Let's design a 15" sealed cab

[Woodstockz]

Your blind faith in science and engineering is an impediment, I assure you! I have made successful components out of parts that today's engineering dogma finds critical fault with. The now ancient Alpha 15 is no exception!

I believe faithfully in science and engineering...just not everyone's models.

 

[George Mann]

I believe faithfully in science and engineering...just not everyone's models.

And I have found that good sound is as much an art as it is a science!

 

[Woodstockz]

The neat thing about science and engineering is that they work whether you believe in them or not.

That's a Neil deGrasse Tyson quote.

 

[JimmyM]

And I have found that good sound is as much an art as it is a science!

True.

 

[AstroSonic]

That's a Neil deGrasse Tyson quote.

I had a physics teacher who said that to our class years ago, but Neil deGrasse Tyson is probably the most famous person to say something like that in recent times. And it's still true.

 

[Woodstockz]

And I have found that good sound is as much an art as it is a science!

Good models get you close.
Models must be refined to account for real world empirical data, results, variables.
Test equipment to measure and fine tune.
Imagination to try new new things.
Dogma discourages experimentation.
Listening tests to verify the science.

I think that most people that were solicited in post #1 use a scientific methodology.

 

[George Mann]

Where are our commercial speaker builders tonight?

 

[Low Class]

Regression or not, there are some wonderful sounding sealed cabs that shouldn't be written off because you disliked one in the 80s.

and a Polytone Mini Brute is not exactly an ideal cab to base an opinion of sealed cabs.

 

[Woodstockz]

Let's not. The last sealed 15 I played was a Polytone Mark III Teeny-Brute I had in undergrad in the early '80's. There is effectively no extension below the resonant frequency of the driver. There have been so many advances in technology in not only cabinet design, but crossover and driver design, including strides in tailoring the compliance of the cone material itself, that a closed cabinet is a regression.

Have you played a B-15R?

 

[silky smoove]

and a Polytone Mini Brute is not exactly an ideal cab to base an opinion of sealed cabs.

I've not played one, so I can't say. I can say that I've played my share of sealed cabs, and they're great. Very different from ported offerings, and have something to them that specs don't seem to do justice.

 

[superblues]

Where are our commercial speaker builders tonight?

They're busy getting paid for what you're trying to get from them for free.

 

[AstroSonic]

True.

Good models get you close.
Models must be refined to account for real world empirical data, results, variables.
Test equipment to measure and fine tune.
Imagination to try new new things.
Dogma discourages experimentation.
Listening tests to verify the science.

I think that most people that were solicited in post #1 use a scientific methodology.

The top 2 lines are a part of good science and engineering. However, listening tests are not used to verify the science. That's already verified. Instead the listening tests are used to hear what it sounds like. The science and models do not in themselves predict how we will perceive the sound - tone. It takes experience to understand what a particular modeling result is likely to sound like. Fine tuning is as much trial and error (art and intuition) as it is recalculating. The best engineers and scientist I have known were very creative and artistic. However, they did not doubt fundamentals. There is a very wide range in tonal preferences, and therefore a wide range of opinions on the significance of modeling results.

 

[Woodstockz]

Where are our commercial speaker builders tonight?

Probably in physics class.

 

[Woodstockz]

The top 2 lines are a part of good science and engineering. However, listening tests are not used to verify the science. That's already verified. Instead the listening tests are used to hear what it sounds like. The science and models do not in themselves predict how we will perceive the sound - tone. It takes experience to understand what a particular modeling result is likely to sound like. Fine tuning is as much trial and error (art and intuition) as it is recalculating. The best engineers and scientist I have known were very creative and artistic. However, they did not doubt fundamentals. There is a very wide range in tonal preferences, and therefore a wide range of opinions on the significance of modeling results.

I should have said listening tests to verify that it sounds good. If it sounds good, it is good.

 

[AstroSonic]

And I have found that good sound is as much an art as it is a science!

True.

And tonal beauty is in the ear of the beholder.

 

[George Mann]

They're busy getting paid for what you're trying to get from them for free.

I don't see them complaining on other threads. Besides, this is a community project, not a personal one!

 

[DukeLeJeune]

Where are our commercial speaker builders tonight?

[to AstroSonic]Your blind faith in science and engineering is an impediment, I assure you!

AstroSonic is at least my equal as a designer, even though his day job is something else. Any input from me would just be more of the same.

 

[George Mann]

AstroSonic is at least my equal as a designer, even though his day job is something else. Any input from me would just be more of the same.

And it is certainly OK to agree to disagree.

 

[George Mann]

So, are we set on the Beta 15?

 

[Woodstockz]

And it is certainly OK to agree to disagree.

I'm confused about your goals. Are you asking for design information, like in the title "
Let's design a 15" sealed cab"

or speaker driver recommendations/discussion?

If you want design information, but prefer art, you may continue to disagree with the established cab designers.