Big sound in a small enclosure

[MikeHunt79]

I was wondering if there are anyways of getting a nice sound from a small enclosure. I guess the hard challenge is getting good bass, so I'm guessing a reflex enclosure would work here...

High sensitivity drivers would be good also, as I'm using a 41hz.com amp6 to drive everything, which is good for 20W per chan at 4 ohms.

I was thinking maybe the eminence beta 8 would be good for bass and mid duties, and some random tweeter? Even then I think 8" is a bit big... I don't really know where to start really, but I think it would be good to keep it simple and go for 2 way.

I'm not really after a finished design (tho that would be nice), I'm just after some suggestions for various drivers, preferably ones that are available in the UK.

Overall, I'd prefer a good amount of SPL and a large frequency range, I'm not so bothered about a flat frequency response. I plan to use these speakers in lots of different places...

[richie00boy]

Efficiency and small size do not go hand in hand.

Reflexing and small size do not go hand in hand.

Oh dear

It is possible to make a reflexed small enclosure with good bass but I suspect it's beyond your current abilities and means, and it's not cheap either.

[sreten]

Hi,

Probably active variable EQ for baffle step depending in placement
and an active 6th order vented alignment to maximise bass output.
Both can be arranged by thevmaniplation of the power ampliers
inputs and feedback loops, i.e. treating it as a large op-amplifier.

/sreten.

[oshifis]

Originally posted by MikeHunt79
I was wondering if there are anyways of getting a nice sound from a small enclosure.

Listen to a Celestion SL-600 and you get some picture on what can be done in a small enclosure.

[sreten]

Originally posted by oshifis
Listen to a Celestion SL-600 and you get some picture on what can be done in a small enclosure.

Hi, not with 20w (4 ohms) on tap, /sreten.

[y8s]

linkwitz transform.

i wonder if you could cascade two linkwitz transforms and do a vented enclosure.

[richie00boy]

A Linkwitz Transform will need more power than the little amp can give.

Cascading LTs is a lateral idea but the power requirements would quickly get out of hand, again with 20W it's unfeasible.

[gtforme00]

Gah! Hoffman rules again...

[KP11520]

Hey Mike,

Do you remember what I told you about ProAc Studio Monitors (Studio I MK IIs or Studio 100s). Try to clone either. At least go listen to them somewhere!

Unfortunately, Richie said it all. Forget 20 watts into 4 ohms for this application/footprint with authoritive bass.

Hopefully the Celestion can be a good choice.

In the ProAcs, the mid/woofers are Scanspeaks and can be bought from ProAc (slightly modified for them by Scanspeak) for less than 100 pounds each and the tweeters are also scan speaks and can be bought from any retailer. The crossover isn't too complicated. The box making is up to you to make well. It is front ported. However you will need 60 watts per channel into 8 ohms for these to rock. You can probably make them for a total of less than 500 pounds. Or like I suggested last time, look for them used.

I don't have the experience some of these other guys have so I am recommending what I know and what I am sure you will be extremely happy with. But after building these, you will want to look at everything else in your system. I hope the other guys can give you better news.

Good luck!

[ScottG]

Originally posted by MikeHunt79
I was wondering if there are anyways of getting a nice sound from a small enclosure. I guess the hard challenge is getting good bass, so I'm guessing a reflex enclosure would work here...

High sensitivity drivers would be good also, as I'm using a 41hz.com amp6 to drive everything, which is good for 20W per chan at 4 ohms.

I was thinking maybe the eminence beta 8 would be good for bass and mid duties, and some random tweeter? Even then I think 8" is a bit big... I don't really know where to start really, but I think it would be good to keep it simple and go for 2 way.

I'm not really after a finished design (tho that would be nice), I'm just after some suggestions for various drivers, preferably ones that are available in the UK.

Overall, I'd prefer a good amount of SPL and a large frequency range, I'm not so bothered about a flat frequency response. I plan to use these speakers in lots of different places...

I'm not sure it will meet your requirements, but this is a suggestion I made to a very similar requirement recently:

tweeter advice

The Beyma 8BX should be good from about 11 kHz down to about 33 Hz in a 30 liter box - and NOT require baffle-step compensation.