8' Tall Stereo Integrity Tapped Horn Sub HT15D2....

17441 Views 27 Replies 14 Participants Last post by Toffkanda, Jan 31, 2017

SpeakerScott

Discussion Starter · Jul 30, 2013

5

In the spirit of "more is better" and "too much is not enough" I built a tapped horn out of a Stereo Integrity HT15D2.

8' Tall

~240lbs.

And capable of a ton of clean output.

It took just under three sheets of plywood to build. All joints are screwed and glued with a glue cleat on every joint. There are a series of braces running front to back so there's never more than ~6-8 inches of un-braced panel with the exception of the mouth.

In testing, at 30Hz in the garage I stopped at roughly 14 watts of the 1400 available because I thought the garage door was coming off the rollers.

I created some filters using the simulated output of the horn to flatten the response a bit, and given the silly excursion of the woofer (it can't be bottomed using the bash amp in free air) I put in some 20Hz boost before the 15Hz cut.

The result is the first time I can honestly say I've ever heard truly effortless bass. For music, or HT use at any level that won't get the cops called on you (and even some that will) I can only feel a few mm of travel on the woofer. This on a woofer that's rated for 22mm linear one way XMAX and roughly double that for mechanical. I would be afraid of losing a window.

At high output putting your head near the mouth of this thing is a bit like getting a demo from a car that can do a "hair trick". :hsd: :T

Scott

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SpeakerScott

Discussion Starter · #2 · Jul 30, 2013

8' Tall, Stereo Integrity HT15D2 Tapped Horn Sub..... - YouTube

Sharp eyed viewers will notice the whole 240+ lb sub moving itself on its casters at 25 seconds.

They will also notice I'm using my Federal jury summons as the demo paper. (sigh)

Usually, the following disclaimer (or something like it) is reserved for car audio. Any distortion you hear is objects rattling, including windows, mini-blinds, AC ducts, computer cases, the paper flopping about, or microphone overload and kittens. It's not the sub distorting....the amp I'm using for the demo can only provide 33% of the power needed to hit xmech for this driver.

Yup. There's more in the tank.

BD55

· #3 · Jul 30, 2013

Wow, you have opened up the gates for what I am sure will be quite a few people who will want to try this out! (me included - come on SI giveaway!) Able to output so much without having to spend the $$ on a pro amp would be really nice.

dougc

· #4 · Jul 30, 2013

Sweet! I have been waiting for someone to build an SI tapped horn. That basket and magnet is just too perty to keep hidden.

chrapladm

· #5 · Jul 31, 2013

Nice build. Reminds me of the House wrecker. And most of the popular designs coming out today can use the SI 15" for anyone that does not know. SO it proves to still be one of the most versatile woofers out.

SpeakerScott

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 31, 2013

2

I've been asked for plans...this is all I ever drew up. There are lots of fine details about glue/screw cleats left out (every glue joint should have one, I ripped the leftover plywood into 3/4" by 3/4" strips. and bracing. Again, I didn't make a detailed drawing, because I didn't need it. It's pretty simple to add cleat strips in the middle and brace front to back...you can see the strips in one of the build pictures. The sides don't need any bracing besides that added by glue cleats, so you just have to figure out how to brace the top.

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ßart West-VL.

· #7 · Jul 31, 2013

I tried to resist this question but I have to ask.

Did you simulate a reversed TH? If so, how did you choose between the two?

SpeakerScott

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 31, 2013

ßart West-VL. said:
I tried to resist this question but I have to ask.
Did you simulate a reversed TH? If so, how did you choose between the two?

A what?

ßart West-VL.

· #9 · Jul 31, 2013

lol

Your TH starts from narrow to wider.
Did you try the opposite?

SpeakerScott

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jul 31, 2013

No, but I did look at a straight pipe. You give up too much sensitivity. I just ran a reverse...interesting curve, but again stiff penalty in sensitivity (and therefore output) in the useful range to get extra extension and a smoother curve. I can smooth the curve easily with DSP.......so I'm not giving up the output. ;-)

ßart West-VL.

· #11 · Jul 31, 2013

Yes, the sensitivity drops but it go's lower.
Your sub does get a high output, it's a great sub!
Congrats.

I'm trying to fit an 18" in a TH for home use. :blink:
It go's to 13hz 3dB-point but, as you say, sensitivity drops.
...compromises compromises...

Still working on it and not something I'll build next week.
I'll try your approach sometime today!

Electrodynamic

· #12 · Aug 4, 2013

Sweet build. If I wasn't trying to shoe-horn our 24" woofer into my attic and I had room for an enclosure this big (small house) I would definitely use that alignment. From the looks of it, and from what you say out it, there is a LOT of output across the board using an enclosure like this.

NBPk402

· #13 · Aug 4, 2013

Awesome!!! What kind of expense was it to build and how long did it take?

SpeakerScott

Discussion Starter · #14 · Aug 4, 2013

Electrodynamic said:
Sweet build. If I wasn't trying to shoe-horn our 24" woofer into my attic and I had room for an enclosure this big (small house) I would definitely use that alignment. From the looks of it, and from what you say out it, there is a LOT of output across the board using an enclosure like this.

I simmed a TH for the 24. Makes the 15 look like a weakling. Of course you would need to make room for a 2000L enclosure.

SpeakerScott

Discussion Starter · #15 · Aug 4, 2013

ellisr63 said:
Awesome!!! What kind of expense was it to build and how long did it take?

Let's see the woofer was $150 +$30 for shipping if I remember. (It's a heavy beast.) Three sheets of plywood (I did not go ultra nice baltic ply) was another $140 ish...+ handles, casters, screws, glue and a Neutrik connector is probably another $50 So....probably ~$400 for the sub without an amp. I already had a Bash 500 or a Mackie FR1400 I can use...so I didn't need to buy it. Currently using the Bash...plenty of power.

SpeakerScott

Discussion Starter · #16 · Aug 4, 2013

SpeakerScott said:
Let's see the woofer was $150 +$30 for shipping if I remember. (It's a heavy beast.) Three sheets of plywood (I did not go ultra nice baltic ply) was another $140 ish...+ handles, casters, screws, glue and a Neutrik connector is probably another $50 So....probably ~$400 for the sub without an amp. I already had a Bash 500 or a Mackie FR1400 I can use...so I didn't need to buy it. Currently using the Bash...plenty of power.

I forgot...It took a weekend to build and paint the enclosure. Then I had to wait a week so a buddy could come over on a Saturday and help me move it....

NBPk402

· #17 · Aug 5, 2013

SpeakerScott said:
Let's see the woofer was $150 +$30 for shipping if I remember. (It's a heavy beast.) Three sheets of plywood (I did not go ultra nice baltic ply) was another $140 ish...+ handles, casters, screws, glue and a Neutrik connector is probably another $50 So....probably ~$400 for the sub without an amp. I already had a Bash 500 or a Mackie FR1400 I can use...so I didn't need to buy it. Currently using the Bash...plenty of power.

Very nice. You don't need much of a amp for driving it either do you... I'm think a 100w mono amp might do the job which would make this very inexpensive to build. I am looking into ways to get max SPL without using a lot of electricity and this looks like it might fit the bill. Def a budget sub that packs a punch for low cost! :T:T

A year ago the plywood would have been much cheaper too!

16hz lover

· #18 · Aug 9, 2013

Awesome build, thanks for all the pics, looks great. Hard to beat the SI woofers, just need to get more people to realize how good they really are.

chrapladm

· #19 · Dec 15, 2013

How have things been going with your TH?

xrk971

· #20 · Jan 11, 2014

SpeakerScott:
Very nice build! I love the video and seeing the jury summons flapping in the air. I have to ask how you manage to move a 240 lb 8 ft tall speaker around the house? I am thinking of building a tapped horn with 1 in thick XPS foam, so it may only weigh 8 lbs (the weight of the drivers).
Cheers,
X

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