Best low cost BIB?

[Rick J. B.]

Having read through the BIB thread a few times I'm really tempted to build a BIB for the 5" Monocor driver.

But my question is this, how many here have heard the Monocor in the BIB enclosure?

What's the consensus if any, of how it rates vs the Tangband drivers?

Are there any other low cost drivers that should be considered?

Thanks in advance.

Rick

[gychang]

Originally posted by Rick J. B.
Having read through the BIB thread a few times I'm really tempted to build a BIB for the 5" Monocor driver.

But my question is this, how many here have heard the Monocor in the BIB enclosure?

What's the consensus if any, of how it rates vs the Tangband drivers?

Are there any other low cost drivers that should be considered?

Thanks in advance.

Rick

I strongly recommend "el cheapo" speakers, I am listening to them right now with John Klemmer playing saxophone...

look here:

BIB and underwear, nothing on top

gychang

[Scottmoose]

I've run the Monacors in BIBs, as has Peter. Amazing bass solidity. Great little driver. Nicely damped. Doesn't go as high as a Fostex, but there you go. Quality for investment level is off the chart.

[Rick J. B.]

Thanks a ton guys!

I knew these had been mentioned but I wanted input on how they sounded.

I'm going to order a pair of the Monacor's today, assuming I can find someone who ships to the States, and build some BIB's for them. I'm amazed that there isn't a US distributor for them.

I've been wanting to try something else in a BIB before I redo enclosures for the Lowther's. In fact I'm contemplating selling the DX 3's so I can afford a pair of MK-1's, I dunno yet.

Now Scott, when you say they don't go as high as the Fostex is that to the point that they would benefit noticeably from a tweeter? I know technically their not a fullranger at that point but couldn't this be done without introducing a crossover? Any recommendations on a tweeter to pair with the Monacor's?

Thanks again guys.

Rick

[Rick J. B.]

Again concerning the tweeter business, I always thought this looked really cool. Terry had a real flair for what made a speaker very eye appealing.



Damn these look good!

Rick

[Scottmoose]

Yes. Well. That was Terry Cain. Nobody ever came close IMO when it came to sheer craftsmanship. He was the Master.

Re a tweeter, they might. I never bothered, because I didn't care. I can still hear to 22KHz, but I don't like bright speakers so the fact that they don't go as high didn't worry me too much. The Monacor 155X should go a little higher than the SPH60X. Try www.spectrumaudio.de I know they ship to the states, and they do it PDQ too.

[peterbrorsson]

H Rick!
As Scottmoose said, I have the Monacors too. Would say that they are really a bargain. They do lack some treble but it's not alarming. For my taste it's a benefit when paired with ss amps.

I run them with an old NAD which has treble control set at one o'clock. I have tried with an upwards firing cheap tweeter from Vifa. (old enough that label disappeared) Crossed it with 0.68 uF but I actually prefer listening without.

One thing that I would like to try is a small, cheap ring radiator by the named EB Surface Slim. I think it's made for car use but our German diy fellows loves it. It's incorperated in a speaker called Little wing.

Good luck!

[Rick J. B.]

Thanks Scott, I've e-mailed Spectrum.

Peter, it's good to hear of your experience with the Monacor's. Are you using the SPH-60X? Or do you use another of their drivers?

You know I finally tracked down the Surface Slim, since I'm not used to the term ring radiator, I had trouble because I'm accustomed to calling them tweeters. At first blush I thought they'd be some sort of mass ring like the brass ones Fostex sells.

Anyway, do you by chance have a pic you could share of your Monacor based BIB's? I'd love to see them.

Gychang, I really like the look of your MCM BIB's. How's the bass? The smaller size would certainly make them a more flexible speaker as far as placement goes.

I see you're using them with your TV. Is that a 2-channel set up or 5.1 etc.?

Again thanks for the input gentlemen.

Rick

[peterbrorsson]

Hi!
I use the SPH60X.

[gychang]

Originally posted by Rick J. B.


Gychang, I really like the look of your MCM BIB's. How's the bass? The smaller size would certainly make them a more flexible speaker as far as placement goes.

I see you're using them with your TV. Is that a 2-channel set up or 5.1 etc.?

Again thanks for the input gentlemen.

Rick

Rick, although it is next to TV, I use it mainly to listen to music, I like classical/jazz. I only used it as a "TV speaker" for first few weeks to "break in" the speakers. It is a strictly 2 channel setup, I have my BIB against wall, my home has a high ceiling.

I used to have acoustat 2+2, and magenpan speakers (both not the strongest bass) but I was shocked at the amount of base in BIB given the small size of the MCM when I first fired them up. I have subsequently built another set of BIB with Fostex FE107, and I can confirm BIBs are amazing as far as the extension of bass. ( take a look here: twin BIB born on thansgiving day)

High notes are definitely better with electrostatic speakers but BIB with MCM is amazing in my opinion.

gychang