Beginner

[tareqx2]

I'm just getting in to my first diy surround sound system and i'm looking for a little help. I don't really know much about all of the information there is to know, so I was wondering if anyone could give me any usefull websites for beginners on this subject. Any help would be appreciated. For further information, it is my first project so i'm not looking to spend a ton on this one. A normal sound system would do me just fine for now. Thanks. Sorry for putting this in the subwoofer forum but i didn't know where to put it.

 

[Cal Weldon]

Hi and welcome to the forums. I've moved it over to speakers.

To help us get going we need to know some things. Are you starting from scratch or do you have some of the components?

Are you planning to build the rest of of them? (this is a diy site afterall)

How big is your room?

Is this for home theatre, music or both?

 

[blunt]

uhhh sounds nice..

are you building all from scratch or what ? how far are you taking this ?

im listening in i just got hold of alot a boxes to put stuff in so if any good comes up i might give it a shot..

Good luck with your project..

 

[tareqx2]

Hi and thanks for moving the post. I'm starting from scratch for your first question. Not sure of the measurments of the room but i'd guess about 10X12, kinda small but it's in the basement so the floor is solid for the woofer. I guess it would mostly be for movies and probably playing some xbox360 which could probably count as a movie. I probably wont use it for music that much if at all. For the components question, i'm not actually sure. I don't know that much about surround sound speaker components or much of audio components, but i really want to learn about it all. I plan to buy the speakers, and build the casing myself, but other then that i'm not sure what else i'm gonna need. The one thing that i have researched a little is subwoofers and a couple of questions arise from it. Can i use any kind of subwoofer, say like that would be installed into a car or is there a special kind? a follow up question would be what kinds of things should i look for when buying a woofer? I guess that's all I got. I Appreciate the help.

 

[planet10]

Originally posted by tareqx2 Can i use any kind of subwoofer, say like that would be installed into a car or is there a special kind? a follow up question would be what kinds of things should i look for when buying a woofer?

Car woofers should work fine. The only downside is that they tend to be pricier than subs targeted at home use.

When looking for a woofer, you need to consider cost, LF extension and how big a box they require.

dave

 

[tareqx2]

Hello all. I plan on making it from scratch. I plan on buying speakers and then building the casing. I don't really know where to start. I guess the first thing would be buying the speakers, right? I want to buy 4 speakers and 1 subwoofer and i'm going to buy a reciever. What else am i gonna need besides the case building supplies? What kind of electrical components am i going to need to use?

 

[JRace]

Best bet for a beginner is to look into using a kit. Quite often they come with the drivers, cross over compents, terminal cups and full plans on construction and hookups.

Take a look at:
http://www.gr-research.com/
http://www.partsexpress.com/speaker-building.cfm

Jared

 

[gvr4ever]

Maybe you could start with the BR-1s.

http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage.cfm?webpage_id=3&CAT_ID=29&ObjectGroup_ID=769

Then you could do the revised crossover.

http://murphyblaster.com/content.php?f=pe_br1.html

A friend of mine did this project. It's pretty cool how well they sound.

You might just want to start out with stereo, and work your way up.

If you REALLY want 5.1, you could try these.

http://www.geocities.com/cc00541/TritrixMT_pg_1.html

I think I'm going to build these for my folks for Christmas.

No matter what you do, start out simple and cheap. I think Dayton had some great stuff for the price. They will take you to a nice level of quality too. IMO, a good amount nicer then Polk Audio. At least anything under a grand.

 

[pinkmouse]

Have a look at the CSS FR125. It's a full range speaker, so needs no crossover, and there are lots of example projects here on the forum if you search. It looses out a little on sensitivity, but for your size room that should be no problem at all. The price might also seem a little more than you expect, but the fact that you don't need a crossover or tweeter will save you money in the end.

 

[peter_m]

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

Small & discreet
http://www.zaphaudio.com/audio-speaker20a.html

Larger but nicer
http://www.zaphaudio.com/ZBM4.html

All you need is a sub and and amplifier and you are in business.

Another option is to get these on special, sometimes for 50 or 60$: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...ignia+bookshelf&type=product&id=1138085354138

and when you feel ready to get your hands dirty do this: http://murphyblaster.com/content.php?f=insignia.html

 

[sreten]

Hi,

You will get lots of suggestions - where you start depends on budget.
you will also need to factor in the cost of the subwoofer amplifier.

I'd consider perhaps 4 x Zaph's latest design the ZBM4, perhaps
a sealed box * with less depth, and depending on placement
the reduced BSC version of the crrosover (when its posted).

* As you intend to use a subwoofer from the off.

/sreten.

 

[tareqx2]

I don't really want to buy a kit that much. The reason being that i want to make a custom box casing for it.

http://www.creativesound.ca/details.php?model=FR125S

This is kinda what i am looking for. Now, from here, i'm not sure what i would need to buy part wise and where i could find instructions on how to set it up. Also may be someone could give me the basics on some of these components like drivers, cross over compents, and terminal cups. I mean I know what a driver is, but many of these terms i don't know what they mean. Thank you guys for helping a beginner out.

 

[planet10]

FR125S

This is kinda what i am looking for. Now, from here, i'm not sure what i would need to buy part wise and where i could find instructions on how to set it up. Also may be someone could give me the basics on some of these components like drivers, cross over compents, and terminal cups.

The FR125s eliminate any need for an XO. I have a box library on my site for these drivers (i also have modded, matched versions of these -- sorry for the advert) ....

http://www.planet10-hifi.com/boxes-CSS.html

With subwoofer support, sealed or aperiodic boxes probably make the most sense.

dave

 

[tareqx2]

a couple of questions. Why is it harder to make a surround sound system rather than a stereo system? isn't the surround system just adding in some rear speakers? I mean if i have a home theater receiver then i shouldn't have to do anything else right?


One question that i have been looking for but never really got the answer to is, is this project as easy as buying some speakers, putting them in some boxes that i make and connecting them to a receiver? That is my one major question, i don't really need box plans or speaker web sites (thanks for your help), i just need to know the electrical part of this project.

 

[gvr4ever]

I only suggested stereo first to get started. If you want to make your own boxes and everything, it takes time and practice to get good at it. Your first boxes will probably look like dog, ur, well, you get the point.

You can build stereo speakers to get good sound, and then build the rest in time for your surrounds.

The biggest pain for me in DIY speakers is time. It isn't really too hard, and I enjoy it, but it just takes so much time to make the boxes look good.

I guess it depends on how much spare time you have. I don't have enough, so I have spent about two weeks in my very short spare time trying to finish some full range speakers.

Also, nothing wrong with ordering a kit. They come with nice looking boxes, and good components. I wanted to build a project from zaph audio, but I knew I just didn't have the time right now. I ended up ordering a nice kit from madisound.

 

[pinkmouse]

a couple of questions. Why is it harder to make a surround sound system rather than a stereo system?

It isn't.

One question that i have been looking for but never really got the answer to is, is this project as easy as buying some speakers, putting them in some boxes that i make and connecting them to a receiver?

Yup, it is. That's why I recommended the FR125s. You need to buy wood for enclosures, the speaker drivers, connectors for the back of the boxes, and possibly,(depending on the box design), a little stuffing for the completed cabinets. However, in your first post, you implied you had a load of old speakers to cannibalise. You could pull the stuffing and connectors from them.

As for tools, (apart from your woodworking stuff that you imply you also have), you'll need a 30W soldering iron to solder cable from the driver to the back connectors, or a crimp tool with appropriate spade connectors. Thats it.

 

[Foxx510]

Just be aware that in some boxes, the shape of the front of the box will cause the FR125s to have a hump in the midrange, that can make it sound a bit thin and nasaly without equalisation. They also don't go very loud unless you filter the low end out. I would check out some of the designs on Zaphs page.

 

[tareqx2]

Well then basically i'm set. Sorry for all the questions but i am new at this, one more. Could anyone explain how i can read some of those graphs they have for all the speakers? I cant understand any of them. Also what are some speakers that you have bought and tried and really like?

 

[tareqx2]

What do you guys use for stuffing inside the boxes?

 

[gvr4ever]

It isn't.

More time, more money. If he doesn't like the sound, or the way they turned out, then he has a lot of time and money invested.

You can build two stereo speakers, and a sub. Hook it up to a newer 5.1 receiver and and use the amps active crossover.

Or, you can just build 5 speakers and a sub and hope you are happy with them.