Where do I start!?

[jjimison]

Greetings all!

I would like to make some speakers. I know very little about the construction of speakers, but would very much like to make some really nice ones. Full range, 3 way or higher, that sort of thing. I do have a lot of experience working with wood, so once I have a cabinet design, I can go from there.... But the actual components (speakers, crossover, etc...) evade me.

I want to build something that sounds good, but LOOKS good too! Not just a boring box... Something with angles, curves... personality.

(By the way, I've heard that MDF is the material of choice for cabinets, but what about other, more exotic woods?)

I need to know what to do! Is there any sort of walkthrough for speaker making? What is a good affordable design? Can I buy the components in kits without cabinets!

Basically, I'm lost, and I need help finding my way. If there are any compassionate audio-knowledgeable souls out there willing to help me, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks,

-Jeff

 

[Klimon]

Open baffle?

The choice will definitely be a factor of your listening taste and amplifier. One of the most ambitious woodworking project is a backloaded horn like the Hedlund.

Fullrange speakers typically suffer from limited bass or treble extension, are highly efficient (= couple watts tube amplifiers allowed), have an open sound (due to the lack of a crossover and a rising high midrange) and big, natural soundstage and good imaging.

Multi-driver speakers typically have a flatter frequency response, are less efficient, well-extended lows and highs but lack the naturalness of minimalist fullrange speaker designs. The combination of several drivers allows optimal performance of each driver but creates problems in combining them + the result isn't a point source so soundstaging and imaging are down when compared to a single driver.

Most kit vendors offer the electronical components alone (wood as an option) and there's plenty of choice. With respect to cabinet types, there's alot of info on the web. If you want curves than a backloaded horn is the answer... Some of the people on this forum have built exquisite horns, maybe they can seduce you with a few pics.

Lastly; it might be a good idea to audition different types of speakers to discover what you like before diving in, although single-driver speakers are probably harder to locate.

Simon

 

[lndm]

If you have the time, it might help to build a simple two way closed box speaker. You'll learn many things with a project like this, but without unnecessary complications. It might make your second project that much better. BTW, a two way in a closed box can sound very good.

There are many places out there to look for ideas, even completed units to copy. Such as, http://www.zaphaudio.com/ . If you must build a complex unit to begin with, you might prefer to copy an existing design.

As for the timber to use, I prefer plywood. BTW, I think bracing and damping can make all the difference.

 

[ScottG]

http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/PMS.htm

esthetically based on this (and you can always do some wood veneer for a similar "look"):

http://www.sonusfaber.com/index_altri.html

reviewed here:

http://stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/105sonus/

It's doubtfull you'll find a more throughly designed, executed, and *documented* loudspeaker that has wide compatibility and should sound excellent.

If you decide to build it then change the capacitors, (and only the capacitors), to Clarity Cap SA grade found here:

http://www.e-speakers.com/products/claritycap.htm

other Jantzen stuff can be found here (under the "Crossover" "Parts" headings on the right of the page):

http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage.cfm?&DID=7&WebPage_ID=29&wt.svl=2

Madisound has the drivers here (under the "Seas" listings):

http://www.madisound.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi

a good source for veneer:

http://www.oakwoodveneer.com/samples.html
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A "somewhat" less ambitious project, (though also excellent), would be this design (..but I'm not sure if there is really good documentation for it):

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81634

The ribbon can be purchased at either parts express or e-speakers, the Jordan driver can only be purchased through this co.:

http://www.markaudio.com/jx92s_info.php
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A *far* easier solution would be to simply make an open baffle with a supravox 215 bicone signiture similar to this (..though it doesn't have to be made from acyrlic):

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19883&perpage=10&pagenumber=4

the driver available from here:

http://www.supravox.com/drivers.html

taking a basic baffle shape and size from this program:

http://www.tolvan.com/edge/help.htm
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There you have it.. 3 very good designs, but the only one that has the bass extension aproximating "full range" is the first design listed.