I just checks my spreadsheet calculations, the cardinality of my bands are the same, so it looks like it didn't mess anything up.Thanks, that makes sense. I should have read the review more closely
I just checks my spreadsheet calculations, the cardinality of my bands are the same, so it looks like it didn't mess anything up.Thanks, that makes sense. I should have read the review more closely
This is fair question. For me, I can tell you that the ZA5.2 speaker I built is very comparable to the posted design. Both my frequency response and the impedance graphs are comparable to ones on the Zaph site. That said, if you do not measure to verify results, you risk not matching the design (miswiring, bad solder joints, a bad component, etc.). Note that many of the components involved have wide tolerances too. Depending on manufacturer, woofers particularly can vary significantly from batch to batch.
Otoh, I (and others) can improve on the design too. Even my crudest cabinetry is better than what you get with commercial stuff. Also, the quality of the drivers and crossover components is far better too. But I am also the tester, quality control, and warranty repair when I DIY. So, in the end, I control more of the outcome.
Speaker designs are tradeoffs. This one may be low sensitivity, but is pretty good in many other ways. Looking through what Amir has tested to date, there is not any speaker value that clearly stands out in this price range. For that matter, there are a number that are far worse.
I am interested in this product. Can you tell me about the kit purchase options?
[Accessories]
Ported Version Optional Accessories Package
Sealed Version Optional Accessories Package
[Crossover Version]
Original Crossover Design
In-Wall Version of Crossover
Reduced BSC Version of Crossover (for near wall, on-wall, in-shelf applications)
Crossovers Only - No Drivers
[Tweeter Cap]
Bennic XPP
ClarityCap PX
ClarityCap ESA
Mundorf EVO Oil
[Binding Posts\/Input Cups Incl. 10% Discount]
G-POSTL
HG-POST
Propeller Posts 35mm
NB-CUP
DB-CUP
R-CUP
I know that Amir put "conflict of interest" disclaimer in every harman product review, but nevertheless bashing this measurement-wise quite OK looking speaker doesn't seem appropriate in light of the revel f35 review:
Amir's conclusion:
"While in the "budget" portion of Revel line, and too low priced to be considered as "high-end" by the audio industry, the Revel F35 objectively and subjectively produces stellar performance. A bit of low frequency EQ is all it took for it to sound good without any fiddling with location, toe-in, room treatment, etc, etc. "
Maybe with a bit of EQ Zaph could also produce stellar performance?
That is the key. To listen at moderate volume.
Don't ignore the directivity, which cannot be EQed.Maybe with a bit of EQ Zaph could also produce stellar performance?
If I remember the study correctly, resonances this low in amplitude are only audible if they also have very low Q (e.g. Q=0.1). That makes them more than a "blip" on the response curve. The extreme case is a spectral tilt, which we can easily detect even if the slope is very small, but it's also quite visible on a frequency response graph too.
Also note that the study was only about detection thresholds, not preference. The impact of low-Q, low-amplitude (i.e. "broad trends" in frequency response) on preference is controversial.
Philosophically, I think it is not wise to diy this kind of simple speaker. Labor time, tools and materials cost/benefit is huge
3. If one prefers colouration, sure, ignore resonances. I know you feel Toole is a trust worthy source, so feel free look up his advice how resonances map into preference.
What would you like me to do? Listen to a speaker, find it unsatisfactory, and report it otherwise?I know that Amir put "conflict of interest" disclaimer in every harman product review, but nevertheless bashing this measurement-wise quite OK looking speaker doesn't seem appropriate in light of the revel f35 review:
Hard pass based on the sensitivity alone. Though, if I were listening somewhat nearfield and/or had a baby in the next room then the FR looks decent enough. The THD is pretty abysmal, though, but again, low sensitivity and 5" midwoofer doesn't exactly exude "crank it to max, baby!". I'm assuming baffle step compensation is what knocked this guy down in to the low mid-80's?
What would you like me to do? Listen to a speaker, find it unsatisfactory, and report it otherwise?
The implication that I heard it sound better but lied is quite a reach. And unappreciated.
The EQ is for room compensation, not speaker. It is a single band at a room mode that was constant with three speakers I measured. I applied the same to Zaph. It made a tiny improvement because it has so little bass.I think you didn't give them equal chance. F35 was dissapointing but with some eq got "stellar performance". Maybe zaph would be stellar performer too if you gave it a chance (measurements certainly don't deny it)?
What makes high or low sensitivity bad? Isn't the cost per watt for amps right now cheaper than at any point in history?
On average, I like to listen in the upper 80's to low 90's output level. And my MLP is also 8-12 feet away from the speakers. With a low 80's sensitivity rating I'll have to dump a lot of power in to the speaker to have enough output for high dynamic range music and in doing so, increase the *likelihood* of running in to distortion and/or compression issues. No bueno.
Distortion is proportional with driver membrane excursion, not with how many watts are needed to achieve that excursion.
Yea... I know that... but if I'm trying to get a speaker up to a certain volume and don't put a crossover on it then you get what we see here.
Compression issues are also a problem as are resonances caused by basket interference, non-compliance with the surround/cone termination (which do vary with input voltage and thus are called "non-linear distortion").
Actually I think "extreme" should be replaced with "most" cases. While it's possible for a speaker with low sensitivity to be capable of the same max SPL as a much higher sensitivity speaker, that's just not usually the case with real world speakers.It's not that speakers with lower sensitivity can't reach same max SPL as speakers with normal sensitivity, they just need more power to do so. Unless of course we are speaking of extreme cases.
We all agree that excursion is one cause of distortion. But hasn't Purifi shown that there is another distortion behavior which is related to applied current?Distortion is proportional with driver membrane excursion, not with how many watts are needed to achieve that excursion.
We all agree that excursion is one cause of distortion. But hasn't Purifi shown that there is another distortion behavior which is related to applied current?