Are there any other DIY'ers who have built the Spitfires? These seem like a sharp looking speaker with interesting drivers but there appears to be relatively little in the way of project examples or comparisons against other designs. A comparison against a similar design like The Blues or, simply due to its prevalence, the OS MTMs would be informative.
Trying to avoid bothering Paul C. to get answers that, for most other designs, would be easily obtained through the forums.
For example, will these speakers work in a thin air, high altitude environment like Denver?
Just kidding. But I am especially curious how sensitive the design might be to rounding the baffle edge near the L6-4r without any XO modifications. The very few pics I've seen all have sharp edges.
Where are all the Spitfires?
Re: Where are all the Spitfires?
I've had both the Blues and the Spitfires. IMO, both are great sounding speakers, but unfortunately for you it'll boil down to subjective opinion. I (personally) prefer the sound of the Blues, but that shouldn't be a shock as I basically designed them (with help from Meniscus). The Blues are a more laid back sounding speaker, whereas the Spitfires were a more forward sounding speaker. I think the tweeter in the Spitfires is a more edgy, sharp tweeter compared to the smoother, more laid back tweeter in the Blues. Both have great detail, and the bass is nearly identical in both the Blues and the Spitfires (same woofers, same size cabinets).
This isn't at all a dig on the Spitfires, I've heard many of Paul's designs and loved a lot of them, and I could easily live with both the Spitfire or the Blues. But as a personal preference, I tend to prefer a smoother, more laid back sound. As far as doing roundovers, I'm not sure how big you plan on, but I think you could easily get away with a half inch roundover with almost zero effect on frequency response. The Blues were designed with a half inch roundover, I don't remember what the Spitfire cabinets had?? But I think you would be fine with a half inch RO on those as well. My $0.02, FWIW. Hope that helps!
This isn't at all a dig on the Spitfires, I've heard many of Paul's designs and loved a lot of them, and I could easily live with both the Spitfire or the Blues. But as a personal preference, I tend to prefer a smoother, more laid back sound. As far as doing roundovers, I'm not sure how big you plan on, but I think you could easily get away with a half inch roundover with almost zero effect on frequency response. The Blues were designed with a half inch roundover, I don't remember what the Spitfire cabinets had?? But I think you would be fine with a half inch RO on those as well. My $0.02, FWIW. Hope that helps!
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TheManFromDenver
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Re: Where are all the Spitfires?
Thank you for the comparison, that's useful feedback. I previously built the OS MTM's, and though they sounded great, my ears would immediately begin to hurt listening at nearly any volume. Quite a few other people have since listened to them for several hours in the same room with no such issue and agreed they sounded very good. I've read that aluminum cones and domes (though usually more the tweeter) can cause ear issues in sensitive people. For that reason the smooth performance of the L6-4r looks like it could be a safe bet for a next build.
Sounds like the rounded baffles shouldn't be a problem for The Blues, at least. Upon considering the SB and AMT tweeters I'm wondering if the gradual high frequency rise of the AMT might affect similar ear issues as aluminum sometimes does. My wife's feedback was that the AMT tweeter looks like an attic vent. Not just the sound that's subjective, apparently. Probably time to go to a brick and mortar store and listen to a selection.
Sounds like the rounded baffles shouldn't be a problem for The Blues, at least. Upon considering the SB and AMT tweeters I'm wondering if the gradual high frequency rise of the AMT might affect similar ear issues as aluminum sometimes does. My wife's feedback was that the AMT tweeter looks like an attic vent. Not just the sound that's subjective, apparently. Probably time to go to a brick and mortar store and listen to a selection.