Custom Loudspeakers

[Homestudioking]

Hello folks. I know this is for intros, but I'm EXTREMELY pressed for time due to project deadlines creeping up on me! So, I apologize for the brash approach.

I'm here to get some help with building some large "B" reference monitors for my home studio. I have several pairs of cabinets to use for possible platforms, but I'm not sure which ones to use. Here they go: Technics SB-S407s, Sansui CL 470Ps, and Pioneer CS-G304s. I use a pair of Yamaha NS-50s ("A" monitors) for mixing and nearfield reference monitoring, and I want to build the most accurate and flattest secondary monitors for possible high SPL monitoring (loudspeakers).

Which box is recommended? Crossovers and power supply? Magnetic-shielding? What brand(s) of woofer, mid, tweets would be the absolute BEST? I have a range of about $200-300 that I wanna put into this. Thanks folks!

[doug20]

That is an extremely low budget when you are posting "I want to build the most accurate and flattest secondary monitors for possible high SPL monitoring"
and "what drivers would be the absolute BEST"

I would suggest first lowering your expectations with that budget.

[Oscar Hinde]

By some standards the "absolute best" tweeter would cost many times your overall budget (there are tweeters out there that cost well over 2000$). If you want a great midfield or farfield monitor you're going to have to invest some more money. You're probably thinking of a large 3 way monitor with at least a 10" woofer. The crossover alone for such a speaker will cost you at least a few hundred dollars if built with quality components. Good quality drivers will cost more than that (a lot more if you want very high quality, esoteric stuff). And then there's the hard bit: getting it all to click into place and sound like a good studio monitor.

There is a reason why profesional farfield monitors are as expensive as they are. I'm not saying you shouldnt try the DIY approach, I'm just saying it's not as simple and cheap as you seem to think.

Having said that, the Andromeda II, by Tony Gee, has always striked me as a loudspeaker that could work very well if adapted to function as a farfield monitor (or even a mastering monitor). It's very flat, reaches low and probably delivers very high SPL. There are a number of projects out there that will do the trick. None of them would fit within your budget, though.

[a.wayne]

I have been involved in designing studio monitors, professionally. if you are serious about this , you cannot throw one together and you do not have the experience or proper equipment to do so, regardless of how good the drivers are....and for 300 dollars this will be no reference type monitor .

You are better off looking at a good second hand monitor instead of building one.

[Homestudioking]

oK... Thanks for the Reaming! I should have done more research before coming here! I put myself in a pinch and didnt use my ticker n that don't happen often! The MAIN reason that I want these is to feel the punchiness of my mixes after mixing on nearfields an headphones. Also for my clients. We all know nothing makes an artist feel better than hearing clarity and punch from their music. I know I can use the Hi-fi route, but I'm into accuracy not augmentation. What can I get within my budget? If nothing, What would I have to increase it to in order to achieve what I need? Thanks for your time guys!

[PeteMcK]

consider adding some .5 woofers to your existing nearfield monitors, covering from the mid 30s - ~200Hz, if you can make them active even better...

[Loren42]

Originally Posted by Homestudioking

oK... Thanks for the Reaming! I should have done more research before coming here! I put myself in a pinch and didnt use my ticker n that don't happen often! The MAIN reason that I want these is to feel the punchiness of my mixes after mixing on nearfields an headphones. Also for my clients. We all know nothing makes an artist feel better than hearing clarity and punch from their music. I know I can use the Hi-fi route, but I'm into accuracy not augmentation. What can I get within my budget? If nothing, What would I have to increase it to in order to achieve what I need? Thanks for your time guys!

I know of nothing you can even begin to do with that budget that is legal.

However, for $200 - $300 dollars you could buy the right drugs and iPod ear buds would sound awesome. However, the effect wears off.

To get where you want to be I would consider 10 times that budget and a stroke of luck.

Since you are pressed for time the best thing you could do is to buy existing studio monitors that fit your requirements and get back to work.

Building something like you want will burn up so much of your time that even if you had all the parts and the design already in your hands you spend a week just assembling and testing it. That time you burn up should be spent running your studio and making money.

The other issue is that what you build may not do what you intended anyway. It's far easier to get it wrong than right. This is why you should buy something already built and established in the industry.

If you want to see what you are asking for, check out Dynaudio M3P

You may have some luck finding these used. New they run about $10,000 a pair.

If that causes your blood to run cold, consider something from the pro JBL studio line. You might be able to score something from the vintage monitor line of JBL, but you probably will be looking at no less that $1200 and more likely up over $2,000 for something in good shape.

JBL used to be the gold standard. They have been displaced by a number of other competitors like Dynaudio, but if your credit card isn't limber enough to play with the big boys, vintage JBLs would not be a bad choice. Look at the 4430 and 4435 for starters, but you are still in the +$2000 range, I think.

[Cal Weldon]

Perhaps look on Craigslist.

[a.wayne]

Originally Posted by Homestudioking

oK... Thanks for the Reaming!

Rofl .........


for 300 dollars but a powered sub to go with your NS10's ........

[Homestudioking]

Thanks again! I actually looked at a nice pair of JBLs [4430s] today at a guys house. I think that I may just go back and get them. He didn't want quite as much as you ballparked, but it wasn't far off!