Pair of WH6 Lites build

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Seth
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Re: Pair of WH6 Lites build

#46 Post by Seth »

It's going to be a week or two before I can get back to this project. Holidays and all.

I did go to the workshop for some other things this morning. Every time I see these in person (I look at the pics a lot), I'm surprised how small they are. They're bigger in my mind, until I see them again.

Granted they're not loaded... they still do not have all the wiring, crossovers, jacks, feet, top hats, drivers, etc... but these babies are darn light so far. As is, the both of them combined are easily lighter than one 2x6 loaded SLA Pro. Guessing the pair of WH6's will weigh roughly the same as one 2x6 SLAP once they're complete.

I'm really anxious to test them for their primary intended use as a monitor, and also their performance as a possible PA main as a single and two stacked in an array.

I really like the size of them. I have a feeling I may be making 6 more of these and a little custom dolly/tote that they all fit into for easy transport and storage. I've got to find something to put next to them in a photo so you guys can get a better idea of the size of them. Maybe a size 12 shoe (11 in UK, 46 EU) or something like that.

Darn near ideal size and weight for handling.
Build in process - 2 WH6, one Alpha 6a loaded, one PRV Audio 6MB250-NDY loaded

Two 2x6 shorty SLA Pro's
One T39, 16", 3012LF loaded
Tall AutoTuba, 20" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421
TruckTuba, 8½" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421

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Seth
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Re: Pair of WH6 Lites build

#47 Post by Seth »

Having some thought about the pass through audio on terminal 1&2 of the SpeakOn jacks...

All of my speaker cables are 12 gauge, the subs are wired with 12 gauge, and the SLA Pro's are wired with whatever was recommended in the plans. These WH6 will be wired with 16 gauge for the woofer and 18 gauge for the tweeters.

Is there any good reason to use larger than 16 gauge for the pass through channel? There will potentially be 6 SpeakOn jacks in each cab (2 bottom, 2 back, 1 each side), so 24 terminals per cab and it's just easier to make all the connections with smaller stuff. Although, I'm certainly willing to use 12 gauge for the pass through if it's superior in any way.

What are your thoughts?
Build in process - 2 WH6, one Alpha 6a loaded, one PRV Audio 6MB250-NDY loaded

Two 2x6 shorty SLA Pro's
One T39, 16", 3012LF loaded
Tall AutoTuba, 20" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421
TruckTuba, 8½" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421

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Bill Fitzmaurice
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Re: Pair of WH6 Lites build

#48 Post by Bill Fitzmaurice »

For a run that's only a few inches long 16 is plenty.

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Seth
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Re: Pair of WH6 Lites build

#49 Post by Seth »

Thank you Bill.
Build in process - 2 WH6, one Alpha 6a loaded, one PRV Audio 6MB250-NDY loaded

Two 2x6 shorty SLA Pro's
One T39, 16", 3012LF loaded
Tall AutoTuba, 20" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421
TruckTuba, 8½" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421

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AntonZ
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Re: Pair of WH6 Lites build

#50 Post by AntonZ »

SethRocksYou wrote: Mon Nov 23, 2020 3:42 pmI really like the size of them. I have a feeling I may be making 6 more of these and a little custom dolly/tote that they all fit into for easy transport and storage.
That's a whole lot of monitors for a PA system that otherwise consists of two 2x6 shorty SLA pro cabs and a single T39 :lol:
I've got to find something to put next to them in a photo so you guys can get a better idea of the size of them. Maybe a size 12 shoe (11 in UK, 46 EU) or something like that.
A beer bottle would be the generally accepted universal and ideal size comparison tool. It comes with other advantages, too.
You're welcome :cowboy:

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Seth
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Re: Pair of WH6 Lites build

#51 Post by Seth »

AntonZ wrote: Fri Nov 27, 2020 4:24 am That's a whole lot of monitors for a PA system that otherwise consists of two 2x6 shorty SLA pro cabs and a single T39 :lol:
Hahaha... yeah, I suppose that would be a lot. As usual, it's a fluid project. If they're actually decent at main PA duty I'll forego building a pair of full 4x6 SLAP's to accompany the 2x6 shorties. The thought is two WH6 stacked/arrayed per side on PA duty and four on stage as monitors... and there's four full width T39's in the works too. All the panels are rough cut and just need a final trim and assembly... as well as an 8x DR200 build slated in the not-to-distant future too.
Build in process - 2 WH6, one Alpha 6a loaded, one PRV Audio 6MB250-NDY loaded

Two 2x6 shorty SLA Pro's
One T39, 16", 3012LF loaded
Tall AutoTuba, 20" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421
TruckTuba, 8½" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421

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Seth
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Re: Pair of WH6 Lites build

#52 Post by Seth »

I noticed that the Jack 10 Lite has a hemispherical phase plug extension, yet the standard Jack 10 does not.

I'm sure if it were beneficial enough it would be in the plans, but I'm curious enough to ask... Why is it in the plans for the Jack10 Lite and not the standard Jack10... and ultimately, could a hemispherical extension on the WH6 phase plug offer any benefit whatsoever?
Build in process - 2 WH6, one Alpha 6a loaded, one PRV Audio 6MB250-NDY loaded

Two 2x6 shorty SLA Pro's
One T39, 16", 3012LF loaded
Tall AutoTuba, 20" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421
TruckTuba, 8½" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421

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Bill Fitzmaurice
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Re: Pair of WH6 Lites build

#53 Post by Bill Fitzmaurice »

Different horn throats give different results.

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Seth
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Re: Pair of WH6 Lites build

#54 Post by Seth »

Throwing my hat over the fence... Time to get this project rolling again. Tomorrow's plan:

Minimally, I'll get the 2nd horn trimmed to size. I'd also like to create a router template for the standard rectangular panel mount SpeakOn's, for a nice custom finished look. Gonna still do the round one's on the sides, but I think I'll do the rectangle ones on the bottoms and upper backs, mostly because I have them on hand, but there's also limitted space on the shoulders of the upper back for the round ones. I'd like to get all those cut out and backing plates glued in, along with routing out the recess and hole for the top hats, before permanently mating the horn and the outer shell and buttoning up the 2nd side.

So, I'm going to work toward those goals. Update with pics coming tomorrow.
Build in process - 2 WH6, one Alpha 6a loaded, one PRV Audio 6MB250-NDY loaded

Two 2x6 shorty SLA Pro's
One T39, 16", 3012LF loaded
Tall AutoTuba, 20" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421
TruckTuba, 8½" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421

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Seth
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Location: Sacramento, California, USA
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Re: Pair of WH6 Lites build

#55 Post by Seth »

Wussed out yesterday and didn't follow through with my intentions.

Back at it today. My lower back's been really sore for standing/walking lately, so I chose to do some things I could do seated.

Anyone want a Popsicle?


Was inspired from the Parts Express video on YouTube of the assembly of the passive crossover for one of their DIY speaker kits, where they just solder all the components together without mounting them on anything and just glue the soldered components in the box with some polyurethane glue. Didn't want to do it exactly that way. Wanted a little structure for the components to hang on to until they're glued in their final spot in the cabinets. So, I chose to assemble them on popsicle sticks. Took a good amount of thinking the layout through to make the components easy to wire up without any jumpers. I'm pretty happy with how they came out.



The black messy stuff is rubberized CA glue that I used to affix the components to the stick.
20201207_131330.jpg




Here they are all soldered up. Input is in the middle, tweeter out on the left, woofer out on the right.
20201207_141547.jpg
20201207_141554.jpg



After marking and predrilling the woofer mounting holes in the spacer and flange, I went ahead and attached the woofer spacer and phase plug extension, sandwiching in the plastic rain gutter screen between them and the flange.
20201207_162952.jpg
20201207_163023.jpg



I rattle can'd a coat of flat black on the outside of the horns.
20201207_165611.jpg



That's it for today.
Build in process - 2 WH6, one Alpha 6a loaded, one PRV Audio 6MB250-NDY loaded

Two 2x6 shorty SLA Pro's
One T39, 16", 3012LF loaded
Tall AutoTuba, 20" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421
TruckTuba, 8½" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421

Grant Bunter
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Re: Pair of WH6 Lites build

#56 Post by Grant Bunter »

Hey Seth,
You've raised the suggestion in another thread to use eg WH10 as mains, and that reminded me about your idea to use pairs of WH6's as mains.

As Bruce said over yonder, the WH's have a pronounced bump in the vocal region.
It's an integral part of those designs as monitors.
While that bump may be able to be flattened with EQ, the issue, in my mind, is the lack of power handling capability when used for another purpose.
The WH6 reaches Xmax with 50W at 125Hz with the recommended 8" driver according to the plans, so, it would be prudent to crossover higher than 125Hz is how I see it. They may also struggle to keep up to (a) T39, even as a pair.
That may not be as desirable as say using shorty SLA pro's crossed at 100Hz...
Built:
DR 250: x 2 melded array, 2x CD horn, March 2012 plans.
T39's: 4 x 20" KL3010LF , 2 x 28" 3012LF.
WH8: x 6 with melded array wired series/parallel.
Bunter's Audio and Lighting "like"s would be most appreciated...

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Bill Fitzmaurice
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Re: Pair of WH6 Lites build

#57 Post by Bill Fitzmaurice »

I have my W6s EQ'd pretty flat for use in our rehearsal room, where they're the only PA in use. They sound really nice and full, and don't need much power, but they're only six feet or so away from each of us. That's not going to be the case if you tried using them for an audience.

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Seth
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Re: Pair of WH6 Lites build

#58 Post by Seth »

Grant Bunter wrote: Tue Dec 08, 2020 5:37 pm Hey Seth,
You've raised the suggestion in another thread to use eg WH10 as mains, and that reminded me about your idea to use pairs of WH6's as mains.

As Bruce said over yonder, the WH's have a pronounced bump in the vocal region.
It's an integral part of those designs as monitors.
While that bump may be able to be flattened with EQ, the issue, in my mind, is the lack of power handling capability when used for another purpose.
The WH6 reaches Xmax with 50W at 125Hz with the recommended 8" driver according to the plans, so, it would be prudent to crossover higher than 125Hz is how I see it. They may also struggle to keep up to (a) T39, even as a pair.
That may not be as desirable as say using shorty SLA pro's crossed at 100Hz...
Time will tell. Obviously, they're not going to be the right tool for covering a large area at rock concert levels. But, I'm nearly positive they'll be enough to DJ a patio party or small intimate music gathering indoors or even outdoors out to 50-75 feet or so.

Add 3dB to the WH6 trace to get the 1 watt equivalent of two cabs stacked. Add another 17dB for max output of the WH6 without exceeding xMax and another 3dB with a little distortion. Add 26dB to the SLA Pro trace (mine sound fairly clean on a 56v limiter), or subtract 3dB for a 1watt trace of a 2x6 shorty SLA Pro.


If they can do half of what the SLA Pro can, I'd be very apt to use them for PA. But really, if they're ultimately ineffective for PA use... Oh well. They'll still be good at their primary intended purpose of being ultra light weight, compact vocal monitors.
Last edited by Seth on Wed Dec 09, 2020 1:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
Build in process - 2 WH6, one Alpha 6a loaded, one PRV Audio 6MB250-NDY loaded

Two 2x6 shorty SLA Pro's
One T39, 16", 3012LF loaded
Tall AutoTuba, 20" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421
TruckTuba, 8½" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421

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Seth
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Re: Pair of WH6 Lites build

#59 Post by Seth »

Bill Fitzmaurice wrote: Tue Dec 08, 2020 5:58 pm I have my W6s EQ'd pretty flat for use in our rehearsal room, where they're the only PA in use. They sound really nice and full, and don't need much power, but they're only six feet or so away from each of us. That's not going to be the case if you tried using them for an audience.
That's encouraging. It's also interesting to hear about the gear you personally use Bill.
Build in process - 2 WH6, one Alpha 6a loaded, one PRV Audio 6MB250-NDY loaded

Two 2x6 shorty SLA Pro's
One T39, 16", 3012LF loaded
Tall AutoTuba, 20" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421
TruckTuba, 8½" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421

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Seth
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Location: Sacramento, California, USA
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Re: Pair of WH6 Lites build

#60 Post by Seth »

Grant Bunter wrote: Tue Dec 08, 2020 5:37 pm Hey Seth,
You've raised the suggestion in another thread to use eg WH10 as mains...
Oh! The other thread... The suggestion is not for use as mains in a PA system. It's a suggestion for use as a portable battery powered Bluetooth speaker for his daughter and her friends to listen to at basketball practice and whatnot. I think the WH10 is a valid option that suits the intended use fairly well, even though it's designed and intended to be used as a stage monitor.
Build in process - 2 WH6, one Alpha 6a loaded, one PRV Audio 6MB250-NDY loaded

Two 2x6 shorty SLA Pro's
One T39, 16", 3012LF loaded
Tall AutoTuba, 20" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421
TruckTuba, 8½" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421

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