Quick & Dirty Modular Mains

[Mr. Widget]

Go with whatever you can implement the quickest for your initial audition. When you have the time you should experiment with using the woofers in "helper" mode as well as your pseudo MTM mode.

Schedule your set up so that you have a couple of days to tune the system. To really get the best from a new four-way in a new room, I would expect you will need a week or two of micro dialing-in to really be "there". I would guess you could have something to be proud of with only a couple of days of set up.

Looks like a really nice project. Do keep us posted.


Widget

[lfh]

Rob, Widget,

thanks for your advice and encouragement!

As to strategy, I'll work on the room first: We'll do a 5.1 demo (using Genelec 1030A:s), and my stereo demo is optional. I think allocating two days for tuning is a wise idea. Furthermore, I need more time to think over the speaker design before cutting holes I might regret, so I schedule the construction phase for the coming weekend. (BTW, I'll build a dolly and incorporate space for rubber isolators and height adjusters, so the speakers will not rest on rigid stands according to the drawing I posted.)

As to tuning, I'll try to work out as much as possible in the computer first. The baffle layout, "dog house" tuning, crossover design etc certainly needs more work. Even though I plan on using parametric EQ, I want the system to be as well-behaved as possible (as time permits) when running without. The same holds true for the room -- the design will be tested and adjusted virtually first.

I'll post some pics ASAP.

Fredrik

[lfh]

I've posted this picture before but here goes anyway. Given the history of this piece of wall (it comes from now defunkt Polar Studios, once ABBA's private studio), I'll just cut down the existing baffle. This is also in line with the Q&D theme

If someone complains about the looks, the baffle can always be hidden behind a speaker grille (with a hole for the horn, of course).

PS
Hey, Zilch, I hope I'm not infringing a trademark here

[Zilch]

Hey, Zilch, I hope I'm not infringing a trademark here

Nope. Nothing proprietary about a mindset....

[lfh]

One more thing:

I'm playing with the idea of setting up a 4.0 rig. The lower two horns could be run together with the extra LF cabinets as Ls and Rs speakers. After all I do have 4 x 2441:s and a pair of "cat eyes" laying around... All I need to pull this off is an extra crossover and some amps. I bet I could borrow that stuff...

[lfh]

OK, so I've made up my mind: I'll shoot for a 4.0 setup! This route has the additional advantage of making experiments with 4 subs relatively easy since Ls and Rs are almost in the right positions already.

Furthermore, I've decided to take the modularization to the limit and break out the tweeters to separate MDF-frames. Hereby "true" MTM:s are possible, and I can experiment with alternative tweeter positions by putting one frame above the mid-horn and another below and switch on the fly.

I think I'll skip the baffle offset and deal with the edge diffraction hump using other means. Looks is important too! With a symmetric layout and fabric grilles, non-expert visitors will of course think that we've got four Westlake HR-1VF:s (or maybe not... )

This will be fun! There's a second-hand record store close to the office that has an impressive assortment of old quad LP:s... The only thing missing to make the nostalgia trip complete is to cover the walls with fake wooden and stone panels (see this old Tom Hidley room).

[lfh]

I´m two 2122H:s short of building four four-ways. Someone told me I have too many speakers, but obviously my driver collection is too small...

[lfh]

Instead of cutting lots of holes in the box to make the 2441 and 2405 fit (as I originally planned), I´ll just mount the MF assembly in this cabinet.

Note the cheesy (fake) walnut veneer. It really would match fake wood panels