Through the Crystal Ball
Thoughts on speaker design and construction
The Barklays have been a great and satisfying adventure. I would like to thank Rod Elliot, designer and maker of many great audio projects, for his input and the kind use of his forum, found on the Elliot Sound Products pages. Thanks also to the great help I got off the site Forum. From zero to someone who new just enough to build a decent pair of speakers is no mean feat. The wild thing is, I want to build them again, but build them better.
It is one thing to slap together a few pieces of wood and insert a few drivers, but from the very start, the visual aesthetics must be considered and appearences must match aural expectations. Another thing most hobbiest's would agree on is that the work, is a work in progress and contrary to the laws of entropy, the future will deliver a refined version of the present.
I have proven to myself, that Bi-Amping works - of that, there can be no arguement. When designing the 'ultimate' hifi system, bi-amping cannot be ignored. After adding up the cost of coils and quality capacitors, and I have only ever built first order (6dB roll off) crossovers, the costs are similar. And with active crossovers, you have so much more control over the c/o point. Still, my experience with HiFi is still very limited, but I take great interest peoples opinions of this great and vast field.
Linear Arrays also have their place. The fidelity they offer with high power handling in a fairly compact footprint make them an ideal component in confined living areas.
What of the future Barklays? What springs to mind are 6.5" drivers. There are many good ones on the market available at a good price. A crossover in the region of 2000Htz will ensure the system is kept as a two way. Tweeter placement and isolation will be factors worth considering. Rather than spread along the front panel, close grouping or even ribbon tweeters, may be the ideal.
These Mark II speakers will definately put the clap into thunder.
But for now, as another 'let's see if this works' project, I have knocked together an update to theLargle and Goothers. Check them out.
