high end speaker kits

[blue934]

i am looking to build a really nice sounding set of audio speakers this time. seen a few of interest on Zaph's page http://www.zaphaudio.com/ and more on Troelsgravesen's site http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/Diy_Loudspeaker_Projects.htm .my location restricts me from getting together with other diyers to hear whats out there so in order to fasttrak the system am hoping someone has heard some of these designs and can give some feedback, subjective as that is. listen to jazz, blues, rock. require clarity, imaging, and tight bass/midbass rather than spl. willing to spend $500 - $1200 on the best sound i can afford.
hope someone can help in my pursuit of happines.
thanks
david

 

[lousymusician]

Have you seen this thread? ?

I heard Chad's L18's at Burning Amp, and thought they sounded very good.

For a very different approach, have you seen the Frugal Horn site? Many interesting designs there. The Full-range forum has the info on these.

 

[blue934]

yes, i just finished reading the L18 thread
thanks

 

[Jay_WJ]

If you want high-end, cleanest possible sound, you need to use better drivers than the Seas Prestige. Such as Scan Speak and Seas Excel.

If you want to save some money, my Usher 8945P 2-way design can be an alternative. I will soon post an MTM floorstander variant of this design, too.

 

[bastek]

I own both the Selah Audio SSR with SS and Fountek drivers, and the smaller Troels mini monitor with Excel and Hiquphon OWI drivers.
Both great designs neutral and dynamic, i cannot choose one over the other. They both need a good sub for full range sound in larger rooms.

 

[blue934]

thanks bastek,
i've looked at the ssr before. by the specs i would 've thot it would have had a better bass extension than the mini. how much did the mini cost to build?

 

[bastek]

Yes the SSR has tighter bass and does better on its own.
The minis cost about $600-650 for all parts, for me is 1/3 the price of compatible commercial designs.

 

[BudP]

You might look into EnABLing your current drivers. Between Dave at Planet 10 and I, we could get your current sound significantly better than what you now know it to be capable of.

Look here for a glimpse of a number of EnABL'd full range drivers
http://picasaweb.google.com/home?tab=mq

You can also EnABL a multi driver system, and one with low sensitivity, with excellent effect.

Read here for a response to hearing EnABL'd drivers for the first time.
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=111830

Look here for a tutorial in three parts. Tutorial is on page 8 & 9 but the whole thread deals with EnABL.
http://www.hawthorneaudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1429

And finally there is this monster.
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=100399

Cost to get fully involved is about $30 US and mail charges to your end of the earth.

Bud