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Alternative driver for P Audio DIY/115s plans

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sarsen1 View Drop Down
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    Posted: 22 January 2021 at 2:49pm
Hi all,

looking to build two of these: DIY-115S.pdf (paudiothailand.com) for use as subs in a PA style and as mid bass (75-120ish hz) between my XB loaded mini scoops and 12"+1.4" tops. But I can't seem to find any of the recommended drivers in the UK anymore. 

Could anyone please recommend an available driver that would be happy in this box in the £100 - £150 range that would be happy to do a reasonable job as both mid bass and standalone bass duties. 

Leaning towards this box over Fane and B and C plan as its is the exact same width as my scoops and looks like a nice easy build...




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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bob4 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 January 2021 at 12:37pm
Do some homework........

Don't know your criteria, but that box is kind of big (rough estimate 150 litr es) and tuned high (43 Hz according to datasheet)....

Calculate precise volume of cabinet, model it in winisd with available drivers. It wouldnt hurt to do the same for other designs and compare .....

You need to define some requirements in order to make an informed decision.........

How loud does it need to go in kick use?
How low and loud should the sub go when used as standalone sub?
Etc....
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DMorison Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 January 2021 at 2:29pm
If you want to stay P.Audio, this seems to model adequately.
Disclaimer, I haven't actually used it, so relying only on WinISD for that.
I'm not convinced there's much point trying for anything super high powered as 2 100mm vents isn't going to be enough to support large excursion drivers at low frequency anyway.
HTH,
David.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sarsen1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 January 2021 at 8:18pm
Thanks both for your replies, I do just need to get up to speed with WinISD but being stuck on Mac is my (poor) excuse.

Thanks DMorison for taking the time to sim the E-15lf, much appreciated. Was thinking either this or Fane Sov 15-600lf as it’s only £95 on thomann but perhaps the extra £ for the p audio is worth it...

Not expecting serious sub from these just enough to use in small venues and put kick and bass though for small live band gigs (whenever that will be a thing again) and then to provide enough midbass to keep up with my humble xb loaded minis. So nothing crazy!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DMorison Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 January 2021 at 1:31pm
Hi
Remember that since Brexit Thomann are showing prices EX-VAT so you will be at least 20% higher plus any admin fees from the carrier for sorting that out for you which will take it back up to virtually the same price as the P.Audio anyway.
Below is a comparison of the 2 drivers in this cab.
I've assumed a more extended definition of Xmax for the P.Audio as they are one of very few PA driver manufacturers who use a very conservative, hifi style definition of that parameter - the more common approach for PA drivers gives it a couple of mm more useable movement. 
This is what allows it to be pushed harder than the Fane, plus it naturally has a more extended LF in that box, so for standalone bass use it should be capable of sounding a bit more impressive at the bottom end.
The trade off is that it does need a bigger amp, so depending on what you have available, that may increase your costs, and the aforementioned issues with vent air speed - at this SPL, it'd really be better to build a shelf vent, though that changes the plan and eats into the box volume, reducing available LF.


Cheers,
David.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sarsen1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 January 2021 at 5:00pm
Thanks so much for taking the time to do the comparison David, much appreciated!

Thought it was too good to be true with Thomann prices... 

So I could either crack on with the Fane (or perhaps Emmy kappa LF as that looks like it might be suited to a larger box) and the plan as is and get okay results, or wait until April when the P Audio is expected back in stock to work out the shelf vent modifications in the meantime and get better results... looks like the homework continues.









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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DMorison Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 January 2021 at 1:40pm
Yeah, that E15-LF isn't ideal if you want to get on with the project quickly.
If the slightly lower output of the Fane isn't a deal breaker there are a couple of other options to consider.
The Kappa 15LF does get slightly deeper than the Fane in this box, and the difference in SPL above 60-odd Hz is small enough to ignore IMO.
Slightly left-field is a cheaper P.Audio - the E15-300S. It's meant more as a general purpose bass-mid unit, but if the same Xmax definition is used that I mentioned before it can actually do a little better then either the Fane or the Kappa in this box, and is cheaper & lighter than either to boot.

By the way, do you have any other requirements/preferences for box dimensions? I know you mentioned the width matching your mini-scoops, do you want depth to match too for example?
I can do a provisional plan with slot ports if you want, but knowing any other size factors like that would help.
Also, if you were to start with something cheap like the E15-300S now, would you want to consider upgrading to a more potent driver in the future? If so, sizing the ports to handle that now would be a lot less work than modding an already-built box later ;-)

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sarsen1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 January 2021 at 4:02pm
Amazing! Thank you again for your help...

I think going for the cheap E15-300s at the moment looks like a great option if the performance is acceptable and the costs are low! But would certainly like to have the option to upgrade to more powerful driver in the future if I went with a 300w driver right now. So if did you had the time to knock up a rough sketch of the plan with slot ports that would be a huge help and greatly appreciated!

I suppose the only size factors that would matter for me would be 600mm wide to match the scoops, deep enough to be stable when pole mounting the tops when used in a PA style and also keeping enough height to keep the tops above heads when on top of the 900mm high minis would be beneficial. But I think the dimensions of the plan as is are pretty close to what I would need.

Thanks!




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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DMorison Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 January 2021 at 4:59pm
Alrighty then, this should have everything on it, shout if you think anything's not clear or just straight up missing (click image for link to fullsize if it doesn't render properly in the forum).

I've sized the ports to give decent airspeed even with top end drivers like Beyma 15LEX1600Nd with 14.5mm Xmax, that does mean the airspeed with an entry level driver like E15-300S is hilariously low.
The box is a few cm taller then the P.Audio original to accommodate that big a port without too much penalty in lost volume. Tuning should come out at 45Hz, higher would be marginally better for the E15-300S but would be worse for drivers like the Beyma, so it's a bit of a compromise. 

The graphs below show the 15LEX1600Nd vs the E15-300S, as you can see the Beyma can do 9dB more at 50Hz, that's about the equivalent of three of the P.Audios, FWIW. Above 70Hz, it only takes 2 P.Audios to keep up with the Beyma. These graphs have HPF's in place for excursion control below tuning, 38Hz Butt24 for the Beyma and 36Hz Butt24 for the E15-300S.

Allowing for drivers like the Beyma is why I've also beefed up the bracing just a little bit.

I haven't specified the exact location for the handles, just shown an example of a typical bar handle. Ideally you'd build the box, load the driver then check exactly where the centre of gravity comes out and mount the handle there - this in turn means the exact height of the horizontal braces is also not set in stone yet.

Cheers,
David.




Edited by DMorison - 26 January 2021 at 8:44pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sarsen1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 January 2021 at 5:50pm
You are a hero David thank you! Looks Awesome.

Going to get the driver ordered and wood cut this week hopefully so can get a prototype knocked up asap, will keep you posted...

Thanks so much for taking the time to do this, I really appreciate the help. Not everyone would take the time to help a stranger like this Clap






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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DMorison Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 January 2021 at 8:49pm
You're welcome!
It's not that I don't geek out about designs like this half the time anyway, and with lockdown etc, time is one thing I absolutely have plenty of, soo  Wink

BTW, Just updated the plan with a bit extra info re driver mounting - in case it wasn't clear, with the vent that big, there wouldn't be room for the driver bolt holes & T-Nuts if you tried to position them at 12 & 6 o'clock etc, so you'll need to rotate the driver 1/16th of a turn to get enough clearance.

Cheers,
D.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sarsen1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 January 2021 at 3:15pm
Brilliant, thanks again!

Drivers and hardware ordered, waiting on a quote for wood. Prices will determine whether I go MDF, cheaper ply or BB grade birch. This will only be my second build so don't want to splash too much for birch just yet...


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