Very first post

[tom42107]

Hello to all,
First, a little background. I have been a live sound engineer for the last thirty-three years. Started out on large Community Leviathon systems with JBL 2482's mounted to 60 and 90 deg. horns. Lots of JBL horn loaded systems along the way. Phase linear amps, Crowns, etc. Currently use D&B Q-series line array systems. Recently I've decided to build some speakers, not for live sound but for reasons I'll explain in a minute. Having very little experience in this area I decided to do some investigation. I started with the "Beyond the Ariel" post. Yikes!! You guys are passionate and extremely intelligent. I do understand that passion though. After all these years I still love what I do. Now on to the reason for the post. I would like to build a mastering room of sorts. A place where I can take mixed projects and help turn it in to a finished project. I certainly am not so naive as to think I will be competing with the big boys. There is a very small market for this service in my community though. My hearing is still in tact and my musical sense has been crafted over many years of having the great fortune to work with some excellent musicians. What I would really like to do is build my own reference speakers. Based on my inexperience with DIY speakers you might suggest visiting Madisound or Parts Express, buying a kit and going from there. What I want is for someone to point me in the direction of a DIY project, regardless of the complexity, that will allow me to end up with a product with which I can judge music content and make a fair assessment of what it may need to become a final product. I know most of the big mastering houses are using B&W, Dunlavy, Barefoot,etc, (lots of B&W Nautilus 802's). So, based on that, I'm thinking something that will give me a true reference. Not necessarily flat, but true. Again, complexity doesn't scare me. And I really want to build it myself. I know that there is so much more about it, (amps, crossovers, construction), but I'm determined.
I have looked at the following projects:
Ariel
Zaph ZD5 vented
ProAc Response 2.5
Proteus
Thanks for the opportunity to be a part of this incredible community!
Tom

[tom42107]

I can only assume from the lack of responses that I may have posted a little prematurely. I guess I'll do more research on what I'm looking for before I post a question. Sorry

[Netlist]

Don't feel sorry for posting here!
Your determined. That's the spirit.
We're not that much of a pro sound forum but we have fantastic experts walking in and out the door.
Anyway, this thread is bumped, you got a warm welcome and with a little luck, someone else with pro-sound taste and ears will point you in the right direction.

Cal? (if you want it BIG)

/Hugo

[planet10]

Welcome Tom,

You might also want to get us to change the title to something more towards the topic of the speakers you want to build.

dave

[tom42107]

Thanks for the replies. As I said, my whole career has been in the live sound arena but recently I have developed a great interest in diy projects. I don't think we are that far off as to what I'm looking for. My interest is really in finding a diy loudspeaker for more critical listening in a controlled room environment. Not live sound reinforcement. I just wondered if I'm on the right path with projects like the Ariel, ProAc clone, Proteus, Zaph, etc... Again, thanks for listening.

As a side note, I am the Stage Manager for a civic auditorium and coliseum. Been there about two months now. Built in 1961. All original Altec stuff. I have stumbled upon a few 1569a and 1593 amps, numerous 288c drivers, lots of multi-cell horns and low freq. enclosures. Can't wait to go through it all and see what shape it's in!

[Loren42]

Originally Posted by tom42107

I can only assume from the lack of responses that I may have posted a little prematurely. I guess I'll do more research on what I'm looking for before I post a question. Sorry

Hi! Welcome to a very knowledgeable forum.

One thing that I have found is the book by Vance Dickason The Loudspeaker Design Cookbook is very useful not only in unraveling the mysteries of the science and engineering behind speaker building, but he includes the design for a set of studio reference monitors, including crossovers.

The book alone is worth the price, but you might want to give serious consideration to his design for his studio monitors.

You did not give us a price range for your project.

[tom42107]

Originally Posted by Loren42

Hi! Welcome to a very knowledgeable forum.

One thing that I have found is the book by Vance Dickason The Loudspeaker Design Cookbook is very useful not only in unraveling the mysteries of the science and engineering behind speaker building, but he includes the design for a set of studio reference monitors, including crossovers.

The book alone is worth the price, but you might want to give serious consideration to his design for his studio monitors.

You did not give us a price range for your project.

Thanks Loren42, I'll look into the book. I guess I'm somewhere in the $1500 to $3000 range. Is that realistic?

[gedlee]

Since you didn't mention any of my threads you should at least look at my web site as there is a lot of info that you may find useful.

[tom42107]

Hello Gedlee, I have in fact looked through your website and would love to here your products. Might be just what I'm looking for. I have also read many of your threads and really am humbled by your knowledge.

[Cal Weldon]

Originally Posted by tom42107

All original Altec stuff. I have stumbled upon a few 1569a and 1593 amps, numerous 288c drivers, lots of multi-cell horns and low freq. enclosures. Can't wait to go through it all and see what shape it's in!

Can I come visit when you are looking through the stuff?

Where abouts are you?