Fullrange questions!

[Ppasco1018]

Hi everyone I am new to the forum and am glad to be here!

Me and a good friend of mine are throwing around building a set of full-range speakers. I am a little lost on how I should go about this. I have been reading up and down that a 12v battery powered t-amp and a set of full-range speakers will blow away most speakers/systems in a sub thousands range. Now is this true? I sure don't know.

I want to know the advantage and disadvantage of small to larger size drivers. What models of what brands to look into.

I plan to use in a ported bookshelf type enclosure. Whats a good t-amp to use?

I would like to not spend more then $200pr for the drivers.

Sorry for all the noob questions!

[Ppasco1018]

**EDIT** Also interested in open enclosure. That seems like it could be rather interesting, and easy to build.

[rjbond3rd]

Howdy. This weekend, I'm building these which can be built for under $200: http://www.wildburroaudio.com/projects.php

I went to the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest and heard speakers in the $1k, $2k, $20k and even $100k range. I wasn't all that impressed with the big-buck systems.

To my ears, acoustic and jazz sound fantastic on a decent fullrange system. I'm not sure they would be my first choice for the style of music mentioned in your sig unless you also mix in a woofer (or at least a sub).

For T-amps, I got the Super T-amp at Parts Express. I am happier with a little tube amp, but the Super T-amp has a lot of fans.

[FullRangeMan]

HI PASCO,
I too love OB fullranges, they are best sound than a Magnepan 1.6QR, but may be more expensive too.
Unhappily OB requires a BIG cone, the bigger the better, under 12inches the bass is too small due front/back self cancelation of the OB panel.
Today 2009 there is only one big cone Iam aware, the Nirvana Super15CF(398 US dollars per pair) at http://www.commonsenseaudio.com/an15cfspecs.jpg and seems it is very good sound by the price.

But if you want stay away of OB panels, there is a lot of FR options for BR and sealed boxes.
My personal preference is the MarkAudio Alpair10(6 inches, 135 dollars each) this Alpair10 is a beautiful driver, a real Hi-End FR, stellar sound quality in a suited BR box(13 liters) and they are hand made in HongKong, the build quality is first class, no cheap parts!! http://www.markaudio.com/alpair/10/fullrange

If you have some money to spend, maybe you could want the sweet sound of a Alnico magnet(Alnico is the best sound magnet for any speaker, but is expensive) and try the Fostex F200A(8inches) around 380 dollars at http://www.madisound.com/catalog/pro...roducts_id=265
OOPS the price rise to 440 dollars!!!, since the last time I see this beauty...
Please Note: A FR is expensive to made and design, a low price FR always is a bad sound FR.
Good Luck!!

[2litre]

Welcome.

For your first foray into full range or wide band speakers I'd recommend the Pioneer 8",
Parts-Express.com:*Pioneer B20FU20-51FW 8" Full Range Driver | woofer 10" woofer full range speaker pa woofer pioneer ,
paired with a PE Neo Tweeter
Parts-Express.com:*Dayton ND16FA-6 5/8" Neodymium Dome Tweeter | tweeter nd16fa-6 soft dome tweeter dome tweeter neodynium dayton audio dayton loudspeaker dayton.

Current pricing puts you at @$80 for all drivers. This combo is fairly well documented on this forum and is a great "gateway" set up.

Mine are in 2cuft sealed enclosures and powered by a Sonic Impact Gen 1 T-amp. I know, not quite bookshelf enclosures.
What I'm driving at is that these are easy to listen to drivers that, in an enclosure this size, might leave you 'wanting' a subwoofer but definately not 'needing' one.

R/

Jim

[maxdd_nj]

Drivers

While not single driver full range, Hawthorne Audio offers their 15" coaxial Silver Iris for $145/ea. They'll get u started, and if you're missing some bass u can always add the 15" OB bass augmenter. You won't find better OB for less effort and $$$.

[Ppasco1018]

I was thinking about the audio nirvana drivers. They seem cheap and well made. As I said before, I cant spend more then $200 for the pair, not $200 per driver.

I was also thinking the Aurasound NS3-194-4B at madisound for $11 each. I figure I would keep my costs down low to even see if I find them interesting before throwing away!

[Ppasco1018]

Originally Posted by rjbond3rd

Howdy. This weekend, I'm building these which can be built for under $200: Wild Burro Audio Labs - Fullrange Speaker Projects - Basic Open Baffle Design

I went to the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest and heard speakers in the $1k, $2k, $20k and even $100k range. I wasn't all that impressed with the big-buck systems.

To my ears, acoustic and jazz sound fantastic on a decent fullrange system. I'm not sure they would be my first choice for the style of music mentioned in your sig unless you also mix in a woofer (or at least a sub).

For T-amps, I got the Super T-amp at Parts Express. I am happier with a little tube amp, but the Super T-amp has a lot of fans.

Did it cost you $200 to build just the cabs or was that including drivers?

Those look freaking awsome! Thats what I was thinking about doing pretty much. I was thinking the audio nirvana super 8's for something like that! I have a nice 25wpc int. amp that I have laying around that I do belive is just perfect for a 8".

Would It be overkill in a apartment? I have a 600sf place. Am not quite sure what size my living room is. I know it's quite small.

[planet10]

Originally Posted by Ppasco1018

Did it cost you $200 to build just the cabs or was that including drivers?

He is going to have to slurge a bit to get the cost of the entire project up to $200... maybe some nice veneer?

dave

[rjbond3rd]

Originally Posted by Ppasco1018

Did it cost you $200 to build just the cabs or was that including drivers?

Those look freaking awsome! Thats what I was thinking about doing pretty much. I was thinking the audio nirvana super 8's for something like that! I have a nice 25wpc int. amp that I have laying around that I do belive is just perfect for a 8".

Would It be overkill in a apartment? ...

Hi Ppasco, the plywood was $65, $10 to have it cut, drivers were $100. I bought expensive 48" hinges but that was overkill. So the project can be built for under $200 especially if you go for cheaper plywood.

But be careful -- the Betsy driver is _especially_ for OB, and the Audio Nirvana drivers would almost certainly need a woofer to make enough bass. Some people feel that the woofer is always necessary, but I'm finding I can get by with the Besty. It also depends on the music.

If you intend on using just one fullrange -- no woofer -- try to get a driver with a Qts of around .7 or even higher. That rules out using an Audio Nirvana by itself, I think. If the driver has a Q much lower than that, a woofer seems necessary. If you're feeling up to it, simulate first in MJK or the EDGE.

Overkill for small spaces? I don't think so, if you really love listening to music (and I'm sure you do). They fold up nicely. I'm starting a thread for these later today ("Dark Stars"). But be warned -- these produce bass of a nice quality, but a limited quantity.

Originally Posted by planet10

He is going to have to slurge a bit to get the cost of the entire project up to $200... maybe some nice veneer?

Ha ha ha! You overestimate my skills, sir.