Ron’s New System

[Ron Resnick]

Trying to learn how to use this analyzer with my IPhone.

using pink noise from Tidal. not sure about the i-phone mic, or anything else either for that matter. Ron, if this is a distraction glad to delete it.

I think it might be better if we all put our curves on this thread, which I started precisely for this purpose:

Post Your Frequency Response Curve!

1) Download https://apps.apple.com/us/app/spectrum-analyzer-rta/id490078884 2) Set the adjustments to: Program: FFT Plot Weight: Flat FFT Size: 16384 Window: Blackman Average: Slow Graph: Simple Scale: Decade 3) Position the microphone side of your iPad at your ear position. 4)...

www.whatsbestforum.com

My strong suggestion, Mike, after futzing with my iPhone for a week is . . . don't use an iPhone! An external microphone (I think the most important element) on a stand and attached to an iPad makes this whole process much easier and more accurate and more repeatable. I downloaded Spectrum Analyzer RTA for $20. I'm using an Earthworks QTC40 microphone on a stand.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

I think it might be better if we all put our curves on this thread, which I started precisely for this purpose:

ok. i will move it when i get a chance later this morning. done...moved.

Post Your Frequency Response Curve!

1) Download https://apps.apple.com/us/app/spectrum-analyzer-rta/id490078884 2) Set the adjustments to: Program: FFT Plot Weight: Flat FFT Size: 16384 Window: Blackman Average: Slow Graph: Simple Scale: Decade 3) Position the microphone side of your iPad at your ear position. 4)...

www.whatsbestforum.com

My strong suggestion, Mike, after futzing with my iPhone for a week is . . . don't use an iPhone! An external microphone (I think the most important element) on a stand and attached to an iPad makes this whole process much easier and more accurate and more repeatable. I downloaded Spectrum Analyzer RTA for $20.

i have a calibrated mic for my Home Theater set up (never used it yet) that is suppose to be pretty good. i'll try it when i have time.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

To my eyes, it looks like it’s very fun to play and listen to music in your room, Mike

/ Jk

thank you, JK!

i do have fun playing and listening in my room. hope you can join me sometime.

 

[KeithR]

Even at 95dB the brightness seems to have gone away. It is, to be sure, a modern, not a vintage, tonal balance. It does not sound like the Bionor.

But now it is sounding pretty much right to me. Elton John sounds right. Stevie sounds about right. Carole King sounds great. Maybe the brightness was the ribbons needing to break in after all (as KeithR kept admonishing me)?

This is now pretty much what I hoped these beasts would sound like. I am happy!

You need to put up the microphones, take a breath, let the speakers break in a few hundred hours. then start tweaking placement to fix any big issues. until then, you're just driving yourself crazy for no reason.

 

[jeff1225]

You need to put up the microphones, take a breath, let the speakers break in a few hundred hours. then start tweaking placement to fix any big issues. until then, you're just driving yourself crazy for no reason.

Ribbon break in is a thing. My Maggies took almost 300 hours and this design is even more ridged.

 

[bonzo75]

You need to put up the microphones, take a breath, let the speakers break in a few hundred hours. then start tweaking placement to fix any big issues. until then, you're just driving yourself crazy for no reason.

This is not possible as long as he is there. He might need to go away for a few weeks and let someone come in every day to check it periodically. He could break the ribbons in with a cheap class D amp that he starts before he leaves and keeps a CD playing on a loop.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

This is not possible as long as he is there. He might need to go away for a few weeks and let someone come in every day to check it periodically. He could break the ribbons in with a cheap class D amp that he starts before he leaves and keeps a CD playing on a loop.

Ron has got to be Ron. no different than Ked being Ked. it's all good. no one twists our arms to read these threads.

 

[bonzo75]

Ron has got to be Ron. no different than Ked being Ked. it's all good. no one twists our arms to read these threads.

I never drive myself and others crazy for no reason

 

[Mike Lavigne]

I never drive myself and others crazy for no reason

lol.

ok fine. agree there are degrees of things. we have some intense members here and are better for it.

 

[bonzo75]

lol.

ok fine. agree there are degrees of things. we have some intense members here and are better for it.

I was just kidding around. I am not planning to request Ron to stop nor do I pretend to be not guilty

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

guilty as sin......

 

[Kingrex]

I got a new driver and put it in the basement for a week with a class d driving it and a laptop running loops of music. I changed the volume 3 to 4 times a day. I then brought it into my room. Rons speaker is in his central house. Kind of hard to let it run on and on. He could benefit by a closed space on that floor he could stuff them for a week and let them rip.

 

[Argonaut]

I never drive myself and others crazy for no reason

Audiophile Bill and family have gone into witness protection and have been covertly relocated …

 

[Pokey77]

The SPL below 200 Hz is completely adjustable with the woofer towers level adjustment.

I should have evolved right to this set-up. I should not have spent a week futzing around with an iPhone app

View attachment 104690

Very cool-looking chair Ron.

 

[christoph]

He could break the ribbons in with a cheap class D amp that he starts before he leaves and keeps a CD playing on a loop.

As I suggested earlier

 

[christoph]

You need to put up the microphones, take a breath, let the speakers break in a few hundred hours. then start tweaking placement to fix any big issues. until then, you're just driving yourself crazy for no reason.

But one can have fun and learn a few things along the way

 

[awsmone]

Ron has got to be Ron. no different than Ked being Ked. it's all good. no one twists our arms to read these threads.

Is this some sort of self fulfilling prophecy….getting a bit Zen ?

 

[Ron Resnick]

Very cool-looking chair Ron.

Thank you.

 

[Ron Resnick]

You need to put up the microphones, take a breath, let the speakers break in a few hundred hours. then start tweaking placement to fix any big issues. until then, you're just driving yourself crazy for no reason.

I could be characterized as driving myself crazy for the first few days. But as I reported, above, now I am happy with the sound. What is wrong with being happy with the sound?

Now that I am happy with the sound, I am finding it fun to correlate subjective sonic impressions with objective frequency response measurement. That might drive you crazy, but I'm finding it illuminating.

The first stage, for me, is over. I am not touching the speakers for the foreseeable future. I may play with thinner, narrower-band absorption panels. I want to look into Helmholtz resonators for the 60Hz bump. That leaves further loudspeaker re-positioning efforts for the future. I am happy with all of the electronics. The big turntable has yet to be installed. But the system has been successfully "hatched."

Yes, I had an early scare about the brightness in the 2kHz to 4kHz range. Russ heard it, Don heard it. Most importantly, I heard it. You may have been correct that the ribbons simply needed to break in, and you may still be correct that they still need to break in more.

I am feeling like hatching a system this complicated and getting myself to this level of happiness in two weeks is a successful outcome, with future improvements (such as 60Hz hump mitigation) due to basic woofer tower re-positioning experiments and ribbon panel toe-in experIments likely.

 

[Ron Resnick]

He could break the ribbons in with a cheap class D amp that he starts before he leaves and keeps a CD playing on a loop.

Two actual Pendragon owners, Han and Grant, reported that they felt the sound of the ribbon drivers did not change significantly over time.