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Morel + SB Acoustics Chevalier 3-Way Speaker Kit - Pair
Product ID: chevalier
Price:
$1,069.00
Morel + SB Acoustics Chevalier 3-Way Speaker Kit - Pair
Designed by Curt Campbell ~ Speaker Design Works
The Chevalier is a modern take on a traditional 8 ohm 3-way. The high & midrange frequencies are covered by the Morel TM4055-8 Soft Dome 1" Tweeter + 2" Midrange combination. The level of continuity generated by this configuration is wholly unique across our driver lineup. The sealed back design on this driver simplifies cabinet construction, as the midrange does not require it's own chambered off airspace from the woofer section. Bass is handled by the SB Acoustics SB23CACS45-8 8" Ceramic Cone Woofer. This is easily one of the best 8" bass drivers we carry, regardless of cost.
This speaker can be built as a sealed box (acoustic suspension) or passive radiator terminated transmission line design. The sealed box enclosure volume is just over 1 cubic foot. The PR terminated t-line is 1.75 cubic foot and uses the SB Acoustics SB20PFCR-00 8" Passive Radiator.
Sealed enclosure (18.75" t x 11.25" w x 13.5" d) pdf
PR/T-line enclosure (29" t x 11.25" w x 13.5" d) pdf
Flat pack cabinets available from Speaker Hardware - 33 liter sealed & 50 liter PR/T-line.
In addition to these enclosure options, the woofer is available in white ceramic or black aluminum. The four possible combinations are pictured above. Select your preference from the drop down menu.
All pricing shown includes at least a 10% discount on all drivers and accessories.
Full documentation on this design can be found on Curt's website.
Each Chavalier Kit Purchase Includes:
Binding posts also available from the drop down menu.
Madisound Assembled Crossovers
The series tweeter and midrange circuit uses ClarityCap CSA caps. The midrange coils are Sidewinder 16awg air core, and the woofer runs a Sledghammer 15awg steel laminate.
Upgrade options are ClarityCap PUR or Mundorf Supreme EVO Oil caps on the tweeter, Mundorf Copper Foil 16awg coils on the midrange, and/or Solen Perfect Lay 14awg coil on the woofer.
Each crossover is professionally assembled by Madisound on silver tinned inlaid OFC copper circuit boards.
Crossovers include hookup sheets.
Notes from Curt Campbell:
On the Morel tweeter/midrange combo
The TM4055-8 was a bit challenging to work with, but I can see why they keep it in their lineup. Getting it to play nice, even with itself, was a bit of a trial. My first attempt at a conventional crossover was met with disappointment, as were the next few topologies. What I ended up with for the midrange dome was first order electrical HP and LP filters in series with a parallel notch filter. This yielded a topology with nearly perfect 4th order acoustic slopes at approximately 650Hz and 8000Hz. The tweeter was a more conventional 2nd order electrical topology which provided a 4th order acoustic slope. Phase tracking was excellent, with the tweeter connected with reversed polarity. The woofer network was a quite ordinary 2nd order electrical that provided a 3rd order acoustic transfer function at roughly 800 Hz. Due to the mixed order slopes the woofer and mid sum in phase quadrature, and are both connected in normal polarity.
On the passive radiator alignment
The SB23CACS45-8 / SB20PFCR-00 proved a match made in heaven. I obtained my optimal target tuning results with no additional weighting of the PR. Sensitivity was surprisingly high for an 8 ohm design, seemingly near 87 dB in spite of the abundant bass it provides. Maximum SPL, based on woofer excursion modeled around 104dB but the design played surprisingly loud with no audible compromise in performance. The system tuning measured around 28 Hz and frequencies in the high 20's were easily audible. Considering its size and reasonable cost, the SB23 easily navigated the 800 Hz crossover point and provided very commendable performance. No, it’s not an Accuton, but offers surprising performance none the less.
While the 50 liter enclosure volume is not small, it offers simple construction, and packs a lot of performance in this smaller package.
Listening impressions
Overall I was very impressed with how this design came out. Bass is plentiful, clean and taut. The midrange is quite impressive and very clean, considering how much of it is provided by the woofer. Kudos to SB Acoustics for a line of very good yet cost effective drivers. Upper midrange and tweeter are impressive as well, and exhibited the great, clean sound that Morel is known for. Not only did the design have better than average sensitivity, it seemed to thrive on power. The more I gave it, the more it shined. Apparent max SPL seemed far greater than the modeled max SPL based on the woofer Xmax. The Morel dome mid was especially impressive, as it played high SPL’s effortlessly.
Many listeners have indicated it was one of my best designs. It's a tossup between the sealed and PR versions as to which sounds better. These really need a listen...
One alternative to a vertical setup as pictured is to turn tweeter/mid combo 90 degrees and lay horizontal for an old school bookshelf style speaker. The lateral off-axis response will not perfect, but the first cancellation lobe models to be around 35 degrees off axis. This occurs only on the outboard side of the speaker, so the in room first response will likely be unaffected.
Morel TM4055-8 Soft Dome Tweeter-Midrange Combo
SB Acoustics SB23CACS45-8 8" Ceramic Cone Woofer
SB Acoustics SB23NBACS45-8 8" Black Aluminum Cone Woofer
SB Acoustics SB20PFCR-00 8" Passive Radiator
Designed by Curt Campbell ~ Speaker Design Works
The Chevalier is a modern take on a traditional 8 ohm 3-way. The high & midrange frequencies are covered by the Morel TM4055-8 Soft Dome 1" Tweeter + 2" Midrange combination. The level of continuity generated by this configuration is wholly unique across our driver lineup. The sealed back design on this driver simplifies cabinet construction, as the midrange does not require it's own chambered off airspace from the woofer section. Bass is handled by the SB Acoustics SB23CACS45-8 8" Ceramic Cone Woofer. This is easily one of the best 8" bass drivers we carry, regardless of cost.
This speaker can be built as a sealed box (acoustic suspension) or passive radiator terminated transmission line design. The sealed box enclosure volume is just over 1 cubic foot. The PR terminated t-line is 1.75 cubic foot and uses the SB Acoustics SB20PFCR-00 8" Passive Radiator.
Sealed enclosure (18.75" t x 11.25" w x 13.5" d) pdf
PR/T-line enclosure (29" t x 11.25" w x 13.5" d) pdf
Flat pack cabinets available from Speaker Hardware - 33 liter sealed & 50 liter PR/T-line.
In addition to these enclosure options, the woofer is available in white ceramic or black aluminum. The four possible combinations are pictured above. Select your preference from the drop down menu.
All pricing shown includes at least a 10% discount on all drivers and accessories.
Full documentation on this design can be found on Curt's website.
Each Chavalier Kit Purchase Includes:
- (2) Morel TM4055-8 Soft Dome Tweeter-Midrange Combo
- (2) SB Acoustics SB23CACS45-8 8" Ceramic Cone Woofer (in stock for kit sales)
- (2) Madisound Professionally Assembled Crossovers (see below for details)
- (1.5) Wool Felt 36" x 36" - line internal walls
- (0.5) Acousta-Stuff lb - fluff & fill enclosure
- (16) Supra Classic 2.5 13awg - tinned oxygen free copper internal speaker wire
- (12) Quick Connects - connect speaker wire to drivers
- (24) OXSOCKET8x1 screws - mount drivers to cabinet
- (2) Wool Felt 36" x 36" - line internal walls
- (.75) Acousta-Stuff lb - fluff & fill enclosure
- (18) Supra Classic 2.5 13awg - tinned oxygen free copper internal speaker wire
- (12) Quick Connects - connect speaker wire to drivers
- (40) OXSOCKET8x1 screws - mount drivers to cabinet
Binding posts also available from the drop down menu.
Madisound Assembled Crossovers
The series tweeter and midrange circuit uses ClarityCap CSA caps. The midrange coils are Sidewinder 16awg air core, and the woofer runs a Sledghammer 15awg steel laminate.
Upgrade options are ClarityCap PUR or Mundorf Supreme EVO Oil caps on the tweeter, Mundorf Copper Foil 16awg coils on the midrange, and/or Solen Perfect Lay 14awg coil on the woofer.
Each crossover is professionally assembled by Madisound on silver tinned inlaid OFC copper circuit boards.
Crossovers include hookup sheets.
Notes from Curt Campbell:
On the Morel tweeter/midrange combo
The TM4055-8 was a bit challenging to work with, but I can see why they keep it in their lineup. Getting it to play nice, even with itself, was a bit of a trial. My first attempt at a conventional crossover was met with disappointment, as were the next few topologies. What I ended up with for the midrange dome was first order electrical HP and LP filters in series with a parallel notch filter. This yielded a topology with nearly perfect 4th order acoustic slopes at approximately 650Hz and 8000Hz. The tweeter was a more conventional 2nd order electrical topology which provided a 4th order acoustic slope. Phase tracking was excellent, with the tweeter connected with reversed polarity. The woofer network was a quite ordinary 2nd order electrical that provided a 3rd order acoustic transfer function at roughly 800 Hz. Due to the mixed order slopes the woofer and mid sum in phase quadrature, and are both connected in normal polarity.
On the passive radiator alignment
The SB23CACS45-8 / SB20PFCR-00 proved a match made in heaven. I obtained my optimal target tuning results with no additional weighting of the PR. Sensitivity was surprisingly high for an 8 ohm design, seemingly near 87 dB in spite of the abundant bass it provides. Maximum SPL, based on woofer excursion modeled around 104dB but the design played surprisingly loud with no audible compromise in performance. The system tuning measured around 28 Hz and frequencies in the high 20's were easily audible. Considering its size and reasonable cost, the SB23 easily navigated the 800 Hz crossover point and provided very commendable performance. No, it’s not an Accuton, but offers surprising performance none the less.
While the 50 liter enclosure volume is not small, it offers simple construction, and packs a lot of performance in this smaller package.
Listening impressions
Overall I was very impressed with how this design came out. Bass is plentiful, clean and taut. The midrange is quite impressive and very clean, considering how much of it is provided by the woofer. Kudos to SB Acoustics for a line of very good yet cost effective drivers. Upper midrange and tweeter are impressive as well, and exhibited the great, clean sound that Morel is known for. Not only did the design have better than average sensitivity, it seemed to thrive on power. The more I gave it, the more it shined. Apparent max SPL seemed far greater than the modeled max SPL based on the woofer Xmax. The Morel dome mid was especially impressive, as it played high SPL’s effortlessly.
Many listeners have indicated it was one of my best designs. It's a tossup between the sealed and PR versions as to which sounds better. These really need a listen...
One alternative to a vertical setup as pictured is to turn tweeter/mid combo 90 degrees and lay horizontal for an old school bookshelf style speaker. The lateral off-axis response will not perfect, but the first cancellation lobe models to be around 35 degrees off axis. This occurs only on the outboard side of the speaker, so the in room first response will likely be unaffected.
Morel TM4055-8 Soft Dome Tweeter-Midrange Combo
SB Acoustics SB23CACS45-8 8" Ceramic Cone Woofer
SB Acoustics SB23NBACS45-8 8" Black Aluminum Cone Woofer
SB Acoustics SB20PFCR-00 8" Passive Radiator
