Hello all,
Just a quick ? about a plate amp for the WO32.  
Background:  I have the plans, ready to buy MDF, and ready to call Decware to order the speakers.

Anyho... I'm looking at an amp from Partsexpress pn:  HPSA 500
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=300-806
500W plate amp that runs something like 275 per channel at 4 ohms, 500 at 8 ohms.  Amp sums the stereo input to mono output.

I think the WO32 is set up to run in stereo.
After reading some of the posts on here, some have gotten great results with much less amplification.
Grrrr.  Not sure what direction to go and I have a couple bucks burnin' a hole in my pocket.  
So, I'm l ooking for a little guidance on a plate amp please.
Thanks. ps. Guess that wasn't really a question... maybe more of a request? ???

Eli,
Thanks for the info !
We kicked it around a bit in conversation at work too, but I wanted to get some input from you folks on the board as well. (expert types)
Hopefully I  can get my orders in before the turkey nap starts to take effect.
Everybody have a good turkey day out there!
ps. Man these little amps sound great at 0230 in the morning!
Sparky

as far as i know, when we mount an amp to the sub we risk vibrateing the amp to death? might be worth considering an 'offboard' amp?

Hello all,
Thanks for the info!
I'm looking at mounting the plate amp in a seperate (sit on the floor next to the sub) nicely finsihed box.  The WO32 only has something like 8x12 in the triangle apex and the amp is 10x10 on the mounting face.  
Besides that, if what "they" say about the WO is true... then I'd risk shaking the paint off of the amp if it was somehow attached to he cabinet.  hmmm, maybe? ???
Will attempt to get my orders in and p/u some MDF Wednesday.  If I can figure out how to host pics on Comcast, then I will do that too.
Thanks again.
Sparky

Hello,
-update...
Ok, amp and subs on order and should be in this week.
Spent the better part of the long weekend cutting up a sheet of MDF.
Everything is cut up and fit w/ the exception of the parts that are made from the sub cut out circle.
Guess I have to go buy a router now  :'(

I'll keep you all up to date as things proceed.
So far so good

Hello all,
Ok, the box is done!  First I was running it w/ just the one amp (see above) but the bass was very muddy.  Granted that the testing was in a big concrete room w/ block walls.  I was a little unhappy at that point.  Sat on the box for hours w/ the ipod trying different music, different settings on the amp, adding poly fill, foam, voodoo  :-*, etc.  Still,  :'( not getting it.  Anyway, moved on in the project to the plate amp dog houses.  I say houses because I picked up 2 amps, you know, just in case .  Hooked up both amps running at around 200 something watts to each sub at 8 ohms each.  Shazaaaammm!   the bass cleared up and really got responsive.  Further, after flipping the box on end w/ the horn facing down and sitting on 2x4 blocks... Wow!
Maybe the single plate amp seeing 3.5 ohms at the terminals was just a bit much power for the drivers.   ???Now just need to get the thing home and mess around w/ placement and tuning.
Overall, things are looking up.  The project has gotten a bit out of control cost wise, but I really think I will be pleased w/ the music when it is all dialed in.
Took a ton of pictures so I'll work on getting those posted.

60-
yup, so far it has been sitting on the floor in the middle of the room, sitting upright next to the tv (turned the screen green), outboard of the speakers, and back to the floor again.  Everything has to be carefully placed to keep the cats from eating the power and speaker cable.  It's like child proofing a house; but for cats instead.   Makes a nice coffee table though.  
I really had the sound when I first hooked it up.  Filled in and brought a new dimension to the music.  It's like I could hear the texture of the spiral round upright bass guitar strings in the music.  Wild.  then I mucked around w/ the 2 plate amp settings and lost the bubble.  :'( O well... keeps me off the streets at night I guess.
Just a side thought... how many amps can I run off of the CSP?  So far there are 2 CS's and 2 plate amps.  working ok so far, but the hum is more noticiable and the big tube on one CS vibrates more now.  Hopefully they will just keep glowing and making great sound!
Guess I can't get another CSP in the same black cabinet as before?   ???

Pictures as promised...

favorite instrument...


The wo32 IS incredible.
I'm certain I heard the actual texture of the spiral wound bass strings being played...



kinda like exhibit "A"

Overall, the build was a lesson in speaker construction.  The angles were tough but do-able.
I did not have the right router bit to recess the 10"s into the baffle as the directions "seem" to show but I do have a very tight fit between the speaker face gasket and the facing baffle.  It doesn't rattle at all.  Must have been the Voodoo  ???
The amp boxes turned out good and are even nearly a complete match in dimensions.  I think I only put down a couple dimensions on paper before I just went for it from the mental image.  
Thanks to everyone past and present for their posts regarding the wo32- all very helpful!

Wow Sparky, those are the second biggest plate amp boxs I have ever seen.  :P, But seriously, nice job.

Mr C

Hello and Thanks!
I'm not sure if the single amp did not have enough oommph or too much oommph but running one amp for each driver seemed to do the trick.  Maybe the two drivers in parallel created too low Ohms for the plate amp?  I don't know.  But hey, it sounds good now so I'm happy!  
As for the amp boxes (dog houses), they are a bit big, but they blend in well w/ everything else and aren't any taller than the top of the horn on the BK-16 cabinets (see Madisound kit).  
anyway, thanks again!
Sparky  :D