CBT ARRAY 20 ELEMENTS

CBT ARRAY 20 ELEMENTS


Designer:
James Morton

Project Category:
Tower Speakers

Project Level:
Intermediate

Project Time:
20+ Hours

Project Cost:
$100 – $500

Project Description:
CBT ARRAY 20 ELEMENTS

Design Goals:
CREATE THE BEST NEAR FIELD SOUND EXPERENICE POSSIBLE. 10 OHM Zin, 150 watts RMS.

Driver Selection:
ND64-16

Enclosure Design:
BALTIC BIRCH PLYWOOD

Enclosure Assembly:
WOOD GLUE

Crossover Design:
NONE

Tips & Tricks:
FILE OFF ROUGH SPOTS ON DRIVER TERMINALS. A LITTLE RTV AT TERMINALS FOR GOOD AIR SEAL

Conclusion:
YEP, AWESOME SOUND

About the Designer:
HARDWARE DESIGN ENGINEER RETIRED, CPU BOARD DESIGNER. SEE PROFILE.

Project Parts List:

Dayton Audio ND64-16 2-1/2″ Aluminum Magnesium Cone Full-Range Neo Driver 16 Ohm
Parts Express #8 x 1-1/2″ Deep Thread Pan Head Screws Black 100 Pcs.

6 Comments

Add yours
    • 2
      James Morton

      Yes I was very concerned, about the side panels. Their are seven internal baffles the top is 1.5″ X 3.0″, the seventh is 7.0″ X 3.0″ at the bottom., equally spaced forming a 30 deg angle tangent to
      the arc. a fairly random array of angled surfaces making a very stiff structure. Stuffed with rock wool.. Allah tech ingredients a thin layer of cheap acrylic latex caulking would be just the thing
      complement the stiff birch plywood. The bottom stand is 12.0″ X 12.0″ walnut laminated to a
      1/4th steel plate. I am now using my 40 year old JBL 10LE speakers as a sub woofer. Next
      up is a DML center channel. Listening just causes a sigh of pleasure. Like being at a live
      performance. I made a sub woofer amp using the PE TDA7293 and two 24VDC Meanwells,
      I actually had to attenuate the bass boost. Let me know if you want more details. Hind sight
      makes the build so much quicker..

  1. 3
    Tom Elmore

    This is a most impressive project. I have been interested in a CBT design that would use a better quality driver than the CBT36. There was another similar project 3-5 years ago. Is there a “builder’s package” of information available, or is it limited to the wiring diagram and brief description of the cabinet?

  2. 4
    James Morton

    Study the schematic details, Ohms law will give you the power to design any array you wish (Zin, #drivers, & power shading), Study the Vas, Fs, and Max displacement, also the frequency response, This design is weak on the low
    end, which is OK if you have subwoofers and/or equalization. A custom analog low pass filter and power amp would be a very low cost way to flatten the frequency response curve for a purist. PE has many dirt cheap kits that will make
    it very low cost to put together your own full custom dream.

  3. 5
    John Butera

    Hi James! I bought a kit such as this and I would like to add a center speaker using the same drivers as the ones used in the kit. How would you go about doing such a project. It wouldn’t need to be curved… Thanks!!

  4. 6
    James Morton J

    A DML would be ideal. otherwise a small shallow tuned seal box with the array on the front.
    Or mount each driver in a 3 inch PVC tube of correct volume for sealed enclosure, then
    attach them to a flat panel.

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