Comments on: The HifiZine active loudspeaker project – a proposal

By: Joe Lampton

Joe Lampton — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 09:58:18 +0000

Hello John. Yes, I realise that the plate amp is a good thing and it’s only two way.

I am enjoying your blog, which I have just discovered. Your ‘About’ section strikes several chords with me: I, too, was very much into music synthesis, and when that ceased to be something you couldn’t buy for a few quid or get for free on a PC it lost some of its appeal to me, although I have lots of recordings of my multi-track efforts from the 1980s – some of which I listen to and think “That sounds like real music. How did I do that?”. The interest in hi fi was always there, and after a baffling interest in amplifiers (why was I interested in that?) the DSP side of things has re-surfaced and fed straight into active speakers which, all these years later, are still virtually unknown in the hi fi world. So just as the synthesiser thing made me feel that little bit ‘ahead of the curve’ all those years ago, my large active speaker system with DSP correction gives me that buzz of knowing I’m experiencing something rather tremendous, that very few other people have. Obviously I like talking about it, but deep down I’d be very disappointed if everyone got them!

By: John Reekie

John Reekie — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 04:29:17 +0000

“I would be thinking of some huge three, or four way, system that was out of this world” – Hi Joe, thanks for your comment, I do understand that sentiment and have that system on the drawing board 🙂 However it’s not a two-way so doesn’t really “fit” with the plate amp. Who knows though, perhaps if a three-way plate amp comes along in the future we can do something larger…!

By: Joe Lampton

Joe Lampton — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 21:39:22 +0000

I can’t help but think that a DIY effort should be less practical and commercial-like. If I was going to the effort of building something like this (and let’s face it, we don’t do it to save a little money, or to maximise convenience) I would be thinking of some huge three, or four way, system that was out of this world. If I spend $1000 on a small two way with built-in amp, I get something not that much better than I could buy for the same price. If I spend the same on a large three way (maybe cheaper drivers and amps) I get something that really would amaze my friends, and that I couldn’t buy for $10,000.

By: John Reekie

John Reekie — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 01:30:13 +0000

HI Gee Emm, thanks for the comment, that’s a good point. Lots of possibilities come to mind, if only I had time to pursue all of them! I’m also working on the concept for a smaller option, and that might end up being the first one to be done.

By: John Reekie

John Reekie — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 01:28:26 +0000

Hi wizardofoz, the amp will be in a separate sub-enclosure. It’s easy enough to do when building the box, perhaps not so easy for a retrofit.

By: wizardofoz

wizardofoz — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 03:43:14 +0000

If only the plate was sealed it would be perfect for sealed and non sealed applications, but alas the plate leaks like a sieve – a lot of work required to seal it up it looks like too. I am having to do this for a sub plate project.

By: Gee Emm

Gee Emm — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 23:23:09 +0000

An intersting project John.
A combined plate amp & DSP satisfies a lot of concerns for new players & seasoned players.
It also lends itself to a single speaker project, like a centre channel for HT, which I’m currently contemplating.

Do it. I’m really interested to see how it pans out.