Recommend a DIY full-range hi-fi speaker better than a 2/3-way one.

[cirrus18]

Recommend a DIY full-range hi-fi speaker better than a 2/3-way one.

Reading all about the pitfalls of designing and the problems off passive crossovers, together with the expense of using active ones, which would also mean more amplifiers, it seems to me the way to go would be using a full range driver, as long as you could get better hi-fi performance than one expects from a good commercial 2/3 way speaker system.
Perhaps this is not possible because I don't see any commercial full range products on the market.

I have a good sub woofer already, which should handle the low-frequency end perfectly adequately.

So, from the myriad of designs out there, what would you recommend? bearing in mind I want the best possible hi-fi experience and better than the kef q55 which I presently have. Particularly if it could be also backed up with comparison listening tests or speaker polars.
Many thanks in anticipation.

[chops]

Originally posted by cirrus18
Recommend a DIY full-range hi-fi speaker better than a 2/3-way one.

Reading all about the pitfalls of designing and the problems off passive crossovers, together with the expense of using active ones, which would also mean more amplifiers, it seems to me the way to go would be using a full range driver, as long as you could get better hi-fi performance than one expects from a good commercial 2/3 way speaker system.
Perhaps this is not possible because I don't see any commercial full range products on the market.

I have a good sub woofer already, which should handle the low-frequency end perfectly adequately.

So, from the myriad of designs out there, what would you recommend? bearing in mind I want the best possible hi-fi experience and better than the kef q55 which I presently have. Particularly if it could be also backed up with comparison listening tests or speaker polars.
Many thanks in anticipation.

That's easy! Just look around in this forum and you'll get plenty of ideas on single driver fullrange setups. A good place to start is looking through the "Full Range Speaker Photo Gallery"... Full Range Speaker Photo Gallery

This will give you a good idea of what some of these designs look like. From there, you can do searches on the forum for those particular designs to see what they are capable of, then go from there.

Another great site (from fellow member Planet10 - Dave), to find information of drivers and slews of different enclosure designs including horns, transmission lines, etc, etc, etc... http://www.planet10-hifi.com/ And don't forget his two sister sites... http://www.frugal-horn.com/ and http://www.t-linespeakers.org/

I won't have to tell you who to look for because I'm sure they will all put in their own 2 cents here before too long.


Just as a quick reference, I bought a pair of AV123 X-Statik loudspeakers in the beginning of the year along with the matching X-Voce center channel. They are a 3-way MTM sealed/open baffle design that sound quite good.






Now believe it or not, I think my little Fostex FE103E 4" fullrange drivers sound much better than the ones mentioned above. They don't extend as low as the X-Statik's, but they do the entire midrange and treble much better. Everything is crystal clear and "true" sounding. There's no crossovers, no multiple drivers, no phasing issues, no comb filter effects to screw up the sound. THIS is what makes the single driver designs blow away most all the 2-way/3-way systems.

Here's what I'm working with at the moment. Don't laugh, they will surprise you! Yes, they are in cardboard boxes just as a temp thing (originally just to break them in). I have a small BSC circuit inserted and that's it. These are what's blowing away my big speakers!

[just a guy]

There's no such thing as better, just different. You have to pick your compromises. Taking your listening environment, musical tastes, other needs into account will help decide which compromises make sense.

[chops]

Originally posted by just a guy
There's no such thing as better, just different.

I'm sure plenty will argue that...

[Scottmoose]

Originally posted by cirrus18
Perhaps this is not possible because I don't see any commercial full range products on the market.

A few examples:
http://www.planet10-hifi.com/fonken.html
www.cardersound.com
http://www.geocities.com/rbrines1/
http://www.lovecraftdesigns.com/index.html
http://blumenstein-ultra-fi.com/
www.thehornshoppe.com
http://www.audio-magus.com/product_p/wl8.htm
http://www.acuhorn.pl/
http://www.rlacoustique.com/lamhorn.htm
http://www.beauhorn.com/pages/frame.html
http://www.johnblue-audio.com/
http://www.ocellia.com/
http://www.horninghybrid.com/

Putting that aside, as noted, 'better' is, er, 'better' read as 'different.' Everything is a compromise. But the sites Charles mentioned above will give you a good start as to what can be done.

[901Fixer]

I'm in the same boat. I have some home stuff that I like but wanna build a BLH or FLH utilizing a FR driver.

My plan right now is to use a Fostex FE126 in their FLH as most comments I've read are positive and they are very affordable. I'm still perusing this site and getting ideas. There are at least two more enclosure designs that this driver works well or better in, I just need to see what is recommended.

Adding a sub later or messin' with the LF short comings will be part of the hobby and I don't wanna start bench racing/modding a speaker I haven't even heard yet. I also don't wanna jump too deep into Hi-Fi initially and spoil myself to the point that I can't listen to inferior stuff and it aggrevates me. Sorta like eating at a top notch steak house and then hittin' Sizzler, tough learning curve.

[SCD]

A really nice place ot start is a FE127 in a MLTL. Look for it on P10's site. If you have the skills and the time, this same driver works very well in the fonken design. Once you are hooked go for the ENable mods.
These drivers do a lot of things very well. They are quite comfortable in a broad range of enclosures.

Good luck
I hope this helps

[planet10]

Originally posted by 901Fixer
Fostex FE126 in their FLH as most comments I've read are positive and they are very affordable.

FE126 can really perform, but the Fostex recommended enclosures aren't that good.

dave

[hm]

Hello,

i prefer the new double horns
KORNETT and SAXOPHON





both with membran movement cross setting and
bass horn mouth distance, extrem low movement
down to 35 Hz.

[901Fixer]

Originally posted by planet10


FE126 can really perform, but the Fostex recommended enclosures aren't that good.

dave

What would you recommend? I suppose my needs as well as other information is needed. I love the mechanical look of an FLH or Spawn. I really love the massive curved "cello" FLH that seems to be popular in Germany. The ML-TL is beautiful and may fit better in my living room. Decisions, decisions. Sound quality is the priority of course but I'd rather build something I like the look of as well. I keep surfin' this site, easy to kill a few hours.

I have no loyalty to any brand or size/model so my options are totally open.