Suggestions for high efficiency nearfield speakers

mrevie · 28th August 2009, 11:44 AM

Hi,

Having just perfect my home theatre/listening room I've recently discovered that I need to move towns for the last two years of my course. This means that for at least the next year I'll be confined to just one room. Needless to say, this simply wont fit my big floorstanders etc.

So! I was looking for suggestionsfor nice sounding, high efficiency nearfield speakers. Most likely to be driven by a Pass FirstWatt F5 or a low powered single ended SS class A amp. Which will in turn by supplied by a USB DAC (yet to be chosen). What I enjoy hearing most in a pair of speakers is detail and a good soundstage. I listen to alot of rock, folk, indie and alternative.

When I first started thinking about this I was seirously considering going the fullrange option (most like one of the fonken family), but the problems that single driver systems have with complex pieces of music is somewhat offputting.

So here I am. Any suggestions?

c2cthomas · 28th August 2009, 02:57 PM

Allow me to present a couple of questions

1. Price range?
2. Are you looking for a finished speaker made by someone else or raw speaker drivers to put into a speaker you are making.
3. You imply that you are looking for a 2 or 3 way speaker rather than a single driver? What would suit you?
4. General size of the speaker you are considering (small - say 1 ft3 - 28 liters)?

This should help others in presenting you with some suggestions.

Glowbug · 28th August 2009, 03:05 PM

Decware DM944s would be on my list

mrevie · 29th August 2009, 02:21 AM

1. Price range?
Potentially as high as 200USD per speaker.

2. Are you looking for a finished speaker made by someone else or raw speaker drivers to put into a speaker you are making.
Raw drivers would be best. Othewise it wouldn't be diy.

3. You imply that you are looking for a 2 or 3 way speaker rather than a single driver? What would suit you?
I'm open to all suggestions at the moment. I just haven't seen many (if any) bookshelf size speakers that are of a reasonable efficiency.

4. General size of the speaker you are considering (small - say 1 ft3 - 28 liters)?

Yes, definitely small. 28L sounds about right.

mrevie · 29th August 2009, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glowbug

Decware DM944s would be on my list

Wow, those would be absolutely perfect. Unfortunately a little expensive for my current budget.

Perhaps we could work out how to diy a similar pair...

c2cthomas · 29th August 2009, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrevie

1. Price range?
Potentially as high as 200USD per speaker.

2. Are you looking for a finished speaker made by someone else or raw speaker drivers to put into a speaker you are making.
Raw drivers would be best. Othewise it wouldn't be diy.

3. You imply that you are looking for a 2 or 3 way speaker rather than a single driver? What would suit you?
I'm open to all suggestions at the moment. I just haven't seen many (if any) bookshelf size speakers that are of a reasonable efficiency.

4. General size of the speaker you are considering (small - say 1 ft3 - 28 liters)?

Yes, definitely small. 28L sounds about right.

These might be of interest:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=297-400

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=297-402

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=295-480

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=290-063

mrevie · 29th August 2009, 03:40 AM

I like the look of those hi-vi tweets. Definitely finding the ribbon/planar tweeter route appealing. However, they tend to need to be crossed quite high. I'm not finding many mid-woofers with matching efficiency and frequency response..

c2cthomas · 29th August 2009, 03:52 AM

I have been thinking of using one of these (or a Foxtex) with my ESS AMT-1's (above 7k) and a pro woofer in OB. But that scheme is not what you are looking for at this point in time so little help there.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=295-010
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=290-020

The problem with using these drivers is it leads you into a 3-way for any decent base - or perhaps a small sub-woofer (or 2 ------------ or 3) ;-)

mrevie · 29th August 2009, 04:20 AM

Super-low bass isn't a massive concern of mine for this project, so those drivers are definitely tempting.

Another question - as these speakers will only be used for nerfield listening. Do they really need to be high efficiency? I suppose a better qualifying factor is that the drivers don't need high volumes to "come alive".

28th August 2009, 11:44 AM	#1
mrevie diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2009	Suggestions for high efficiency nearfield speakers Hi, Having just perfect my home theatre/listening room I've recently discovered that I need to move towns for the last two years of my course. This means that for at least the next year I'll be confined to just one room. Needless to say, this simply wont fit my big floorstanders etc. So! I was looking for suggestionsfor nice sounding, high efficiency nearfield speakers. Most likely to be driven by a Pass FirstWatt F5 or a low powered single ended SS class A amp. Which will in turn by supplied by a USB DAC (yet to be chosen). What I enjoy hearing most in a pair of speakers is detail and a good soundstage. I listen to alot of rock, folk, indie and alternative. When I first started thinking about this I was seirously considering going the fullrange option (most like one of the fonken family), but the problems that single driver systems have with complex pieces of music is somewhat offputting. So here I am. Any suggestions?

28th August 2009, 03:05 PM	#3
Glowbug diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hillsborough, NC/McLean, VA	Decware DM944s would be on my list __________________ Jim J.

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28th August 2009, 02:57 PM	#2
c2cthomas 49 - for the 16th time diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Near "Music City" (Nashville Tennessee)	Allow me to present a couple of questions 1. Price range? 2. Are you looking for a finished speaker made by someone else or raw speaker drivers to put into a speaker you are making. 3. You imply that you are looking for a 2 or 3 way speaker rather than a single driver? What would suit you? 4. General size of the speaker you are considering (small - say 1 ft3 - 28 liters)? This should help others in presenting you with some suggestions.

29th August 2009, 02:21 AM	#4
mrevie diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2009	1. Price range? Potentially as high as 200USD per speaker. 2. Are you looking for a finished speaker made by someone else or raw speaker drivers to put into a speaker you are making. Raw drivers would be best. Othewise it wouldn't be diy. 3. You imply that you are looking for a 2 or 3 way speaker rather than a single driver? What would suit you? I'm open to all suggestions at the moment. I just haven't seen many (if any) bookshelf size speakers that are of a reasonable efficiency. 4. General size of the speaker you are considering (small - say 1 ft3 - 28 liters)? Yes, definitely small. 28L sounds about right.

29th August 2009, 03:40 AM	#7
mrevie diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2009	I like the look of those hi-vi tweets. Definitely finding the ribbon/planar tweeter route appealing. However, they tend to need to be crossed quite high. I'm not finding many mid-woofers with matching efficiency and frequency response..

29th August 2009, 03:52 AM	#8
c2cthomas 49 - for the 16th time diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Near "Music City" (Nashville Tennessee)	I have been thinking of using one of these (or a Foxtex) with my ESS AMT-1's (above 7k) and a pro woofer in OB. But that scheme is not what you are looking for at this point in time so little help there. http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=295-010 http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=290-020 The problem with using these drivers is it leads you into a 3-way for any decent base - or perhaps a small sub-woofer (or 2 ------------ or 3) ;-)

29th August 2009, 04:20 AM	#9
mrevie diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2009	Super-low bass isn't a massive concern of mine for this project, so those drivers are definitely tempting. Another question - as these speakers will only be used for nerfield listening. Do they really need to be high efficiency? I suppose a better qualifying factor is that the drivers don't need high volumes to "come alive".

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