Help - Taming the HF on GPA's 604-III
Just finished a build for a gent using the new GPA 604-III's, with the stock GPA x-over.
The client is very happy with the mids and high frequency...but feels the bass is lacking.
The units sit in large 240 litres Stonehenge V boxes, double walled ply, with three internal walls damped.
To bring up the bass, should I just add a simple attenuator, say, for the HF?
Would bi-amping be a better path to follow?
Other suggestions appreciated.
Todd, if you see this - any response?
Andrew
Re: Help - Taming the HF on GPA's 604-III
Got any pics of the backside? is there a shelf or anything? How did you know my name was Todd? lol
Re: Help - Taming the HF on GPA's 604-III
Pics to follow.
No shelf as I used double walled ply throughout. Very heavy cabinets.
Todd = Tod White!!
Kind regards.
Re: Help - Taming the HF on GPA's 604-III
Pic of back panel. approx 30 screws to secure. Inside back panel also lined with sound deadening. (1/2 inch rubber ribbed carpet underlay.)
Re: Help - Taming the HF on GPA's 604-III
Hey there - sorry I haven't responded sooner. I was in a car wreck a couple of weeks ago and am trying to catch up.
The III is extremely well behaved, especially in that box. It's hard to tell from the picture, but you may not have enough bracing inside. My design calls for a front-to-back brace in the form of an "H" that is secured underneath the woofer hole and connects to the back of the cabinet. You may be spending a lot of LF energy wiggling the box.
What other items are in your system?
Re: Help - Taming the HF on GPA's 604-III
Hi Todd
Sorry about the car wreck. At least you might get an upgrade?!
I'm reporting on this issue all second hand. The guy is comparing his Tannoy co-axes with the 604s...so I don't know what box he is comapring to...maybe a GRF horn. For amp, I think he was using a KT66 or 88's...not sure if SET or PP.
When I had the boxes before sending off, we had a good demo night with some qualified audio buddies. They loved the sound, as did I. In fact, given the US dollar value to AUD, I'd like to buy a pair for myself!
I note your comment on the brace. If the walls are double lined (38mm in total), wouldn't this negate the need for the brace?
You say, You may be spending a lot of LF energy wiggling the box.. What do you mean?
I had also asked about a simple attenuator switch for the HF. Is this do-able and would you recommend it? alternatively, would you recommend by-amping...using a bigger amp to drive the LF's?
Kind regards.
Re: Help - Taming the HF on GPA's 604-III
Stiffness increases at the cube of thickness, so adding bracing with such a modest power handling driver isn't required, though such a heavy driver should be supported IME. I can't tell if the baffle is doubled up, but it and the top are the ones that need it most.
As a general rule, short of in-wall or corner loaded, speakers need some form of baffle step compensation (BSC) to balance out the mids, highs with the LF. Horn loading typically does it acoustically, the rest build it into the XO, so an adjustable XO is desirable at least for dialing it in to the room: General Speaker Related Articles
GM
Re: Help - Taming the HF on GPA's 604-III
Thanks GM.
What's your view on adding a 'simple' attenuator switch just for the HF's...say -2, -4, -6 dB?
Andrew
Re: Help - Taming the HF on GPA's 604-III
When I read "bass is lacking" it does not sound like a problem that can be sured by turning down the horn. But one man's bass is another's midrange.
Since your crossover is up above 1Khz, I don't think that turning down the horn will bring up the bass, it will just dull the overall sound. However, there does need to be an adjustment on the horn to suite the room, amp and listener. That "may" be enough.
Getting "bass is lacking" 3rd hand is tough. We don't really know what the tonal balance is. If it truly is lacking low bass, then GM's BSC is needed. My 1st guess would be a BSC circuit of 11mH+175uF (in parallel) in series with the woofer. You'll need to turn down the horn to compensate. And maybe a tube amp for lower damping factor - fuller bass.
Re: Help - Taming the HF on GPA's 604-III
Quote:
Originally Posted by
atilsley
Thanks GM.
What's your view on adding a 'simple' attenuator switch just for the HF's...say -2, -4, -6 dB?
Andrew
You're welcome!
Better than nothing to see if it gets the job done good enough, but lacking any hands on knowledge of this driver/cab combo, room conditions, etc. I have to assume that only a full BSC filter is required and in the case of switching between various output impedance amps that it be fully adjustable over two wide BW ranges like the M19's.
GM