Full range design for bedroom system

[bigjppop]

I'd like to try my hand at my first DIY speaker build and am looking for a design that would work in a bedroom system. I'll be using a PP EL84 amp making around 10 watts.

Since this is a bedroom system I need something that can be placed against the wall but maybe/maybe not in the corner. My problem is that I will be moving soon so I have no idea what my new bedroom is going to be shaped like. Room placement flexibility will be key.

I've got access to a full wood shop but I'm still a rookie when it comes to woodwork so I need something easy for a newbie. I need pretty high efficiency and I'm thinking anything that gets me down around 50 hz should work. I listen to a little of acoustic music, small ensemble, a little classical/instrumental, etc. Overall budget, I would like to keep this project under $500 as this is my first attempt and I don't want to "risk" too much.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[ttsto]

As my first diy project I recently built Mileva
Quite easy to build, sounds great (in my opinion better than Kef iQ7 that I own), can be driven by low power amplifier and are very friendly with the room.
Not to mention that Dave is always here and provide excellent support

[mikje]

My first foray into building my own speakers was with these:
Parts Express DIY Project
I have run them on my EL84 PP amp and they sound great. They run around $200 and are pretty much all square cuts, so they're somewhat challenging, but very do-able. Also, the designer is on the PE forum a lot and is very helpful.
Mike

[chris661]

If you're after something small, 50Hz might be a bit optimistic - those little drivers don't shift huge amounts of air.
However, it all depends on volume. If you want really loud stuff, a small full range won't work, but something larger would be Ok.

So, what size are we talking? How loud?

Chris

[planet10]

Mileva just about gets to 50 Hz, but as Chris mentions won't at very high levels. For a bit more placement options, the similarily deep and tall, but much narrower Fonken FloorStander would be my suggestion. It doesn't go as low as Mileva

dave

[mikje]

Originally Posted by mikje

My first foray into building my own speakers was with these:
Parts Express DIY Project
I have run them on my EL84 PP amp and they sound great. They run around $200 and are pretty much all square cuts, so they're somewhat challenging, but very do-able. Also, the designer is on the PE forum a lot and is very helpful.
Mike

For less than $150 more, you could add the Triska sub. Three small packages, great sound, DIY, below 50Hz, less than $400.
Parts Express DIY Project
Mike

[bigjppop]

Originally Posted by planet10

Mileva just about gets to 50 Hz, but as Chris mentions won't at very high levels. For a bit more placement options, the similarily deep and tall, but much narrower Fonken FloorStander would be my suggestion. It doesn't go as low as Mileva

dave

Both of these options look good with the Fonken floorstander probably having a little more placement flexibility due to its narrower design. I wouldn't be driving either of these to loud levels (or my bedroom might turn into a listening room after the wife moved out!) so super high SPL is not important.

Does anyone know roughly how low the Fonken Floorstanders go? If they can accurately do the low string on a cello and/or bass guitar I'd probably be pretty happy.

[Scottmoose]

Well, Dave's already indirectly answered your question. Open E on a double bass / bass guitar is ~42Hz. Melieva will do about 50Hz, the Fonken floorstander a bit higher (call it 60Hz). Both should in fact reproduce open E, but level will be a ways down.

[planet10]

I've always estimated 65 Hz, but some claim to get into the 30s in room.

I've measured mine at low levels into the 40s. In Chris' very small room he gets all the bass he can handle.

Room is very dominant below 100 Hz. This is why Toole strongly recommends mains down to 80 and multiple separate woofers below that.

dave

[chrisb]

Originally Posted by Scottmoose

Well, Dave's already indirectly answered your question. Open E on a double bass / bass guitar is ~42Hz. Melieva will do about 50Hz, the Fonken floorstander a bit higher (call it 60Hz). Both should in fact reproduce open E, but level will be a ways down.

Originally Posted by planet10

I've always estimated 65 Hz, but some claim to get into the 30s in room.

I've measured mine at low levels into the 40s. In Chris' very small room he gets all the bass he can handle.

Room is very dominant below 100 Hz. This is why Toole strongly recommends mains down to 80 and multiple separate woofers below that.

dave

If the bedroom in question results in listening position as near field as my "very small" room (i.e. 8.5ft wide x 20ft usable length), I think you'd get enough sense of lowest octave or so. The Floorstander certainly has small enough footprint to take advantage of boundary loading from available corners. Be sure to sand or shot fill the lower void for ballast if not using a wide base plate - these can be very tippy.