A new speaker project # 1

[Moondog55]

Quote from me
"The more I know, the more I know I know nothing"

I need a pair of speakers for the computer room, as my partner and I send a lot of time in here.
It is a small room, measures (metric) Floor to ceiling 2600mm , Width 2650mm, Depth 2750, it has a plasterboard ceiling and walls and has 3 computer towers and associated work-stations and book cases lining 2 walls, very big plate glass windows and obviously a door.
My current speaker set-up uses a Behringer Super X Pro; CX –2310, and an assortment of amps and inputs.
We tend to listen to music from hard disk in here so the computer is the main source.
My current speakers comprise a modified DickSmith 5inch 2-way with the tweeter replaced by a high-end Jamo silk dome and the crossover changed to 2nd 3rd at 4000hz and a pair of CerwinVega 12 4’s which are currently crossed at 200.

My question contains 4 parts; which perhaps need threads of their own, but if so I will start new threads.

I have accumulated several sets of drivers with different needs in mind:
Q1/ Is it a waste to use a high-end mid-range like the Vifa M11MH-09-08 and D26 tweeter with a cheap woofer?
Q2/ My budget is limited for the next couple of months and can anyone recommend a woofer suitable for a sealed box, using these drivers and help with crossover design (as yet I don’t own any software)
I have looked at the Visaton
http://www.soundlabsgroup.com.au/pc/...isaton-8/Sound
And also
http://www.soundlabsgroup.com.au/pc/...isaton-8/Sound
As well as
https://secure4.vivid-design.com.au/...Max=&SUBCATID=

Q3/ Am I better off using a cheap woofer and a different choice of mid-range and tweeter? I do have a reasonable 5inch ‘Response” from Jaycar and some Vifa D26NC’s.
Q4/ Does any-one have any experience on laminating chipboard to MDF and using the composite to build speakers?? It is not constrained layering but I would appreciate comments on this thought before I purchase the sheets and glue.

[sqlkev]

Q1/ Is it a waste to use a high-end mid-range like the Vifa M11MH-09-08 and D26 tweeter with a cheap woofer?


-IMO, no. You can always add a better sub at a later time. Assuming you're going for an active setup since you've got several amps to use and the behringer piece.

Q2/ My budget is limited for the next couple of months and can anyone recommend a woofer suitable for a sealed box, using these drivers and help with crossover design (as yet I don’t own any software)
I have looked at the Visaton
http://www.soundlabsgroup.com.au/pc...Visaton-8/Sound
And also
http://www.soundlabsgroup.com.au/pc...Visaton-8/Sound
As well as
https://secure4.vivid-design.com.au...eMax=&SUBCATID=

- I like the ma26wr in a small sealed box, but the peerless subs would work great for your setup too.

Q3/ Am I better off using a cheap woofer and a different choice of mid-range and tweeter? I do have a reasonable 5inch ‘Response” from Jaycar and some Vifa D26NC’s.

-Like I've mentioned above, probably best if you start out with the better drivers.

Q4/ Does any-one have any experience on laminating chipboard to MDF and using the composite to build speakers?? It is not constrained layering but I would appreciate comments on this thought before I purchase the sheets and glue.

I've always built speakers out of birch ply or mdf, no chipboard+mdf yet. I don't see the benefits to it.


One suggestion since you're using the computer as source, use a good soundcard.

[Moondog55]

I made a big Quad box a while ago and noticed that where I had used chipboard(particleboard) for a stiffening; panel resonace was lower than where I had used MDF, and having read a discussion on constrained panels I was thinking that it was the glue layer acting as a constrained layer in itself.
Chipboard is a LOT stiffer than MDF, you can't use it for a bookshelf for instance but MDF is deader.
I was just wondering if any others had experimented in this direction

[Moondog55]

I would also like this one to be a passive X-over and reserve the active for another project

[Andy G]

Q1/ Is it a waste to use a high-end mid-range like the Vifa M11MH-09-08 and D26 tweeter with a cheap woofer?

AG1: It depends on the cheap woofer: I use the Jaycar 10" poly in "Blackwood", it isn't expensive, but it is very good at woofer duty up to about 300-400Hz.

Q2/ My budget is limited for the next couple of months and can anyone recommend a woofer suitable for a sealed box, using these drivers and help with crossover design (as yet I don’t own any software)
I have looked at the Visaton

AG2: Sorry, haven't used the Visaton's YET, so can't comment

Q3/ Am I better off using a cheap woofer and a different choice of mid-range and tweeter? I do have a reasonable 5inch ‘Response” from Jaycar and some Vifa D26NC’s.

AG3: The 5" Jaycar is not reasonable, IMO it is muddy and indistinct in the mids, not what you want with the Vifa D26NC, which is a rather nice tweeter (see Zaph's comments about the Vifa)

Q4/ Does any-one have any experience on laminating chipboard to MDF and using the composite to build speakers?? It is not constrained layering but I would appreciate comments on this thought before I purchase the sheets and glue.

AG4: Laminate ply to MDF, that way you can use faced ply and get a nicer looking speaker. I would steer clear of chipboard myself.

catch ya.

[Cal Weldon]

Originally posted by Moondog55
chipboard(particleboard)

Question:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showt...62#post1232762