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DIY Desktop Planars?

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Posted on May 18, 2020 at 17:54:09
Taki888
Audiophile

Posts: 47
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: May 15, 2020
Hi,

Is there any DIY version for desk top planars?

 

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RE: DIY Desktop Planars?, posted on May 19, 2020 at 19:59:19
emailtim
Audiophile

Posts: 5323
Joined: July 2, 2017
Parts Exrpess has some NEO8S in stock, but their prices have increased.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0JtMyl2AL4
.

2022/03/30 Historical Records CENSORED

 

RE: DIY Desktop Planars?, posted on June 20, 2020 at 17:20:46
Few
Audiophile

Posts: 3
Location: New England
Joined: June 20, 2020
I made some DIY planar magnetic speakers that I've been very happy with. For a quick look you can see a photo on diyaudio: https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/planars-and-exotics/317425-diy-planar-kits-2.html

The desktop speakers are simpler and much smaller implementations of the towers I built, and described here: https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/planars-and-exotics/301091-diy-planar-magnetic-baffle-woofer-array.html

For desktop applications, I recommend the simpler approach that does not have separate midrange and tweeter conductors. Working at a desk, I find my head is always sufficiently close to the sweet spot so that the improved directivity of a midrange tweeter combination isn't worth the trouble.

Few

 

RE: DIY Desktop Planars?, posted on June 21, 2020 at 11:20:26
Taki888
Audiophile

Posts: 47
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: May 15, 2020
Beautiful work. It would be nice if someone like Partsexpress would start mass producing more planar drivers to make it more affordable to the diy community.

 

RE: DIY Desktop Planars?, posted on June 21, 2020 at 17:24:44
Few
Audiophile

Posts: 3
Location: New England
Joined: June 20, 2020
Thanks for the kind words. I should be clear that I have no commercial production experience to base an opinion on. That said, from-scratch diy projects have left me feeling that excellent planar magnetic drivers can be made at quite low cost. As long as low frequency reproduction isn't required from small surface area drivers, push-pull configurations aren't necessary. That means magnet costs, and construction complexity, can be reduced dramatically. Until Parts Express, or someone else, fills the gap, I encourage folks to forge ahead with from-scratch projects--especially for desktop applications. It need not be a huge or complicated undertaking to yield very satisfying results. I certainly don't claim mastery of the art, but I'd be happy to offer suggestions if anyone is toying with project ideas.

 

RE: DIY Desktop Planars?, posted on June 26, 2020 at 04:17:10
triamp
Audiophile

Posts: 780
Location: USA
Joined: August 6, 2008



I use Monsoon MM-1000 panels with an 8-inch sealed box sub. I never heard the sub that came along with the MM-1000 panels, maybe it's OK, but most audio hobbyists just want the panels, not the sub. You can usually buy a pair of panels for $100 or less on ebay- they come up quite often. They are not the equivalent of mini-maggies- not by a longshot- but they sound quite good really. At least IMHO.

I've seen people use these Monsoon panels to replace midrange EMIMs in Infinity IRS speakers of various models, and Brian Cheney used these panels in some of his VMPS speakers.

Only the MM-1000, the largest panel in the Monsoon desktop series of computer speaker systems, is good. The smaller panels just don't go low enough.

Eminent Technology, it's their design (Bruce Thigpen)licensed the technology to Monsoon. Monsoon went out of business some time ago but you can still find MM-1000s fairly often.
Science doesn't care what you believe.

 

RE: DIY Desktop Planars?, posted on June 26, 2020 at 09:01:03
Taki888
Audiophile

Posts: 47
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: May 15, 2020
Too rare now. Not $100 but $450 on ebay.

 

RE: DIY Desktop Planars?, posted on June 26, 2020 at 20:32:08
BDP24
Audiophile

Posts: 1070
Location: Vancouver, Washington
Joined: September 12, 2013
In the name of clarity: the Monsoon drivers were licensed FROM Eminent Technology, not BY them. Or is the difference just a case of semantics?

 

RE: DIY Desktop Planars?, posted on June 27, 2020 at 04:39:41
triamp
Audiophile

Posts: 780
Location: USA
Joined: August 6, 2008
I just bought a pair for $86
Science doesn't care what you believe.

 

RE: DIY Desktop Planars?, posted on June 27, 2020 at 04:40:11
triamp
Audiophile

Posts: 780
Location: USA
Joined: August 6, 2008
Right. What you said.
Science doesn't care what you believe.

 

RE: DIY Desktop Planars?, posted on June 27, 2020 at 04:42:00
triamp
Audiophile

Posts: 780
Location: USA
Joined: August 6, 2008
Those are cool. Looks like a LOT of work.
Science doesn't care what you believe.

 

RE: DIY Desktop Planars?, posted on June 27, 2020 at 17:01:44
BDP24
Audiophile

Posts: 1070
Location: Vancouver, Washington
Joined: September 12, 2013
If you think these are cool, check out the Eminent Technology LFT-8b!

 

RE: DIY Desktop Planars?, posted on June 28, 2020 at 15:07:43
Few
Audiophile

Posts: 3
Location: New England
Joined: June 20, 2020
Thanks. The desktop models were really not bad to build, since I had worked out the planar diaphragm construction during previous work on the floor-standing models. Gluing each magnet in place got a little old, but not terrible. Plus there's no tweeter-midrange combination to complicate things. I certainly admit building the floor-standing models was indeed a lot of work!

Few

 

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