Ultimate <$200 Bookshelf help

[spots25]

I am headed off to a little dorm room at the end of the summer, and there is no way my maggies are going to fit in there. I want to build a decent set of bookshelf speakers, for hopefully under $200.

I realize that most of what makes a speaker sound good is the crossover, and thats the part that scares me. DIY or kit, doesn't matter. What is out there? I'm rather intersted in planar tweeters and the Dayton RS series...

[Nanook]

no X over
$200 USD with cabs or w/o?

[rj45]

Lou Corragio Cryolites

Beautiful TM large bookshelf

http://www.lonesaguaro.com/speakers/...7/Cryolite.htm

[hemos]

Zaph has a nice bookshelf set for that price

[spots25]

Originally posted by rj45
Lou Corragio Cryolites

Beautiful TM large bookshelf

http://www.lonesaguaro.com/speakers/...7/Cryolite.htm

oh wow, how did I not find those before? The box is a little bigger than I was hoping for, but I think that might just be perfect. Anyways, if there are any more suggestions keep them coming. And the $200 is without cabinets, because I can make cabinets basically for free with stuff I've got laying around the house

[planet10]

1st off -- what kind of amp (because that makes a difference)

I could be considered biased (because i am ), but for <$200 i don't think you will beat the musicality of a Fonken... (wants an amp with highish output impedance thou)

Stew might have a comment on those

BTW Stew, the end user who has the pair you trialled is stocked, here a snippet [i]"These little Fonkens are some really exciting speakers, and there's not much stuff I hear that catches my ear.*I don't know what the finished speakers and flat pak kits*retail for, but I'd venture to say it's probably*not $2500/pr? Nothing, I repeat NOTHING that small and inexpensive has any right to sound that good!*....

BTW, I think I've finally put my finger on exactly what it is I like about them so much. They don't sound ANYTHING like a box speaker whatsoever. All box speakers I've ever heard sound like box speakers, but these don't. I still haven't figured out exactly what it is they sound like, but whatever it is, it*ain't a box speaker."[/i}

For systems that have amps in the other direction, the miniOnken with FR125S.

Both those might be pushing things size-wise by your earlier comment on the Dayton/Neo box, so then one can consider the aperiodically loaded FE125s which works really well or the (as yet untried) mFonken (designed to play in the same mind space os the Solo 103 but with a bit more oomph from the FE127)

dave

[peter_m]

Your buget is tight but these two could be something to consider:

http://zaphaudio.com/audio-speaker19.html

http://zaphaudio.com/audio-speaker13.html


or if you want money left over for a sub, look at the next one. Someone assembled a HT system with 5 of these and he didn't bother with the filters... He couldn't beleive the relative quality for so little effort. Sorry I can't find his post.

http://zaphaudio.com/audio-speaker18.html

[planet10]

Sorry, here is the link http://www.planet10-hifi.com/fonken.html

dave

[doorman]

Having heard the "Fonkens" I agree. Hard to imagine a better small speaker for anything like the $$'s. All that and no XO !
Don

[Nanook]

well go here and read my review of the Fonkens in the June issue (you have to download it). I'm stew nelless

I am biased, because :

1) I was not expecting them to be so damn good!

2) if you can manage to build the box (just a little patience required, but no "expert" skills ) you will be rewarded completely out of scale to the effort and $$ required. OH, so not $8.88 USD ea, but at $130ish/pr for the modded Fostex drivers, they will outlast your need (unless big bass is needed) until you are well out of university/college/trade school.

3) read the article and the comments by Scott , re: using a resistor to reduce the dampening factor on amps that have a large one (most solid state types). Almost any amp can make music with these!

ok, now commenting on other suggestions:

Zaph Audio has been an incredible resource and an inspiration to all. I imagine any of his designs that fit your budget would be worth every penny you may spend on them. There are others out there to.

Troels Gravesen has a good site and projects (unsure if he has anything in your budget).


Zillaspeak is also a good resource, with good projects and information.

I still am "cheering" for the Fonkens though. For so little money , such a great value, and a longer term solution. If you don't blow the drivers, they'll last a long, long time..

Hey, another thought....Hemp Acoustics. Find or make some 20ish litre boxes and you'd get quite a bit of bass, and good sound as well. But double the price of the planet10 modded Fostex drivers.

Dave , very glad to hear that John(did I remember correctly?) is enjoying them. I know I did.