Next set of bargain 2-ways

[cyberspyder]

I've just completed the Zaph Bargain Mini's and would like to commence a new build. Only criteria is that the woofer has to be bigger than 4" as one of the shortcomings with the ZBM4 was the lack of lower frequencies I would still like it to be a 'bookshelf' design...maybe something like this: http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthr...ght=bosebuster ?

Cheers, Brendan

[gtforme00]

Wouldn't a subwoofer project be a better way to round out your system? Going to a 5" or 6" woofer isn't really going to give you full range sound anyways.

-David

[Undefinition]

Originally posted by cyberspyder
I've just completed the Zaph Bargain Mini's and would like to commence a new build. Only criteria is that the woofer has to be bigger than 4" as one of the shortcomings with the ZBM4 was the lack of lower frequencies I would still like it to be a 'bookshelf' design...maybe something like this: http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthr...ght=bosebuster ?

You can build these for $95 for all the parts!!! They were pretty well-received at Dayton DIY 2008.
http://undefinition.googlepages.com/diy-orientexpress


Or, I just put together this project for my brother in law. If you want a lot of low-end extension, this should do the trick for under $150. :
http://undefinition.googlepages.com/diy-classix

[cyberspyder]

OK, so a sub should be on building list...problem is, I know nothing about them...did some searching, ended up with this: http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...eaker/Triumph/

May I ask what Zaph meant by Now if you do need more output, you will need a subwoofer and the two LR4 power handling charts should help you select an initial crossover frequency . After that, let your ears do the tweaking. If low bass content seems to cause mid bass grunge from the minispeakers, your sub crossover frequency is likely too low for your preferred listening level.

What is crossover frequency and how do I 'set' it?

Thanks, Brendan

[cyberspyder]

Also, what about the Triska sub?

http://www.partsexpress.com/projects...asub/index.cfm

Both are pretty lost cost subs, and I want to keep it on a budget.

[augerpro]

As much as I liked my Bosebusters, the Noobsters were a superior design. Better sound than they had any right to for $160, and pretty much sold me on doing LR2 slopes whenever possible.

The crossover mentioned by Zaph is the one in your home theater receiver.

[preiter]

Subs are pretty easy, just pick a driver and a plate amp and build your own. The only real variables on the box are the size and the ports. There is freeware software to help you design that.

http://www.diysubwoofers.org/ is a good source of info.

Integrating the sub with your mains can be tricky, but that will depend on the rest of your system. Mainly whether you have a separate pre-amp.

[cyberspyder]

Sorry, you guys will have to be patient with me on this one...pre-amps...what's the use? Can't you just hook up the mains (in this case, my ZMB4s) to a receiver?

Brendan

[gtforme00]

The crossover frequency is simply the frequency at which you set the subwoofer to take over the bass frequencies; most subwoofer amps have an adjustable knob to set the low pass crossover frequency.

Ideally, you would have a high pass filter on the ZBM4's amplifier, and you could set that to cut off the low frequencies to the ZBM4s. This allows you to get higher output levels from the ZBM4s (because they don't have to play as low and won't run out of excursion).

If you don't have an active crossover or filter setting on your amplifier, then you could just stuff the ports and tune the subwoofer to the natural acoustic rolloff of the resulting sealed enclosures. From the look of Zaph's page, the frequency you would set the subwoofer crossover to in this scenario is around 80Hz.

This is a grossly oversimplified summary, you owe it to yourself to keep reading so that you better understand how to set it up.

-David

[gtforme00]

The best deal on a subwoofer amplifier right now is the 100W module at MCM. http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/50-6272 . The advantage of this module over the PE 70W one is that it has adjustable phase, where the PE one does not. It is also much more powerful (though you aren't likely to need the extra power with an 8" sub).

With a catalog code ( you can use mine 8HTC15 ), you can get one for $66.00 + shipping. They have some decent 8" subwoofer drivers as well. Zaph built a sub using the 55-2185 that he liked alot. It's on sale for $21.95 (use same coupon code as above).

There is also the 55-2421 8" subwoofer that is a great deal at $24.95 ( use coupon code WA807 ).

Subwoofer design is easy and fun; you could design a box yourself with a little effort. Alternatively, both of the above woofers should have box plans available on the internet.

-David