good cheap first project ideas

saramac · 22nd November 2004, 06:46 AM

I would like to build some bookshelf speakers. I have an older 20w sony micro system of decent quality but the speakers [a ported 2-way] are awfull. Something say 12" square or there abouts. Ported so as to have some bass extension. Single full range drivers always sound so nice. Cheap is good here. Thank you for any ideas/advise.

Josephjcole · 22nd November 2004, 03:32 PM

I think that is a pretty tall order, 1 cubic foot, single driver enclosures for cheap. I guess we don't know what you expect from them. But I can't think of any cheap (any price range that your thinking about?) full range drivers that could fit in such a small box and still deliever adequete bass at any kind of volume. I guess it depends on how loud you need them to be able to go, and how much bass extentsion your looking for.
Joe

Timn8ter · 22nd November 2004, 03:44 PM

I been testing the new CSS WR125S. It is a wonderful driver that is at it's best in a small box. 20W per channel is plenty to drive them. I'm sure your old Sony will not let them reach their potential but you could upgrade your amp later if you want.
http://www.creativesound.ca

johninCR · 22nd November 2004, 04:20 PM

Those little WR125's sure are nice, but kind of pricey.

Adire's little AV3 is surprizingly nice for only $18/ea as long as you don't need too much volume or bass extension. Really nice on OB so cut a hole in a piece of cardboard and try it before cutting any wood. I find a tweeter optional. Extremely small box if you go that route.

The other cheap option is the 8" Pioneer full ranger at PE. $25/ea and it can go OB or in a fairly small BR cab.

Timn8ter · 22nd November 2004, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Those little WR125's sure are nice, but kind of pricey.

Yeah, I suppose if you're looking for sub-$30 each speakers they are but at $138 a pair they are a bargain compared to Jordan and even some Fostex drivers. I thought I'd throw it out there anyway.

dvdwmth · 22nd November 2004, 04:36 PM

fostex has a bass reflex cabinet they recommend for the fe103. Its a compromise but I built them for the radio shack fe103 cousin and I really enjoyed it. Its fairly efficient and the price isn't bad. I recommend this one because its an easy first project (it was my first) especially since there is no crossover, and its effecient so you can actually hear something with your 20watt amp.

Go to the fostex section of madisound and the cabinet recommendations are at the bottom.

You could also check out http://home.hetnet.nl/~geenius/Solo103.html.

More complicated cabinet.

There are other drivers by fostex you might want to look at. Check the cabinet designs at madisound and see what you can live with.

I also think that pioneer would be a good thing to try. One of these days Im going to try it out. You'll actually get some bass out of that one.

Timn8ter · 22nd November 2004, 04:44 PM

The FE103E is a wonderful little speaker. For another 10 bucks you could get the FE127E which has a little more bass.

dvdwmth · 22nd November 2004, 04:46 PM

Yah, I think he wants a bit more bass. Can the 127 go in a BR?

Timn8ter · 22nd November 2004, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dvdwmth
Yah, I think he wants a bit more bass. Can the 127 go in a BR?

Fostex offers two designs, a double bass reflex tuned ~50Hz and a standard BR tuned ~70Hz.

http://www.fostexinternational.com/d...7e_enclrev.pdf

This little quarter wave design puts out a surprising amount of bass but is only available in the Philippines.
http://www.alegriaaudio.com/FQ127.htm

dvdwmth · 22nd November 2004, 05:02 PM

or the vifa/silver flute here

http://home.new.rr.com/zaph/audio/

there's a description here

http://www.audiodiycentral.com/milwaukee090403.shtml

are you actually going to put these in a bookshelf?

If you are you probably want to find something designed for that purpose. I think these ones need some space. The fostex would probably be ok though.

22nd November 2004, 06:46 AM	#1
saramac diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: massachusetts	good cheap first project ideas I would like to build some bookshelf speakers. I have an older 20w sony micro system of decent quality but the speakers [a ported 2-way] are awfull. Something say 12" square or there abouts. Ported so as to have some bass extension. Single full range drivers always sound so nice. Cheap is good here. Thank you for any ideas/advise.

22nd November 2004, 04:20 PM	#4
johninCR diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Costa Rica	Those little WR125's sure are nice, but kind of pricey. Adire's little AV3 is surprizingly nice for only $18/ea as long as you don't need too much volume or bass extension. Really nice on OB so cut a hole in a piece of cardboard and try it before cutting any wood. I find a tweeter optional. Extremely small box if you go that route. The other cheap option is the 8" Pioneer full ranger at PE. $25/ea and it can go OB or in a fairly small BR cab. __________________ Everyone has a photographic memory. It's just that most are out of film.

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22nd November 2004, 03:32 PM	#2
Josephjcole diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wisconsin	I think that is a pretty tall order, 1 cubic foot, single driver enclosures for cheap. I guess we don't know what you expect from them. But I can't think of any cheap (any price range that your thinking about?) full range drivers that could fit in such a small box and still deliever adequete bass at any kind of volume. I guess it depends on how loud you need them to be able to go, and how much bass extentsion your looking for. Joe

22nd November 2004, 03:44 PM	#3
Timn8ter diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Seattle, WA	I been testing the new CSS WR125S. It is a wonderful driver that is at it's best in a small box. 20W per channel is plenty to drive them. I'm sure your old Sony will not let them reach their potential but you could upgrade your amp later if you want. http://www.creativesound.ca

22nd November 2004, 04:36 PM	#6
dvdwmth diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Toronto	fostex has a bass reflex cabinet they recommend for the fe103. Its a compromise but I built them for the radio shack fe103 cousin and I really enjoyed it. Its fairly efficient and the price isn't bad. I recommend this one because its an easy first project (it was my first) especially since there is no crossover, and its effecient so you can actually hear something with your 20watt amp. Go to the fostex section of madisound and the cabinet recommendations are at the bottom. You could also check out http://home.hetnet.nl/~geenius/Solo103.html. More complicated cabinet. There are other drivers by fostex you might want to look at. Check the cabinet designs at madisound and see what you can live with. I also think that pioneer would be a good thing to try. One of these days Im going to try it out. You'll actually get some bass out of that one.

22nd November 2004, 04:44 PM	#7
Timn8ter diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Seattle, WA	The FE103E is a wonderful little speaker. For another 10 bucks you could get the FE127E which has a little more bass.

22nd November 2004, 04:46 PM	#8
dvdwmth diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Toronto	Yah, I think he wants a bit more bass. Can the 127 go in a BR?

22nd November 2004, 05:02 PM	#10
dvdwmth diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Toronto	or the vifa/silver flute here http://home.new.rr.com/zaph/audio/ there's a description here http://www.audiodiycentral.com/milwaukee090403.shtml are you actually going to put these in a bookshelf? If you are you probably want to find something designed for that purpose. I think these ones need some space. The fostex would probably be ok though.