Designing a Budget-Friendly TMM Tower Speaker: Seeking Advice

[Sumanta]

Dear @Sumanta
Could you share some of your Sweton builds? I’d love to see them! If possible, could you also provide some details about them?

Smaller ones have mid/high as OBs and LFs by those two in TL.



TL with Sweton drivers

TL with Sweton drivers (same)

 

[Sumanta]

Qe is nothing but motor strength integration by the coil. The higher the magnetic strength the lower the Qe and the better the motor generally. Qms comes from mechanical damping of surround/spider etc, lets ignore for this discussion.
There are many variables, yes, true, but starting with a low BL, high Qts, high Fs driver is not a recipe for success.

Do OBs need a weaker magnet? Yes, compared to other alignments, pls read elsewhere. Horns, need very strong motor hence very low Qe/Qts (0.2-0.35), then comes ported(0.35-0.5), then comes sealed (0.4-0.7) and then comes OB/dipole(0.7 and higher). Just compare a few of each of these popular designs, the relation to Qts will be evident and is not by chance. Since you are into OB/dipoles, I will try to explain the high Qts/Weak magnet/OB connection, the dipole loss of OB needs to be compensated somehow, depending on baffle and driver size, of course, so generally what designers do is that they choose a weaker magnet (high Qts) which damps the resonance of the driver less than a stronger motor and thus lets the resonance provide a gain that compensates the roll off, atleast thats what the intent is. Thats why they choose Qts of 0.7 or so. Of course, nobody wants to call the driver, one with a weak magnet, but technically thats the case. Most of the local drivers have high Qts, its a sign of using cheap magnets to cut costs, which is why some DIYers import drivers. All magnets whether its Y30 or Y35, look same, so magnet size also does not tell the Qts. I have seen big magnets with poor Qts, means they are big for looks/marketing only.

Objective data comes first, and subjective follows. If we use a driver with a peak or dip at a particular frequency, the ear wont catch it, so subjective listening is not the starting point, its the end point. Both matter, but sequence matters.

When I use a driver, I measure it first. That way I know what I am dealing with.
You have used Sweton and are happy, its perfectly fine with me. I am just giving my opinion to OP.
I haven't used Sweton and dont plan to use them due to the poor technical parameters, when the parameters are considered, they are not cheap at all. If they improve the parameters, I will definitely try them.

And, I dont go by ears, coz when we listen to music there are no musicians playing, no singer singing, its just a few devices coming together and making us believe via clever technology, the audio that we have come to accept is coming from some equations inside a DSP or a media player or a TV or a mobile phone. The HD/4K video that we see also comes from some equations. The goal of music is to fool the ears and video is to fool the eyes. Probably, nobody ever put it this way before.

To the OP, its 2026, DSP is a boon, there io so much that DSPs can do with an active setup the drivers are not critical and things are much more viable even in India, you may be able to EQ a not so perfect driver, within limits, of course. I would definitely take such a route.
DSP Amplifiers like TSA7800D are available for a 2.5 or 3 way

Thanks a lot for the write-up.

Our ways are different. And I respect your path too. Goal is common, that's the beauty.
Music and its listening is subjective at the end (to me that I know). I start objectively and end there, but not your way exactly for reasons which actually need time and being together to talk and exchange .
I hope OP gets benefit of these long discussions too then our efforts are useful.

 

[grindstone]

@RuntimeError_404 -- Threw a couple of the DE650K in a 39.5 inch tall model 8x11 external 18mm stock rough quickie and then needed a baseline from the Daytons.

So here's power (not pressure--ignore >400Hz) with sort of what I was talking about. No optimizing (and there's some room to improve locations). Did a sealed & filled comp with DC160 and DE650K and empty reflex of same.

** Nothing Optimized **

I think you can get by with the Doogesound in either instance. Checked the company site looking for a single larger driver but there seems to be none. Also looked for paper instead of Kevlar and they seem out of stock. Sooooo...I think you have a chance with it. We can get you started with the sim tools if you feel so inclined.

 

[sopra4343]

@RuntimeError_404 -- Threw a couple of the DE650K in a 39.5 inch tall model 8x11 external 18mm stock rough quickie and then needed a baseline from the Daytons.

So here's power (not pressure--ignore >400Hz) with sort of what I was talking about. No optimizing (and there's some room to improve locations). Did a sealed & filled comp with DC160 and DE650K and empty reflex of same.

** Nothing Optimized **

I think you can get by with the Doogesound in either instance. Checked the company site looking for a single larger driver but there seems to be none. Also looked for paper instead of Kevlar and they seem out of stock. Sooooo...I think you have a chance with it. We can get you started probador de microfono online with the sim tools if you feel so inclined.

View attachment 95453

View attachment 95452

View attachment 95451

How to Check the company site?

 

[RuntimeError_404]

How to Check the company site?

DE650K-01 Kevlar cone Woofer 6.5" 8Ohms 120 Watts (2 Pcs)

FEATURES: 6.5 inch full frequency horn 100*20MM ferrite magnet double magnetic antimagnetic 30 core high temperature resistant voice coil ASV aluminum skeleton High strength backside iron basin rack Black Rubber Overhang paper cone Paper Black Reverse Paper Cap 55Hz-5KHz frequency response...

www.doogesound.com

 

[diyaudio]

My question is, if both drivers are so poorly designed, who actually buys them and for what purpose are they used?

Average Joe doesnt care of TS specs, he is not well versed with the driver. He generally buys by looks and with Chinese parts most Indian drivers are having good looks and worse specs than even Chinese drivers. The buyer wants cheapest driver and manufacturer cuts magnet costs and sells him exactly that. Sweton atleast publishes specs, others dont even do that. I have BIA acoustics 12" subs which has Qts 0.5, and 10mm xmax, quite decent and capable driver.

 

[Sumanta]

Average Joe doesnt care of TS specs, he is not well versed with the driver. He generally buys by looks and with Chinese parts most Indian drivers are having good looks and worse specs than even Chinese drivers. The buyer wants cheapest driver and manufacturer cuts magnet costs and sells him exactly that. Sweton atleast publishes specs, others dont even do that. I have BIA acoustics 12" subs which has Qts 0.5, and 10mm xmax, quite decent and capable driver.

@diyaudio - do by ay chance sell drivers? Just curious. Nothing right or wrong...

 

[diyaudio]

@diyaudio - do by ay chance sell drivers? Just curious. Nothing right or wrong...

No Sumanta, I am a DIYer (yet)
On a serious note, a well engineered driver is a difficult beast, not something I can do even if I wanted