Homemade Horns

[the sound of Tao]

With what seems to be a growing appreciation of horns here at WBF and within that hopefully a developing culture that feels more open to explore the world of horns as a DIY adventure it would be great to have a thread just to share and support each other along the way.

I am just learning things as I go and have as many (more) questions as any answers but I believe we are also lucky to have a range of people here who have great experience in this rich area of speaker design. We could simply support each other and also encourage others to join in and share in exploration.

There’s something extraordinary in taking on a project that helps you to uncover the simple desire to make and enjoy. This thread can hopefully be a place where we can help support each other in an adventure.

 

[christoph]

With what seems to be a growing appreciation of horns here at WBF and within that hopefully a developing culture that feels more open to explore the world of horns as a DIY adventure it would be great to have a thread just to share and support each other along the way.

I am just learning things as I go and have as many (more) questions as any answers but I believe we are also lucky to have a range of people here who have great experience in this rich area of speaker design. We could simply support each other and also encourage others to join in and share in exploration.

There’s something extraordinary in taking on a project that helps you to uncover the simple desire to make and enjoy. This thread can hopefully be a place where we can help support each other in an adventure.

Great idea

 

[the sound of Tao]

I think so too cheers Christoph so I have a new project that I’d love to get the input of others on along the way.

I have a pair of beryllium Radian 951pb-be compression drivers on their way to try in my larger OB horns which have 4 x 15 inch woofers per side and currently a wide ranger horn1 from Pureaudioproject which I love already and are the inspiration to delve further.

The Radians which I picked up from a lovely audio dude are beryllium 16ohm 1.4 inch versions and I am now thinking I’ll move forwards and get in Autotech SEOS 24 waveguides to go with them.

I had a few other options in mind for horns to go with the Radians but I’d like to try the Autotech SEOS first and if I like the way they sound may even do a version in wood as well to compare. I’m very much inspired by Leif’s setup with TAD berylliums and also the other Autotech hORNS with Christoph and Byrdparis on the forum. I’ve always leaned towards wood for horns and Bill’s adventures also drive me along but I need to explore the beryllium composite pairing to understand the experience that they then create with music.

I’ll have the Iwata wood horns here also to compare with and looking forwards to hearing the differences that both these materials and horn profiles create.

Just thought I’d initiate the project and will certainly have plenty of pondering and newb type questions about all the things that need to be determined… starting perhaps with should I be considering other horns as well. My shortlist had already included Markus Klug’s MK1505b multicells and Joseph Crowes Yuchi that he had modded for 1.4 inch CDs but listening to Leif’s horns (on videos ) made me feel more confident about exploring the composite Autotechs.

Anyway the next phase of the OB horn journey is under way. I do very much love the nature of audio discovery.

 

[morricab]

I think so too cheers Christoph so I have a new project that I’d love to get the input of others on along the way.

I have a pair of beryllium Radian 951pb-be compression drivers on their way to try in my larger OB horns which have 4 x 15 inch woofers per side and currently a wide ranger horn1 from Pureaudioproject which I love already and are the inspiration to delve further.

The Radians which I picked up from a lovely audio dude are beryllium 16ohm 1.4 inch versions and I am now thinking I’ll move forwards and get in Autotech SEOS 24 waveguides to go with them.

I had a few other options in mind for horns to go with the Radians but I’d like to try the Autotech SEOS first and if I like the way they sound may even do a version in wood as well to compare. I’m very much inspired by Leif’s setup with TAD berylliums and also the other Autotech hORNS with Christoph and Byrdparis on the forum. I’ve always leaned towards wood for horns and Bill’s adventures also drive me along but I need to explore the beryllium composite pairing to understand the experience that they then create with music.

I’ll have the Iwata wood horns here also to compare with and looking forwards to hearing the differences that both these materials and horn profiles create.

Just thought I’d initiate the project and will certainly have plenty of pondering and newb type questions about all the things that need to be determined… starting perhaps with should I be considering other horns as well. My shortlist had already included Markus Klug’s MK1505b multicells and Joseph Crowes Yuchi that he had modded for 1.4 inch CDs but listening to Leif’s horns (on videos ) made me feel more confident about exploring the composite Autotechs.

Anyway the next phase of the OB horn journey is under way. I do very much love the nature of audio discovery.

Since they are relatively inexpensive, get a pair of Beyma CP755TIs. I prefer my Beyma Ti diaphragmed drivers to my Radian Be drivers. Maybe you will still like the Radians better but you lose very little to compare.

Don’t your speakers currently use a Beyma?

 

[Maril555]

I think so too cheers Christoph so I have a new project that I’d love to get the input of others on along the way.

I have a pair of beryllium Radian 951pb-be compression drivers on their way to try in my larger OB horns which have 4 x 15 inch woofers per side and currently a wide ranger horn1 from Pureaudioproject which I love already and are the inspiration to delve further.

The Radians which I picked up from a lovely audio dude are beryllium 16ohm 1.4 inch versions and I am now thinking I’ll move forwards and get in Autotech SEOS 24 waveguides to go with them.

I had a few other options in mind for horns to go with the Radians but I’d like to try the Autotech SEOS first and if I like the way they sound may even do a version in wood as well to compare. I’m very much inspired by Leif’s setup with TAD berylliums and also the other Autotech hORNS with Christoph and Byrdparis on the forum. I’ve always leaned towards wood for horns and Bill’s adventures also drive me along but I need to explore the beryllium composite pairing to understand the experience that they then create with music.

I’ll have the Iwata wood horns here also to compare with and looking forwards to hearing the differences that both these materials and horn profiles create.

Just thought I’d initiate the project and will certainly have plenty of pondering and newb type questions about all the things that need to be determined… starting perhaps with should I be considering other horns as well. My shortlist had already included Markus Klug’s MK1505b multicells and Joseph Crowes Yuchi that he had modded for 1.4 inch CDs but listening to Leif’s horns (on videos ) made me feel more confident about exploring the composite Autotechs.

Anyway the next phase of the OB horn journey is under way. I do very much love the nature of audio discovery.

Thats too funny.
I have Markus Klug 1505 horns and just bought Radian 950 Neo Aluminum diaphragms 2” exit drivers
to try with those. Markus is making 2” throats for me.
I‘ve been told by someone with experience that Be diaphragms Radians are “too edgy”.
And I spoke with Joseph Crowe about his Yuchi-inspired bi-radials for those Radians.
Leif acounts threw a major doubt on the bi-radial idea though.

 

[Maril555]

Thats too funny.
I have Markus Klug 1505 horns and just bought Radian 950 Neo Aluminum diaphragms 2” exit drivers
to try with those. Markus is making 2” throats for me.
I‘ve been told by someone with experience that Be diaphragms Radians are “too edgy”.
And I spoke with Joseph Crowe about his Yuchi-inspired bi-radials for those Radians.
Leif acounts threw a major doubt on the bi-radial idea though.

Crossovers is yet a whole another story.
I currently have series 1st order ones, and having 1st order parallel one made to try.
Joseph Crowe advocates for 4th order Linkwitz-Riley With his horns.

 

[Maril555]

I think so too cheers Christoph so I have a new project that I’d love to get the input of others on along the way.

I have a pair of beryllium Radian 951pb-be compression drivers on their way to try in my larger OB horns which have 4 x 15 inch woofers per side and currently a wide ranger horn1 from Pureaudioproject which I love already and are the inspiration to delve further.

The Radians which I picked up from a lovely audio dude are beryllium 16ohm 1.4 inch versions and I am now thinking I’ll move forwards and get in Autotech SEOS 24 waveguides to go with them.

I had a few other options in mind for horns to go with the Radians but I’d like to try the Autotech SEOS first and if I like the way they sound may even do a version in wood as well to compare. I’m very much inspired by Leif’s setup with TAD berylliums and also the other Autotech hORNS with Christoph and Byrdparis on the forum. I’ve always leaned towards wood for horns and Bill’s adventures also drive me along but I need to explore the beryllium composite pairing to understand the experience that they then create with music.

I’ll have the Iwata wood horns here also to compare with and looking forwards to hearing the differences that both these materials and horn profiles create.

Just thought I’d initiate the project and will certainly have plenty of pondering and newb type questions about all the things that need to be determined… starting perhaps with should I be considering other horns as well. My shortlist had already included Markus Klug’s MK1505b multicells and Joseph Crowes Yuchi that he had modded for 1.4 inch CDs but listening to Leif’s horns (on videos ) made me feel more confident about exploring the composite Autotechs.

Anyway the next phase of the OB horn journey is under way. I do very much love the nature of audio discovery.

BTW, why SEOS 24?

 

[jeff1225]

Crossovers is yet a whole another story.
I currently have series 1st order ones, and having 1st order parallel one made to try.
Joseph Crowe advocates for 4th order Linkwitz-Riley With his horns.

PBN also advocates higher order crossovers for his speakers and horns.

 

[bonzo75]

Thats too funny.
I have Markus Klug 1505 horns and just bought Radian 950 Neo Aluminum diaphragms 2” exit drivers
to try with those. Markus is making 2” throats for me.
I‘ve been told by someone with experience that Be diaphragms Radians are “too edgy”.
And I spoke with Joseph Crowe about his Yuchi-inspired bi-radials for those Radians.
Leif acounts threw a major doubt on the bi-radial idea though.

Anything with high resolution is edgy when not set up correctly.

 

[Maril555]

Anything with high resolution is edgy when not set up correctly.

That is also true

 

[Maril555]

PBN also advocates higher order crossovers for his speakers and horns.

I know, but his speakers are of decidedly different design. Not saying he's right or wrong. Like with everything in audio, there are no absolutes.

 

[Maril555]

PBN also advocates higher order crossovers for his speakers and horns.

To my limited understanding the x-over slope should be correlated with the specific horn acoustical slope, and that differs from one horn design to another

 

[jeff1225]

To my limited understanding the x-over slope should be correlated with the specific horn acoustical slope, and that differs from one horn design to another

He generally believes that 1st order crossovers distort the sound because the drivers see too much current.

 

[the sound of Tao]

Since they are relatively inexpensive, get a pair of Beyma CP755TIs. I prefer my Beyma Ti diaphragmed drivers to my Radian Be drivers. Maybe you will still like the Radians better but you lose very little to compare.

Don’t your speakers currently use a Beyma?

When I started under way planning the larger horn project last year trying the 951 beryllium radians were part of the original plan… so once I’d got the 15inch drivers settled in and an understanding of what the pureaudioproject horn1 that I already had from my Pap trio then sounded like in this larger configuration that would be my benchmark to see what beryllium Radians bring. The composite diaphragm in the horn that I have here now is smooth and marries exceptionally well with the woofers.

It takes me a fair while to work through these moves and optimise and then get my head around the changes. I’m not sure where the Radians will take me but there’s always the chance of exploring other drivers and horns in this platform. I do like the Beymas for sure and share the attraction for them Brad. The 951 Radians are 1.4 inch like my current drivers and just a bit more extended either side so may work with similar crossover points as I now have and I can also then try them on the biradial horn to compare eventually.

These beryllium Radians are possibly closer in approach to the Tad 4003 drivers which would be my ideal but are a bit beyond my reach.

 

[the sound of Tao]

BTW, why SEOS 24?

It kinda goes with the flow of what I am working with.

There are quite a few references to the SEOS 24 working with the 1.4 inch Radians. The lower cutoff is also similar to what I have as a match in working in with the woofers.

There is also plenty of precedent for beryllium drivers mating with Autotech horns so that was also a good sign for me and a way for me to get some data points up on the materiality of the horn and wood V composite. My preference is for wood but my reference for composite is AG and so many different factors play in there I’m figuring so this is a way to understand this more and correlate the experience of the material.

As a composite waveguide it’s a balancing reference to what I already have and trialling it is very affordable and accessible. It also physically fits the frame I already have in terms of the form, scale, height and width.

I love the look of the Klug multicells but do think I’d have to also then consider going to flh with the woofers as well… but that could be something I’d be more likely to try maybe on the other horn that I have here with the dual 15 inch woofers per side.

Ked’s various experiences and Leif’s horns are for me the driver to also later try the dual flh approach but I’d try it with the wood biradials and the SEOS with the radians first.

Going to a flh could be the next step once I’ve got my footing with the radians in the SEOS in the bigger OB horns. The final design on the bigger horn may take me in other directions but I need to get that first stabilised to use as a base reference before looking back to any more changes with the dual woofer horn. I’m happy to let the process unfold much more before then. I have a vision for where this may go but I see it becoming more clear and forming up a bit and possibly moving quite a bit as I go.

 

[the sound of Tao]

Here’s a couple of videos of a SEOS 24 but with Radian’s aluminium neo 745pb driver.

 

[Maril555]

It kinda goes with the flow of what I am working with.

There are quite a few references to the SEOS 24 working with the 1.4 inch Radians. The lower cutoff is also similar to what I have as a match in working in with the woofers.

There is also plenty of precedent for beryllium drivers mating with Autotech horns so that was also a good sign for me and a way for me to get some data points up on the materiality of the horn and wood V composite. My preference is for wood but my reference for composite is AG and so many different factors play in there I’m figuring so this is a way to understand this more and correlate the experience of the material.

As a composite waveguide it’s a balancing reference to what I already have and trialling it is very affordable and accessible. It also physically fits the frame I already have in terms of the form, scale, height and width.

I love the look of the Klug multicells but do think I’d have to also then consider going to flh with the woofers as well… but that could be something I’d be more likely to try maybe on the other horn that I have here with the dual 15 inch woofers per side.

Ked’s various experiences and Leif’s horns are for me the driver to also later try the dual flh approach but I’d try it with the wood biradials and the SEOS with the radians first.

Going to a flh could be the next step once I’ve got my footing with the radians in the SEOS in the bigger OB horns. The final design on the bigger horn may take me in other directions but I need to get that first stabilised to use as a base reference before looking back to any more changes with the dual woofer horn. I’m happy to let the process unfold much more before then. I have a vision for where this may go but I see it becoming more clear and forming up a bit and possibly moving quite a bit as I go.

i kike your methodical approach, as i tend to be more impulsive in my decisions

 

[the sound of Tao]

i kike your methodical approach, as i tend to be more impulsive in my decisions

It’s good to trust your instincts… I love where you are heading with your project. I’m what you’d call a slow digestive thinker but most things start with my instincts and then in the end I also sum things up in terms of how I feel as well. I just need to slow things down in the middle part so I can get a bit of a grasp of why I’m heading the way I’m heading.

 

[Maril555]

It’s good to trust your instincts… I love where you are heading with your project. I’m what you’d call a slow digestive thinker but most things start with my instincts and then in the end I also sum things up in terms of how I feel as well. I just need to slow things down in the middle part so I can get a bit of a grasp of why I’m heading the way I’m heading.

Thank you, I’d like to keep comparing notes on the progress

 

[the sound of Tao]

Thank you, I’d like to keep comparing notes on the progress

That’d be good.