Suggestions for full range newbie using a solid-state amp

[oranda]

Greetings:

I am looking to acquire my first proper full range speakers and am hoping I can get some advice for speakers/drivers that work well with solid-state amps. While I certainly appreciate tube amps, for reasons of convenience I am using and am partial to McIntosh SS amplification (autoformerless, 100WPC). My primary audio concern is natural vocal reproduction: a big reason why I would like to try a full range driver system. Being a bass player, reasonable bass frequency extension would also be nice (50/55Hz @ -6dB or so.) Some parameters:

1. My budget for this project is somewhat modest (under $500.)

2. My woodworking skills and living situation require that the cabinets be fully assembled or quite easily assembled by a novice. (I am quite handy with a soldering iron, if that helps.) I could handle a small job, like cutting a baffle hole to accept a driver as I could probably lean on a local carpenter’s shop that would accommodate a simple favor.

From what I have seen, the Tang Band W4-1617 driver kit and Tekton Fostex-equipped speakers both look attractive, but I very open to suggestions. Thanks for any and all help.

All the best, Tony

[Godzilla]

The TBs are good with solid state imo. You can also consider a Pioneer B20 plus a helper tweeter in a ported box or half chang. For bass the B20 may be one of your better wide range driver choices. Lean on your carpenter for a pair of boxes and you may be able to come in under budget.

[edjosh23]

I'd say a pair of markaudio's drivers. Good bass, can handle power, and lots of designs. My internet is being terribly slow, but planet10 has plenty of designs on his site, as does the markaudio site.

Josh

[planet10]

Alpair 12 in the Pensil12. Easy to build. 9 octaves at the expense of efficiency, but you have a ton of power. Inside your budget (excluding an exotic finish)

dave

[oranda]

Originally Posted by Godzilla

The TBs are good with solid state imo. You can also consider a Pioneer B20 plus a helper tweeter in a ported box or half chang... Lean on your carpenter for a pair of boxes and you may be able to come in under budget.

Thanks for the reply. Just spent the last hour reading up on the B20. At first, I was surprised by this suggestion, but now that I have educated myself, I see that these are real hi-fi drivers. At $30/driver, it almost seems too good to be true. I like your write-up at the Single Driver Website. To see these providing positive results with Cary gear is encouraging. BTW, I had to laugh when I saw your layout and the accompanying explanation that "everything has been baby-proofed." Everyone with children can relate to that.

I have a pair of older, ported British monitors that use (smallish) 8" drivers. These could be recycled to accommodate 8" full-rangers. I hadn't considered this at first, figuring that mid-sized (4-5") drivers would be the way to go, especially with regards to reproduction of vocals. However, if this is an acceptable route, reusing my existing cabs would make providing boxes quite straightforward.

Since you have extensive experience regarding TBs and the B20, would you mind taking a minute to compare the W8-1808 to the B20? That would be quite helpful. Does the 1808 share the same SS compatibility of the smaller TB drivers?

[oranda]

Josh and Dave,

If the low frequency requirement was relaxed (say -10 db at 50-60 Hz) does that open the field up in terms of usable drivers? I appreciate the Mark Audio suggestion, but I have a general distaste towards metal-based drivers based on my experience with multi-way speakers. That reasoning may not be applicable here, but it's a reason I did not consider the Jordan JX92S drive unit, despite the availability of ready made TL cabinets. Many thanks and looking forward to your replies.

[oranda]

Anyone have opinions on the Wild Burro Betsy-K for use with SS amplification?

[edjosh23]

Tony,

I think the EL70 is also a good choice, in case you are unaware the EL70 is basically a CHR70 designed for CSS with a paper cone. You could build one of the many designs with 2 drivers per cabinet. I heard Jim Griffin's offset bipolar TLs and they were great and surprised everyone at the diy meet last year.

As a matter of fact, Dave, I can't find the plans for the el70/chr70 with front and upward firing drivers.

Josh

[chrisb]

Originally Posted by edjosh23

Tony,

I think the EL70 is also a good choice, in case you are unaware the EL70 is basically a CHR70 designed for CSS with a paper cone. You could build one of the many designs with 2 drivers per cabinet. I heard Jim Griffin's offset bipolar TLs and they were great and surprised everyone at the diy meet last year.

As a matter of fact, Dave, I can't find the plans for the el70/chr70 with front and upward firing drivers.

Josh

for those who may not have heard both the above named drivers - there's a bit more sonic difference than "just" paper vs metal ( I like 'em both, but prefer the paper so far )

Josh - which plans are you referring to?

AFAIK, the only two driver designs that Dave has penned that meets the above description would be the "microtower" series, which are here:

http://homepage.mac.com/tlinespeaker...aps-150909.pdf

So far I've only built the two pair shown in the photos, and whether it's the driver placement, the material (or of course, a synergetic combination of both), for my application the "Castle" version with one up-firing driver is quite wonderful.

[planet10]

Originally Posted by edjosh23

I think the EL70 is also a good choice, in case you are unaware the EL70 is basically a CHR70 designed for CSS with a paper cone.

A better description is that they both use the same Mark Audio 4" basket.

The EL70 is a real shocker when it comes to bass. It is hard to believe that it is possible for that little driver to go so low. One builder of EL70 bipole Metronomes for his HT removed his subwoofer.

dave