The Audiologic

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The Schumakubin? What kind of name is Schumakubin? It gets its name from a collaborative effort between the designer and builder of the original prototype, based on a design goal that required large performance from a small footprint using high-performing, low cost drivers.The history of the project started when Rudy Jakubin posted a question on the PE website concerning designs around the DA175 since he had a pile of them laying around. Well, I modeled up a couple of different configurations, MTM, and TMM 2.5-ways that Rudy listened to and gave me feedback on. So my next thought was, why not combine the MTM and TMM concepts?

Originally, my prototype consisted of the Hi Vi K1 tweeter, as I was into the project to see what you could do with minimal money spent. That impressed more than a few people who listened to it, mostly because of the great performing DA175 woofer. At this point, Jordan Roy, who had been lurking on the boards for projects that would meet his goal for a kit, contacted me after reading Rudy and my back and forths. I believe it was Rudy's enthusiasm for what he was hearing that caught his interest. Anyway, after talking with Jordan, I decided to re-make the crossover for a higher quality part, the SEAS 27TBFC/G, that would be for his on-line project.  The prototype turned out to produce a level of clarity over the K1 that was stunning.  The lower crossover point with the better tweeter accomplished a couple of things: improving distortion and better driver integration.

 

After some further discussion, we decided to also give the Dayton RS28 a try.  I had heard a number of designs using this tweeter that sounded fantastic.  The distortion character of the RS28 is also extremely clean.  So, I tweaked up the XO for both the tweeter and the woofer array, setting the XO point just a bit lower, 1450 vs 1500 for the SEAS.  Both are acoustic LR4, and when I had the RS28 on the right channel and the TBFC on the left, if there were any differences, I had a real hard time telling.  And even though the RS28 is a bit more expensive than the TBFC, the advantage of single source mitigates the cost differential with shipping savings.  And I have to admit, the RS28 is just plain nicer to look at, to me anyway. 

 

That's where the Schumakubin is at the present time.

The result is a unique-looking, floor standing tower utilizing 4 identical 7” aluminum-cone woofers and a crossover that focuses the midrange on the drivers that flank a high performance aluminum-dome tweeter.

The four woofers work in tandem in the lower octaves, providing the surface area of a 12” woofer, while offering the speed, detail and dispersion of a 7” mid-woofer. This MTMWW arrangement can truly be considered a full range system, with solid performance into the lowest octaves in typical listening room when constructed in a vented enclosure. Low system tuning maintains very good excursion control of the woofers while providing a gentle roll-off of bass response to the low 20Hz range. In most cases, room interaction will provide more than ample response boost, allowing for real, extended, deep and powerful bass reproduction without the need for a subwoofer. Don’t believe it? You will! These speakers are very dynamic!

If you do intend to use a sub for HT applications and/or to handle the lowest octaves separately, then the sealed enclosure is the best approach for a couple of reasons. The sealed alignment produces a roll-off that compliments the active crossovers in most home theater receivers allowing seamless integration with most subwoofers. The sealed alignment also provides a measure of excursion cushioning that a vented box won't do. And if your intention is to use these in a smaller room, then the sealed box will offer a tighter, smoother bass response in the closer confines of a smaller or well sealed room. The cabinet we'll be offering as part of the complete kit is the sealed version. Its footprint is smaller, and the shipping weight is not too bad. Also, a vented enclosure can come in a variety of sizes, anywhere from a 24Hz tuned 2.5 cubic foot box to a 4 cubic foot lower 30Hz tune. On the other hand, a 2 cubic foot enclosure, well stuffed, will provide a nicely damped roll-off, and it won't break the bank to ship it to your door!!! But if you want something custom made, just ask. One-offs aren't cheap, but well made cabinets are a major key to the great sound of our systems.

We also offer, to those who are not quite so gifted in the tool and woodworking department, finished front baffles with .75" roundover edges, 9" wide and 4' tall, that can be cut to length as short as 36", with full flush-mount recesses custom cut for your drivers. The fit and finish is "perfect". Veneer, paint, laminate to your desire and simply add a gasket to the driver when mounting to maintain that perfect flush finish. The baffles are 1" thick MDF and present a very solid base so your drivers can produce that very solid bass. And for those who do not want to make any MDF dust at all, a complete cabinet, requiring only clamps and glue can be made available.

The array crossover gradually rolls-off the lower two woofers, allowing the system to seamlessly transition to the very low-distortion tweeter by having the woofers adjacent to the tweeter handle the upper midrange duties. This provides a stable image and spacious soundstage and a natural reproduction of musical detail.