2245 active 3 way

[tuyen]

Hi Dan,

How are your finding the MTM config now? Better than all previous setups?

As I currently have a pair of unused tpl-150h and well built 300L ported boxes, I'm tempted attain a pair of 2245h (or maybe 2235h) and build a 3-way like you have done.

Have been doing a bit of reading and another candidate that is getting rave reviews to use as mids is the Beyma Liberty 8 (12"). Meant to be a replica of the legendary JBL E-120 (discontinued). Check link below if interested about it:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi...-150-a-13.html

[Dan]

Hi Dan,

How are your finding the MTM config now? Better than all previous setups?

As I currently have a pair of unused tpl-150h and well built 300L ported boxes, I'm tempted attain a pair of 2245h (or maybe 2235h) and build a 3-way like you have done.

Have been doing a bit of reading and another candidate that is getting rave reviews to use as mids is the Beyma Liberty 8 (12"). Meant to be a replica of the legendary JBL E-120 (discontinued). Check link below if interested about it:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi...-150-a-13.html

Hi Tuyen,

Yes the MTM is the best set up. I also tried TMM but I like the MTM better. I highly recommend the 2245 if you have space for a 8cuft box.

I tested the TPL-150 and a Beyma 12" 12br70. It was not a good match for hifi. I found that the TPL-150 sounds better if the xover point is 1600 and above. The highs get better as the cut off gets higher.

I tried the horn version TPL-150H but I did not like the sound for hifi. Sounds good for Pro sound. I was not happy with the TPL-150 with out the horn which is why I built a custom wave guide. It is a cut down version of the horn.

Dan

[mech986]

Excellent thread and build adventure! is there any way to get a few more of the wave guides made for those of use who would like to experiment?

Note friends that the 4645 A-D is a similar 8 cu ft box already made by JBL. Other similar boxes are used in Cinema Series too.

[kartsmart]

Just thinking /tpl-150h for replacing the 2404 in the 4628B and 2445s for low end ?

[tuyen]

interested in a pair of waveguides myself. not biggest fan of the original beyma horn and don't like how it sounds horn-less!

[kartsmart]

interested in a pair of waveguides myself. not biggest fan of the original beyma horn and don't like how it sounds horn-less!

How about a sketch of these wave-guides for us DIY guys

[Dan]

I have been testing the PHL Audio 6.5" (1220) in an MTM configuration. Each driver has a 93db sensitivity. It meets my goal of 96db for the mid. Its very smooth. No EQ needed. The mid drivers are inherently time aligned to the tweeter so no time delay is needed. Integration is very good.

Crossover is LR24, 290, 1850

I have added foam on the sides of the wave guide. It makes the mid-highs smoother. I used velcro to mount the foam. So far the best position is about in line with the width of the mid drivers.








Red= PHL Audio 1220, Yellow= JBL 2122


Red= PHL 1220, Yellow= JBL 2122

Looks like the PHL 1220 and JBL 2122 are very similar. The advantage of the PHL 1220 over the 2122 is that it can be crossed higher.

Dan

[Ear4life]

Hello Dan!

Nice work! I like to read about what you discover during the comparing of different drivers!

I thought you ended up with the 2118 last time, for being better than the 2122 ?

I have bin looking at the PHL drivers my self for years. There are many very good reviews out there on the 6½ inch midranges... hmm.. Another interesting driver could be the Lambda TD6M from acoustic elegance

Any news on your thoughts on LFE? ...JBL?

Regards
Martin

[Dan]

Hello Dan!

Nice work! I like to read about what you discover during the comparing of different drivers!

I thought you ended up with the 2118 last time, for being better than the 2122 ?

I have bin looking at the PHL drivers my self for years. There are many very good reviews out there on the 6½ inch midranges... hmm.. Another interesting driver could be the Lambda TD6M from acoustic elegance

Any news on your thoughts on LFE? ...JBL?

Regards
Martin

Hi Martin,

The PHL 1220 in MTM is the best combo so far. Very smooth and detailed, more resolution and depth speacially at lower listening levels. Inherently time aligned to the TPL-150 custom wave guide.

For this 3 way set up a 10" mid will not work because the TPL-150 can not be crossed low enough to properly integrate to the 10" mid. A compression driver would be a better choice.

The Lamda TDM-6 does not have a flat response looking at the measurements in their forum. There is a large dip somehwere in the mid band. The PHL 1220 has a flat response from 290-1850, no EQ needed. Above 1850 the mid-high gets to be a bit nasal and integration to the TPL-150 becomes difficult. I can start to hear that the sound is coming from 2 seperate drivers.

I am not sure if it is coincidence that the PHL 1220 and JBL 2122 look very similar in response in Bass Box Pro. Maybe the JBL 2122 was used as a bench mark when PHL Audio developed the 1220. Even the model numbers are similar

Another 3 way combo that I think will work very well is a 15" + PHL 1120(single) + TPL-150, LR24 crossover @ 400, 2K. A sub may be needed.

I did not want to use a subwoofer in my 3 way system which is why I chose the 2245 for the bass. F3 26hz at 120 db is plenty. There are 2 of them

Some of the LFE subs I was considering were; Aura "18, Eminence Lab12, Lab15 (Imax sub?)

Dan

[Ear4life]

Hi Dan

The 2245 is a special driver! It´s not really a subwoofer, but not just a woofer... You look at it and think of it as a "pro" driver, but not really minded for reinforcement. It´s in between all of it It´s law less when you compare it to whats on the marked! That´s what I like about it. Maybe I should get started on my 2245 project as well...

The TD6M has a dip of 3-4 db in the mid area, BUT do not cancel it because of that! t/s is close to the PHL driver but the difference you should look at is voicecoil inductance (Le). It shows only 0.044 mH witch is the lowest I have seen. That will lead to great performance, also in crossover areas, and make integration easy and good. The impedance curve shows extreme linear as well, but that´s mostly for the passive-crossing-people

another wonderful midrange driver from Denmark is this: http://www.sbacoustics.com/index.php...-sb17nrxc35-4/
It has the same qualities as the TD drivers.

If you get the chance one day to try one of these, I would recommend you to do it (I´m using the TD15M)

Regards
Martin

[Dan]

I have been testing a TAD TD-2002 in a 1000hz Le 'Cleache horn. Cross over points are LR24, 280hz, 1650hz with a .4ms delay on the mid.

No eq on the 2002, it is very smooth and integrates seemlessly with the 2118 mid. There is a 30ohm resistor in series on the 2002 as recommended by Jean Michael Le 'Cleache to smoothen out the 2K region. It also sounds good with out it but not as smooth. Works well with out a super tweeter. Theoretical frequency range of this 3 way is 26hz-20K.

How does it sound? It sounds warm and smooth. Imaging is very good. It falls between a B&W 800 series and a 3 way mid/high horn speaker.


Dan

[Dan]

[Dan]

[Lee in Montreal]

Love it. How did you equalized the 2245?

[Dan]

Love it. How did you equalized the 2245?

Hi Lee,

The settings for the 2245 is +6 db @ 26hz, Q=2. Its in a 8 cuft box tuned to 26hz.

The bass quality is amazing. It is very detailed and musical. It may sound dry to some but it will not play any bass that is not there.

Dan