Matrix multicell horns - deconstruction and reproduction attempts

After talking with @Tsingtao_1903, I think there's a Cool Guys Club in the works - not sure if it's limited to Texans or not.

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As for the WP designation, Tsingtao really knows what's up. Set the 12024 up on top of one of my Altec 9849's, using the driver and crossover from that unit. Looking forward to getting into some listening!
 
A big thanks to @oldhand who encouraged me to take a look at the H808 horn to see if it can be 3D printed. With some modifications adding surfaces for the pieces to be glued and/or epoxied, yes, it can. It will take about 100 hours to print all the pieces for a pair. Sorry, don't think I will be printing this horn any time soon.

The throat piece.
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The horn cell.
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The assembly.
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Spent a little time yesterday getting listening to a single WP-12024. @Tsingtao_1903 was kind enough to mail some parts across town to me to continue listening in stereo.

Ultimately these will be compared with some horns I have on hand - Altec 32A's and Emilar 500's - because, well, they're horns a certain someone wrote about a while back and compelled me to search them out. Until then, just this single horn sitting (rather strikingly) on top of a single 9489 (home to a 414-8C and 32a horn with a 806/802 hybrid driver crossed over at +/-1.2khz).

The sound so far is very promising. Detail and touch and all that kind of stuff. Larger scale to the sound than the 32 horn nestled over the 414 provides; in nearfield listening some coherency is lost, but I think it just means I can move my chair. Very much looking forward to hearing more!
 
So, the H808 kept tugging at the back of my head until I relented... Had a breakthrough with the throat piece to allow the horn cells to fit and sit properly while maintaining the correct expansion geometry. Took about 50 hours and 4 reels of printer filaments. The pieces have not been clamped and glued just yet. Still playing around with the throat. But, the assembly feels pretty solid.

BTW, I am glad I worked on the H808. The geometry of the throat piece has vexed my since my DIY Petter Persson's horn back in 2014. Now, the same design approach will also work on the WE 26A and the Altec 1505 reproductions. Yeah!

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It's a nice looking horn. :)
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Audionut said:
@Tsingtao_1903 I volunteer for any beta testing on these puppies! (Possibly on the buyers list too?) :over:
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I will print two sets. One for you and one for @oldhand. You guys can have them for material costs only and shipping. Just do a fair listening and write up for impressions. Short term plan: I want to make a few of these and sell them to fund a much larger printer for me to be able to print the WE 26A and Altec 1505.
 
Tsingtao_1903 said:
I will print two sets. One for you and one for @oldhand. You guys can have them for material costs only and shipping. Just do a fair listening and write up for impressions. Short term plan: I want to make a few of these and sell them to fund a much larger printer for me to be able to print the WE 26A and Altec 1505.
Click to expand...

(Raises hand)

- Woody
 
Each day I check this group with a degree of excitement hoping to see an update of this thread. I just read the article on the Salt Cellar System on the HiFi Heroin blog and then came over here to finally see an update and I have such great enthusiasm for this project. I am interested in being a supporter of this project so that we can get you a better printer and continue on to bigger and better things!
 
Gibbysmalls said:
Each day I check this group with a degree of excitement hoping to see an update of this thread. I just read the article on the Salt Cellar System on the HiFi Heroin blog and then came over here to finally see an update and I have such great enthusiasm for this project. I am interested in being a supporter of this project so that we can get you a better printer and continue on to bigger and better things!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the support. My FF Guider 2 is a great printer. However, it is meant for precise printing of highly detailed parts. I've pushed it as far as I could by hardware modifications and pushing the speed. The 100 hours for a set of horns would have been over 200 hours without the mods. Below are some failed parts along the way of trying to push the printer to go faster.

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My next printer(s) will have to have a print envelope of at least 300x300x600mm. Will have a superduper hotend and a dual drive extruder and built like a tank to be able to run fast with minimum down time. The goal is to be able to print everything under 40 hours. I aim to make these things available/affordable for the horn enthusiasts.
 
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