1st speaker build - BIB with ____ FR speaker?

[keillor]

Hi all,
Just looking to cut my teeth building some speakers and think the BIB sounds like a perfect first-build design. I'm having trouble picking a speaker though, so if one of you in the know could please suggest a relatively affordable full-range speaker I would be most appreciative.

I listen to every type of music, electronic through classical, rock, hip hop, etc.
I have a T-amp I can use right now, and am thinking of building a small tube amp soon. I also have access to a yamaha stereo receiver.

Speaker Ideas:
-Pioneer BOFU?
-Fostex?
-mark audio?
-Tang Band?

I read someone saying they were really happy with some Tang Band speakers in a BIB, but I'm open to anything. I'm located in Vancouver (Canada) if that makes any difference re: availability.

I really don't want to use a tweeter if I don't have to. A huge plus would be if there are speaker-optimized plans available too.

Thank-you all very much,
Cam

[keillor]

Haha ok I figured I wouldn't miss out on the cheap BOFUs so I've got some on order from PE. Can I do the BOFU BIB without a tweeter? Maybe I can get parts together before next weekend and get'er done then .

Thanks,
Cam

[kristleifur]

I'd take an efficient 4-5" driver. At least if you're going to be using a ~12V T-Amp. A 4-5" driver can get you the efficiency and bass output you want, while retaining good treble output. Smaller? Efficiency and bass issues. Bigger? Treble issues.

I'd say a 4.5" Fostex, such as the FE126En. Especially if you want to use a lower-power tube amp. Don't know if you'll find them affordable though?

The Pioneer B20FU20 is noticeably more affordable AFAIK most people use tweeters with those? They aren't TOO efficient either ... Still, they ought to work pretty well with a T-Amp - depending on the room and your listening habits. The BOFU is 90dB/W as far as I know — I have enjoyed little 87dB/W drivers driven by a T-Amp. It lacked volume and oomph sometimes, but it was worth it ... The BOFUs couldn't be that bad!

If you're willing to step up to a bigger amp, say 50-100W, then the sensitivity requirements are lowered significantly. Then I'd take a look at some of the Mark Audio-designed drivers. (I would personally not bother then with the Yamaha receiver – I'd go for a TK2050 Tripath amp, the far bigger and seriouser brother of the T-Amp.)

Hard to say. In the interest of getting something built - anything! - I'd get a pair of the Pioneer B20FU20's and rustle up a pair of BIBs! They won't suck. And even if they do suck, you'll at least have something to play music on while you build the next pair ...

[keillor]

Cool. So how does this sound:

This week:
-B0FU BIB with T-amp

Next week:
-add helper tweeter

Next month:
-build tube amp + DAC combo to drive them

I'll just use the plans in the BOFU-BIB thread and get some OSB for the cabinets.

Thanks all, I'll post pics/my impressions when I get these done,
Cam

[Godzilla]

>>> Cool. So how does this sound:

>>> This week:
>>> -B0FU BIB with T-amp

>>> Next week:
>>> -add helper tweeter

Sounds good to me! Which size BIB will you build?

[keillor]

I was planning to use the one with plans posted in the BOFU BIB thread, using 3 sheets of OSB.

[planet10]

Originally Posted by keillor

Next week:
-add helper tweeter

The cheap Dayton is often the choosen option, but with post should be about the same as the better Mark Audio (CSS ERT26) tweeters from Bob in Abbotsford.

I'm still sitting on 4 BOFU i've done nothing with.

dave

[planet10]

Originally Posted by keillor

I was planning to use the one with plans posted in the BOFU BIB thread, using 3 sheets of OSB.

I can't recall if i ever posted the update to Variac's plans

http://p10hifi.net/tlinespeakers/FAL...ans-311007.pdf

dave

[keillor]

Amazing. That's exactly the kind of resource I'm trying to assemble!

[bigfishe]

So how does this box compare to the sacikos