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Ok, I think it is it. I close the experimental phase of the MiniMe projects as I have selected and feel comfortable with MiniMe results. The MiniMe Bass section is the very original MiniMe enclosure with the very same drivers as I plane from start. The MiniMe Monitor section is completely different monitor: it is 2-way bass-reflexed with additional passive radiator, with Focal tweeter and no-name 5” leather-suspended MF/bass driver. The Monitor goes down to ~100Hz after which the bass section kick-in. at this point the design is fixed and even I need to make minor adjustments with bass section crossover point but it is about it. The image below indicates how the MiniMe is positioned in relation to Macondo. The phonograph is taken from my full height standing in from on Macondo. The MiniMe monitor  baffles are ~ 6-7” behind the Macondo MF mouthed and so far I did not detect that MiniMe screws up Macondo sound.

Some concussions: Project

Very impressed with Focal tweeter – very impressed. The tweeter sits at ~2500 kHz with third order. It is the same tweeter that Focal used in Grand Utopias in 90s and Wilson used in Grand Slamm MKII in 90s. It is textured titanium in foam suspension. I was truly take how dynamic and how neutral it is. I come to it accidently searching some crap in my storage – god I need more frequently to look there – perhaps I can find it there Lindbergh baby and Jimmy Hoffa… The project itself was a typical for me triumph of money throwing to the problem as a substitute for ignorance and disability to heir a proper help to render my tasks. The JBL MF driver did not work as it needed a LOT of work – I was too lazy to go there and along with good MF driver the perspective of use the RAAL tweeter is evaporated. Then I “trusted others” and went for Fostex – the $600 thrown to garbage can – I hope I found a moron what would take this crap out of my hands – those driver are not qualified even to rust in my storage. Well, perhaps if I keep my mouth shut about the Fostex then I will be able to sell it but the people with brains understand that if I sell anything then I hate it…

Some concussions: Sound

The greatest objective of the MiniMe was accomplished: the MiniMe has a similar to Macondo presentation in my room and has absolutely non-annoying sound. It is even surprising how non-annoying it is. Is sound of MiniMe something that I might consider good? Absolutely not! I would need to write a thousand words to criticize what in MiniMe sound might be improved but doing nothing good MiniMe does not do bad things. In a grand scale the MiniMe has NOT too impressive tone, has proper and surprisingly clean HF, unexpectedly dynamic and transiently very much not challenged. It has the typical for all of those monitors “small” sound and sound good only with crappie material. Any attempts to make the MiniMe able to play something more serious made the MiniMe to suffer from something that I named the “Joe Roberts Effect”. The “Joe Roberts Effect” is a situation when a piece of audio does shit, does not know about it and if asked to do something more objections-loaded then it does not know what even being asked. All my attempts to make MiniMe to play sound more seriously made the MiniMe do not even know what the hell I want from it – well it what it is and I let it be as is. Still, the MiniMe, while does what it does it does own duty not annoying… The greatest thing about MiniMe as far as I concern is that MiniMe clearly indicates when I need to shut down the little SS amp that drivers simplistic MiniMe and to turn up Melquiades, letting the full bloom of Macondo to take over.  The experience I get with the transformation of Sound while it happening is something that makes the MiniMe project well-justified.

Final concussion:

The MiniMe bass section, the thin, accurate G10 enclosure was a good idea.  It sits in Macondo upperbass bay and it feels like it was born there. The MiniMe monitor I should not build but  had to buy from someone. There is an army of small mini-monitors out there and considering the time and money I paid until I end up with my currant Monitor I could pick and afford anything I wish.  Now, when I have a cheap alternative to Milq/Macondo to listen non-live FM musical programs and the Prairie Home Companion- type programs in my room, the MiniMe paved the way to convert Melquiades MF channel to exotic DHT tube with restricted life span. I think with MiniMe I will be running Macondo 3-4 times less, so the DHT project is moving to the front burner…

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