Co-designed by J. Owens, and T. Gesualdo

ABX/LDA Audiophile Baffles as seen on the ABX YouTube Channel

A D.I.Yers dream speaker offering incredible performance and value!

The Design.

Here is the basic DIY baffle design by James Owens using the La Dolce Audio OB drivers. Not pictured here is the 1″ oak stair tread that James used as a base. It came in at a 4′ length that he simply cut in half and attached to the baffle with “L” shelf brackets at the bottom.

The drivers used are the LDA HA15.1 woofer for bass and midrange, the modified LDA1001 tweeter, and the LDA18 woofer, which is slot loaded(a rectangle or ring slot). I suggested using a vertical slot to have the slot farther from the baffle edges, but for aesthetic reasons James went with a horizontal slot on his first build. James measured response down below 30hz in his room at his listening position.

The most recent versions of this baffle are a 9″ hole on the 15″ driver which no longer with that size slot requires a 1.5mH choke allowing for 3dbs more sensitivity. A 1/4 round over or bevel should be used. Also, the height can be whatever you want accommodating any ear level with the coaxial driver. Side wings are optional, and so is the width of the baffle larger than 21″. Without side wings there is a little more sensitivity, and not quite as deep of bass response, but it is hardly noticable.

The Crossover

The crossover used is a 3.3uF capacitor on the tweeter with a Lpad for level matching (we highly suggest this). A 1.5mH choke can be used on the midbass 15″ woofer, but when using a 9″ hole slot it does not need this. And a 10mH choke on the 18″ woofer which crosses if over at 130hz with the other drivers. This baffle use the LDA1001 or the LDA1002. The LDA1002 gives a little more top end and slightly more brightness. Both of these tweeters are very revealing and some glare can happen with some sources and solid state amplification. We are fans of single ended amplifiers and this isn’t an issue when using a Primaluna, any tube McIntosh amplifier or LDA tube amplifiers.

BOM, Eminence 100w Lpad, any film 3.3uF capacitor, Dayton Audio iron core 10mH choke. All parts can be found on parts express.

The Components

Here are all the components used to create the ABX Audiophile Baffles. If you have any questions feel free to join us on both the ABX or LaDolce Discord communities

      LDA-HA15.1 SELECT
      Coaxial Woofer Kit Select
      See MOre
      LDA-HA15.1
      Coaxial Woofer Kit

      SEE more
      LDA18
      Open Baffle Woofer Kit

      see more
      The latest Video on these speakers

      With the use of an Lpad, you can make the speaker sound practically however you like, bright, warm, and with a subwoofer even a “v” shaped signature. You can also not use a choke on the mid/woofer for a midrange pronounced sound, or one larger than 1.5mh for a more subdued sound. Coming will be more plans that extend the bass even further, and create more options, and some plans with smaller baffles for small rooms.