Help with a speaker design

[big314mp]

I recently bought some drivers, and while ordering, made an error with the midrange order. End result is I now have a pair of these drivers in my closet:

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=264-850

I thought about returning them, but thought I might be able to make a decent pair of speakers out of them using this tweeter:

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=275-070

And one of the following two woofers:

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=295-366
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=295-310

Since this is something that I've come up with in just the last 5 minutes, I'm leaning towards the Classic, so that if it doesn't work out, I won't be out too much money. OTOH, I have heard some very nice things about the reference series (at PE, so I take those recommendations with a grain of salt). Since this is just an off the cuff type of project, I wouldn't like to spend too much on it.

The midrange will play down to 61 Hz (3 dB down) in a 9.6 l vented box, tuned to 60 Hz. In a 4.8 sealed box it gets to 105 Hz.

Any recommendations on woofers would be great! Thanks!

[tinitus]

Hard to give advice that doesnt cost money---well here is what I personally would do

Building one or two solid active subs with 10" subdriver I reckon wont be completely wasted
Use a quality driver and start out with one---you can always build another if needed

I would probably get another pair of those nice 5" TB woofers fore making a 2.5way
Fore a high valued cheap tweeter you may want to look at Zaph

I would probably design with highish xo point, so the tweeter wouldnt be under much strain---I could be tempted to use a planar like the BohlenderGraebender NEO3 or maybe XT19(Vifa/Peerless)
http://www.zaphaudio.com/tweetermishmash/

Damm, that suddenly turned into a lot of money---doesnt it always---want to delete this post, but doesnt

[big314mp]

So a 2.5 way using the TB woofer may be better? I was looking at the roll off curves in WinISD, and I couldn't get the driver much below 60 Hz or so. Good, deep base is quite important to me, and 3 dB down at 60 Hz won't cut it at all.

Which is why I was thinking of running it as a midrange, and letting a larger and more powerful woofer handle the base. In WinISD, the two woofers above were able to get around 30 Hz 3 dB down, with sensitivities in line with this midrange/woofer. FAIK, these drivers should do a decent job of playing low and clean, right?

I am quite open to other driver suggestions, however.

On the tweeter side, I noticed that the Dayton silk dome had rather high distortion values, and that Zaph noted that there are better values out there. Any suggestions on what these would be? I would like to source the parts from partsexpress, as I live near enough to them that I can physically visit the place and therefore don't have to pay shipping.

[big314mp]

I should put in size constraints also. I'm really not willing to go larger than 2.5 cu ft of overall box volume, and the front panel should be less than 12 in wide.

[sdclc126]

The Dayton tweeter is not a very good one - if you're willing to spend $30 + try one of the SEAS Prestige tweeters - very high value.

Likewise, the difference between the Dayton Classic line and the Reference line is like night and day, so you should try to be consistent with the quality/performance of the different drivers in the system.

An very high value midwoofer would be:

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=295-330

If you need shielded you can add bucking magnets.

Also consider a 2-way system plus active subwoofer - 3-ways are complex and costly.

[sdclc126]

For tweeters from P.E. you'll be at or above the price range of the Prestige series - consider:

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=275-130

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=264-555

[big314mp]

The mid that I have on hand is the TB 5.25 in woofer (link is in my OP). I would like to keep the value/performance in line with that.

http://www.madisound.com/catalog/pro...roducts_id=791

This seems a little expensive, but if it is really worth it, I could spring for it.

[sdclc126]

Yes that tweeter will definitely be worth it. Not expensive at all given the performance - very high value. This is what I use:

http://www.madisound.com/catalog/pro...roducts_id=795

More money but arguably one of the best tweeters available period. The 27TDC will give very similar performance.

Edit: The 27TBFC/G is available in a shielded version - not listed on the website so you need to call in the order and specify.

[tinitus]

Originally posted by big314mp


So a 2.5 way using the TB woofer may be better?

I was looking at the roll off curves in WinISD, and I couldn't get the driver much below 60 Hz or so.

Good, deep base is quite important to me, and 3 dB down at 60 Hz won't cut it at all.

You seem to have misunderstood my post---I did suggest both 2.5way and subs
2.5way will give you BSC without loosing sensitivity, among other benefits like making a highish xo point possible

I think you may have a very hard job making a 3way sound good---your luck is that the 5" TB seems fairly easy to handle in a 2way or 2.5way, with highish xo point

[OlogyAudio]

At least you got stuck with a very high value midrange unit! I would really consider Vifa DQ25SC16-04, you can get it from madisound. I feel it is a bit better of a value match for this midrange than the Seas units. The Seas unit really is nice though and if you feel like springing for a few more dollars it certainly wouldn't be a waste.

That Midwoofer could integrate well with a subwoofer at lower volume levels although it certainly wouldn't hurt to go 2.5 way or 3 way Going 3 way will increase complexity as well as the price quite a bit... I guess it just depends what you want out of it.