BFM Home Theater Build: Line Array Mains and 20hz Folded Horn Sub!!! (Lots of pics)

[bigsausagepizza]

I had a new friend over to my house and we were listening to my speakers when I mentioned that I built them. He was immediately interested and decided on the spot that he NEEDED a pair. I ordered parts and began working the next day!

For those unfamiliar with the design, the mains are transmission-line line-arrays meant to be used as corner horns. They each contain 9 Goldwood 4" mids and 12 Goldwood 1/2" tweeters. They are extremely efficient with a 99dB @1w/1m and provide an absolutely gigantic sound stage perfect for loud and heavy music or dynamic movies.

After I finished the towers I asked my friend what kind of sub he had, and he told me to build whatever I would build for myself. I chose the BFM Tuba HT, a 20hz folded front-loaded horn. For the driver I am using a 15" Dayton RSS390HF-4 and a 250w Dayton plate amp.

I started this build in July and just recently finished, it was an insane amount of work, and I only have a few hours each week of free time to work on speaker projects. My friend loves his new system and has since endeavored on relistening to all of his music since it sounds so amazing now.

The whole build:

http://imgur.com/a/YwADM

[bigsausagepizza]

<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" lang="en" data-id="YwADM"><a href="//imgur.com/YwADM">BFM System</a></blockquote><script async src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

I'm not sure how to embed imgur pics anymore, I've got way too many to go through them individually.

[Triticum Agricolam]

'Bout time you posted some pics here :-)

Those look very, very nice. Excellent work. The wiring inside those TLAH cabinets is rather intense!!

[boom50cal]

that's crazy!

[Broke_Audio_Addict]

Beautiful job.

Love the Vermont wilderness in the background,

Used to spend time out in Vermont with my grandparents as a kid and I would love to go back.

[bigsausagepizza]

'Bout time you posted some pics here :-)

Those look very, very nice. Excellent work. The wiring inside those TLAH cabinets is rather intense!!

Thanks man, really proud of these. This is what happens when you let me build exactly what I want, I was literally told "Build what you would want." It doesn't get any better than that.

[scooter99]

I would love to build something like this. I don't have room for a sub that large, but I'd love to build the towers!

What is the set up that this is being used with? Like what is powering them, preamp, eq, receiver, whatever?

[Triticum Agricolam]

Thanks man, really proud of these. This is what happens when you let me build exactly what I want, I was literally told "Build what you would want." It doesn't get any better than that.

LOL, if somewhat told me to "build exactly what I want" it would take me six months to decide just what I wanted and I'd spend another three months second-guessing my decision!

[bigsausagepizza]

I would love to build something like this. I don't have room for a sub that large, but I'd love to build the towers!

What is the set up that this is being used with? Like what is powering them, preamp, eq, receiver, whatever?

The towers are called the TLAH from Billfitzmaurice.info, and you should definitely build some. Unbelievable efficiency, giant soundstage, extremely detailed and clean.

Powering the set pictured is a yamaha 7.1 receiver (only running 2 channels currently), I think it's 50w or so but you don't really need more than a couple watts for these, great for SET and other tube amps. The sub amp is a Dayton SPA250 plate amp that I built a housing for.

On my personal set (http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/192638-line-array-hifi-tower-build/) I'm running a Thorens TD166 mkii turntable into an NAD 1020a preamp to a miniDSP 2x4 balanced for eq/time align to a Hafler DH-200 power amp. Currently running a Dayton Sub-120 12" subwoofer, but working on a Decware Housewrecker (really cool bandpass design) with a Dayton Series II 15.

[bigsausagepizza]

Thanks man, really proud of these. This is what happens when you let me build exactly what I want, I was literally told "Build what you would want." It doesn't get any better than that.

LOL, if somewhat told me to "build exactly what I want" it would take me six months to decide just what I wanted and I'd spend another three months second-guessing my decision!

I'd been wanting to build a Tuba HT since I first build my TLAHs, measuring like crazy in my apartment to see how I could fit it, even thought about the low profile version or the Table Tuba, but on someone else's dime I'll go as big as possible! At the moment working on a Decware Housewrecker for myself, it's an interesting bandpass design for 1-4 15s. I'm only going to be using a single Dayton Series II 15 (fs 15.5hz!!!!) but I would love to stuff one with 4 high powered 15s for someone crazy enough, it'd probably be enough output for a small bar or club, just need to find the right lunatic that wants one in their house!

The next design at the top of my want-to-build list is the Lilwrecker tapped horn from Lil Mike on AVS forums. I think it's tuned for 17hz, bring on the pipe organ!