Grant likely has a better handle on PA style speakers than I.

He goes by @mtg90 here.

 

[Wizard509]

diysoundgroup had some designs that would be more appropriate (notably more so than the Gema), Matt Grant likely has a better handle on PA style speakers than I.

He goes by @mtg90 here.

Thanks - I'll do some digging there as well as try to get up with Matt.

One last question for today - any advantage in going to sealed enclosures?

 

[RickS]

Thanks - I'll do some digging there as well as try to get up with Matt.

One last question for today - any advantage in going to sealed enclosures?

generally, no. for as big as your shop, bass reflex is likely best.

how high is the ceiling?

 

[Wizard509]

generally, no. for as big as your shop, bass reflex is likely best.

how high is the ceiling?

12 feet with two loft sections at each end that drop it to 8.

 

[vincent_freeman]

I wouldn´t choose any of these for this application, and the price difference is massive, the GEMAs would cost 3 times the price to build, easy, compared to the Pit Vipers.

I would look for something like this, not saying this particular one but similar, although this one seem pretty good:

I think at least, I dunno, feedback welcome as always

 

[Wizard509]

I wouldn´t choose any of these for this application, and the price difference is massive, the GEMAs would cost 3 times the price to build, easy, compared to the Pit Vipers.

I would look for something like this, not saying this particular one but similar, although this one seem pretty good:

I think at least, I dunno, feedback welcome as always

Thanks for the reply.

If you will, then please help me understand the reasoning (ignoring cost differentials) behind your recommendations.

 

[vincent_freeman]

I think the PA style speaker works better because of the wider off axis coverage, since it´s a shop and no one is sitting in front of the speakers listening.

I could be wrong, this is just what I think based on my very limited knowledge.

Feedback is welcome, love learning stuff here, the people are great..

 

[Wizard509]

I think the PA style speaker works better because of the wider off axis coverage, since it´s a shop and no one is sitting in front of the speakers listening.

I could be wrong, this is just what I think based on my very limited knowledge.

Feedback is welcome, love learning stuff here, the people are great..

Thanks for the explanation. I understand your reasoning. @RickS made the same suggestion and I've done a little digging on related options.

Another possible option that has come to light since my post is using in-wall speakers (such as those offered by Revel) in conjunction with one or more subwoofers. The in-wall units would be operating in mono.

 

[Ktacos]

I think the PA style speaker works better because of the wider off axis coverage, since it´s a shop and no one is sitting in front of the speakers listening.

I could be wrong, this is just what I think based on my very limited knowledge.

Feedback is welcome, love learning stuff here, the people are great..

Generally the dispersion of pa speakers is more narrow than what you'll find with 1" dome based speakers.

I made the pit vipers, they're ok, real world measurements don't quite match the sim so I scrapped the stock crossover and made them active, and swapped the tweeter for a waveguided one.

I would also recommend building what we would typically call an econowave speaker. It's just a diy pa speaker, often made to look nice to be in a home. Your space is kind of big, the pit viper or gema might struggle to reach acceptable levels without stressing.

There are some plans out there for finished designs in this area, but you have a lot of freedom in terms of woofer and CD+horn combo since you're using dsp amps.

Good horn shootout here.

MTG Designs - Waveguide Shootout

Objective Tests / Measurements of Various Horns and Waveguides This project was started in 2013, then nearly abandoned for several years and finally restarted last year (2021). The idea is to test and provide various measurements on a wide range of waveguide and horn designs making it easier to

www.mtg-designs.com

I made the designers VBS 10.2 speaker, a 10" two way. It's quite good but I have no real use for it so it just gathers dust.

 

[Wizard509]

Generally the dispersion of pa speakers is more narrow than what you'll find with 1" dome based speakers.

I made the pit vipers, they're ok, real world measurements don't quite match the sim so I scrapped the stock crossover and made them active, and swapped the tweeter for a waveguided one.

I would also recommend building what we would typically call an econowave speaker. It's just a diy pa speaker, often made to look nice to be in a home. Your space is kind of big, the pit viper or gema might struggle to reach acceptable levels without stressing.

There are some plans out there for finished designs in this area, but you have a lot of freedom in terms of woofer and CD+horn combo since you're using dsp amps.

Good horn shootout here.

MTG Designs - Waveguide Shootout

Objective Tests / Measurements of Various Horns and Waveguides This project was started in 2013, then nearly abandoned for several years and finally restarted last year (2021). The idea is to test and provide various measurements on a wide range of waveguide and horn designs making it easier to

www.mtg-designs.com

I made the designers VBS 10.2 speaker, a 10" two way. It's quite good but I have no real use for it so it just gathers dust.

Thank you for your reply.

I'll look at the horn shootout information.