Good build for a university student

[RussellB]

I am looking for a few suggestions, I am currently in University and have a year left so I am looking for a cheap bookshelf speaker build. I enjoy doing things hands on so I have no problem building my own boxes but would like a set of plans so I don’t have to find the perfect enclosure size.

The speakers will be used for my TV in my bedroom. I am in Canada as well so being able to buy more locally would be great.

Thanks for your input!

[RussellB]

I have been looking around and like the looks of this:

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=264-813

any input on this pick? Suggestion for box to build?

[iihay]

Loads of knowledgable folk round here who will come up with good suggestions but you could check out the planet10 website (google planet 10 hifi", they have a great box plan library and are on here all the time in fact will probably answer you soon from what I have seen.

The fonken range seem to be very good and there is loads of info on hear about them.

Have fun

Iain

[loninappleton]

If you have the tools I agree with above. A miniFonken should meet the need of nearfield computer use.

I have personally gotten away from trying to listen to little speakers up close.

Depending on your room size budget and tools ( have some of these problems) simple large enclosures can be made with home store
parts.

Example:

Glued up shelving 12 in 6ft in the shrink wrap (no cutting)
can be used for side panels. Internals of a BIB (see long thread
here which begins Terry Cains BIB....) can be gotten with 2 8ft
lengths of particle board. at $& USD each This is enough for the front, back and internal divider. The width has to be trimmed. But one back and one divider can come out of a single piece. I'm doing this now.


Small cabinets will save on lumber and there are premade kits
at parts express. But if you want a build, the BIB will be more satisfying for the effort with minimal tools and setups.

[DaveCan]

If it's bookshelf size you'd like then the Fonken's are an excellent little champ..http://www.planet10-hifi.com/ They use the Fostex fe127 drivers,so a bit more $ than the TB's your looking at but well worth it I'd say.. Plus if you have the skills to build that cab then no prob.. The BIB is good fun too if you have the space for a tall cab and want a really easy build.. Dave

[alexmoose]

As a University student, and a DIY Audio-er, I am a self-appointed expert!

the one advantage of having an extremely small dorm room is that a low power SET will sound amazing in it!

I took my EL34 SET to my dorm room with my JBL e60s, I have since turned the e60s into my trinary speakers, I built a pair of the Fostex 127e Bi-poles , and they sound amazing, and will sound really nice in any medium to large sized room. In a medium room, and SET will drive them nicely.

I also have a pair of Magnaplanar SMGs, but those have never made it to school, they need a huge room and 100+watts to "sing".

The problem with any full range design is that sub woofer is almost a necessity, which will **** off neighbors, RAs, and roommates.

as for doing things cheap, don't cut so many corners that quality goes down, its not worth it. make sure you have 100 extra dollars in the budget for things you didn't think of....

Take your time, and make something that people will appreciate, so you're not seen as a total nerd.


-Moose

[RussellB]

any suggestions for any other 'cheap' systems. Even if it is not the best speaker it may be better to test my building skill on something really cheap before going for the $200+ speakers

[DaveCan]

I guess it all depends what you may be looking for.. I'm assuming that you want to go the single driver route and the fe127 drivers are well under $200 http://www.madisound.com/catalog/pro...roducts_id=269

That Fonken enclosure would test your skills somewhat and also sound purdy darn good ta boot Plus rather than being another of about a gazillion cookie cutter ported boxes, this one is actually way more interesting IMO as it thinks outside the box so to speak. http://www.planet10-hifi.com/fonken.html

Maybe if Dave or Chris see this they'll give you some advice, (I'm not a speaker designer) but for a small single driver enclosure and for under a $100 in drivers this one is pretty sweet for what it is.. Dave

[chrisb]

A dorm/small room friendly computer /TV monitor sized speaker such as the middle design from the Fonken series (mFonken) would make sense to me.

When circumstances (space and budget) permit, you can add a pair of powered woofers designed as speaker stands. With the FE127E rolled off between 120 -150HZ, the heavy lifting of the bottom couple of octaves is eliminated and both the midrange quality and effective power handling are improved substantially.



http://homepage.mac.com/tlinespeaker...-0v999-map.pdf

not a difficult build - the chamfered vertical front edges are more than just aesthetic, but not mandatory. If you can't use BB plywood, use either particleboard or even solid pine rather than MDF,

[flaevor]

You might try the cyburg's bricks with the TB W3-871. They are really impressive.