Ekta Grande
ScanSpeak 18W/8531-G00 +
12M/4631-G00 + R2904/7000 or XT25TG-30-04
Built by Jesper Spohr/Denmark

Two things: This speaker is heavy
and I do not have a large photo studio, hence
some white sheets and two lamps in my workshop. I
hope it provides an impression of the sculptural
beauty of Jesper's latest creation, the Ekta
Grande.
This construction will be rather quick and dirty.
Most of what can be said about the SS drivers can
be found in the Ekta and SP38 files. The basic
cabinet coordinates can be found below and to
make the crossover work properly, the front panel
dimensions and driver placement must be kept
fairly accurate. What's behind the drivers is up
to you.
The bass cabinet is 65 litres and this
speaker goes low, really low. The mid volume is 5
litres, quite generous and will allow all
possible damping experiments. Actually you can
reduce volume for the bass drivers by sacrificing
a bit of low-end extension. 55 litres will still
provide a powerful bass I'm sure.
Two tweeter options will be given, no more,
so please do not ask. The 7000 and XT25TG are so
alike that only minor changes to the crossover is
needed and the exceptional linear response from
both tweeters on this baffle allows very simple
crossovers.
Initially a 3½-way crossover, quite similar to
the Ekta, was constructed. 4th order to the
tweeter and the lower bass working like a
semi-sub. This made an even more heavy low-end
and all in all it sounded quite nice. Flat
response and a balanced presentation of all kinds
of music. Playing around with the LspCAD and
looking at the almost ideal response of all
drivers, the idea of making a minimal crossover
was obvious. SPL of individual drivers seen
below. Making a minimal crossover would also
allow the use of some of the best components
available.
The crossover is 4 coils, 4-5 caps and 5-6
resistors, depending on whether the 7000 or the
XT25TG tweeter is used. I like the XT25TG version
the best. Really can't tell you why, but
difference in the coating of the two diaphragms
may be the reason. The 7000 has a thinner
coating, probably providing some of the extra
sensitivity and probably reaching a bit higher in
frequency response. I can't tell, because the
CLIO only goes to 22 kHz. The XT has a slightly
"darker" presentation compared to the
7000 and despite the two versions being tuned to
render the same frequency response +/- 0.5 dB.
The rise in impedance at Fs is much higher for
the 7000, thus my guess on a thinner coating.
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The crossovers


The Crossover

The list above will cover both XT25 and 7000 versions.

Crossover made by Jesper.
The cabs

Jesper
has nerves from steel. The 8531 drivers are ~2 mm
to the edge. All drivers on a vertical line
determined by the 8531 drivers.
Two vents are needed, 65 Ø x 190 mm placed with
center 160 mm from top and 250 mm from bottom.
The ports should provide a box tuning of 32-33 Hz
as can be seen from the impedance measurements
below.
This provides +1.5 dB @ 50-60 Hz. If you want a
flat tuning, go to Fb=22-23 Hz, that is: One port
and ~18 cm length (stuff the other port).
Cabinet
dimensions here doesn't include base plate.
Jesper's
calculation on internal square area says 6.3
dm^2. With an internal height of ~114 cm, we have
a net volume of ~72 liter. The net mid cab volume
is 4 liters, lets assume 5 liter brutto, thus 67
liters for the bass drivers minus bracing, ports,
crossover, etc. In total a net volume of 65-66
liters, exactly twice the volume of the smaller
Ekta. Plus/minus 1-2 liter in this size cabinet
doesn't matter, so don't worry.
I've had a report from an EktaG builder, who made
45-50 liter cabs and reports a too dry and
prominent lower/middle-mid midrange, that is the
160-640 Hz range and I'm pretty sure this is due
to the reduced volume. I once tried a single 18W
driver in a 22 liter cabinet and it had a
significant impact on midrange performance. Too
forward and too dry - to my ears. Apparently the
18W needs room to breathe.
Now,
if you have never made a cabinet before, the Ekta
Grande is hardly the place to start. For the more
experienced builder the above dimensions should
be all needed to replicate Jesper's dream
speaker.
Should
you want a pair of Ekta Gs really bad, Jesper
will make a pair of cabs for 1,000 . These
will be finished in sanded MDF and be ready for
lacquer. So you have to engage an automobile
painter to undertake the job - or DIY.
Jesper can be contacted at: spohrjes@hotmail.com
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Measurements

Left:
D2904/7000 tweeter response on Ekta-G baffle. It
doesn't get much better than this.
Right: Impedance of 7000 tweeter. The high peak
indicates a softer suspension compared to XT25TG
tweeter.
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Left:
XT25TG-30-04 tweeter response on Ekta-G baffle.
Flat as the XT25 use to be.
Right: Impedance of XT25TG tweeter.
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Left:
12M/4631G00 response on Ekta-G baffle. Minor bump
at 800-900 Hz and minor dip at 550 Hz.
Right: Impedance of 12M/4631G00 middriver. The
12M has a remarkable high resonance peak,
indicating high Qm, and so it has; 5.57 according
to SS claims.
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Left:
Response of one 18W/8531G00 on Ekta-G baffle.
Remarkably extended and a smooth decay. Very few
6½" driver can manage this. Right:
Impedance of 18W/8531 driver (one) in cabinet.
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The final systems

SPL
response of 7000 and XT25TG versions. 2.8 V @ 1
metre distance. Response is merged with bass
nearfield response at 350 Hz.
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7000
version with mid connected with same polarity.
Response taken at between-mid-and-tweeter height
a 1 metre distance.
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Connecting
XT25TG tweeter with negative polarity display a
deep suck-out at ~3.5 kHz = point of crossover.
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Impedance
of complete system with 7000 tweeter. As can been
seen we reach an impedance of 3 ohms from running
two 18W bass drivers in parallel.
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Inpedance
of system with XT25 tweeter. Not much difference
from 7000 version. Wasn't expected either.
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SPL
of drivers @ 1 meter/2.8 volts, driven from
crossover, plus summed response merged with
nearfield response at 350 Hz.
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Jesper's Construction Pictures

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