Zaph|Audio ZA5.3 MTM, opinions on quality/value?

[Einric]

If you have the capability to build your own cabinets you could build a system that is $425 for parts with the RS722 parts list in a 2 cuft enclosure ported to 39 hz.
With a 4" vent 9" long you have an f3 of 37.5Hz.
The cabinet would retain the same 9" baffle width of the RS722k kit to make most efficient use of the chosen component values.
The cabinet would be 40" tall and the same 13.5" deep (same as the kit).
This would pretty well remove the need for a sub unless you needed Home Theater rumble.

Just a thought.......

[ubel]

I'm sure I could " rig " some cabs, but I only have a circular saw. No table saw, no router, nothing special. I do like home theater rumble so I'm not worried about buying a sub either soon or down the line. I don't want bass that's close to what I want but feels lacking either so I think I'd better go with a sub.

I wouldn't mind building my own cabs, I just don't believe it's possible without a table saw or router in the least. Also I want my speakers to sit on top of the "console" you can see in my pics and 40" would be too tall I believe, the tweeters would be way above my head.

[Einric]

Great, if you have a circular saw all you need is a 48" straight edge and two clamps.
The cheapest 48" straight edge I know of is a quarter sheet of 5.2mm Lauan plywood (about 10 bucks).
Then you can make your measurements and compensate for the base plate width on the circular saw to make dead straight cuts.
The front baffle you can put a 45 deg. miter around the edges with the same straight edge and the circular saw tipped to 45 deg.

I understand this is a reach......just options.

[ubel]

That's definitely possible and I appreciate the suggestion, but I just measured and something that's 40" tall (on top of my console) would be way too far above ear level .. hmm.

I think I might get the ZA5.3 honestly but I'm still having trouble deciding hehe.

[woof]

Originally Posted by ubel

I'm also now considering the Manzanita due to how easy they look to build and their price .. But ultimately I still want sound quality. They seem like they'd be low in the mids? I'm really torn here on what to pick.

The ZA5.3s seem like they have the most thought out design, specially in the crossovers .. hmm.

I heard John's 2011 version of the Manzanita at LSAF in Dallas. I had never heard an open baffle design before & I must say the SQ for so little $ was remarkable. I had the opportunity to hear many nice (read expensive) designs at the show. Other than the Vapor Audio design that uses a tweeter that one costs more than a pair of complete Manzanitas, I liked John's design the best. Big pluses are an easy to build crossover with few components & you can build the baffle in about 30 minutes!

[Einric]

measure your needed tweeter height on top of your cabinet.
place your tweeter there regardless of the box chosen/built.

[ubel]

I think I'd rather get a sub anyway so it doesn't quite matter if I custom build larger cabinets really? I appreciate your forethought on the matter though.

I think I might get the Dayton's .. I just wish someone with knowledge could comment on their crossover design or someone who's heard them lol. I like the idea of their already larger cabs/woofers compared to the ZA5.3 and TriTrix'. Though that is probably a bit biased of me lol. I wish I could speak to John himself on the matter heh.

[mattsk8]

I'm facing a similar decision right now. I'm torn between the Zaph 5.3c (I have a fairly crappy living room acoustically) and the Swopes Swope HT - undefinition I like the looks of the Swopes a lot.

Not to make it a tougher decision for you by giving you more options but I've heard the Swopes sound really good from some guys on other forums and from Mark Sayers at Meniscus Audio.

I built the Tritrix MTM TL's and those sound really good for the money as well. I'd build another set of the sealed Tritrix for my HT application but I want to do something a bit different this time.

After reading through more of your post, are you just looking for a 2.1 application? If so, the Overnight Sensations might be a good option as well. Fairly cheap and they sound very good for the money as well. You can see those on the link I posted if you click on the DIY part at the top of the screen. I like the Swopes because of the front port, mine will be against a wall. The Overnight Sensations use a rear port so they'd have to be spaced out from the wall behind them.