Suggestions for my second build?

[sansbury]

So, about four years ago I built a Chipamp gainclone and a pair of One Pi speakers. I'm still happy with them but starting to itch for something a bit more intense.

Music-wise, I listen to a variety of stuff, but more heavily on the rock side than anything else. Current rotation includes Chapel Club, M83, Moby, and the Joy Formidable, though I also listen to a moderate amount of classical and opera. Volume levels are generally moderate to keep neighbors happy.

For this build, I'm willing to spend up to around $1000 for a pair of speakers, maybe a hair more. I'd prefer to do something that will work reasonably well with my current amp, though I'm thinking about a new build there too.

My fabrication skills and gear are pretty good. My technical knowledge of design principles and component selection are pretty limited, so I'd prefer to follow a well-documented design by the numbers.

Given the choice, I'll lean towards a smaller speaker over a larger one, though tall is less of a problem than wide.

Edit: When I say "intense," basically I mean something more than the One π's I have now. They're great for an inexpensive small speaker, but I'm looking to go for something with fewer compromises on cost/size.

SO, any suggestions of what I might like to consider and why?

[Richard Ellis]

I always wondered how good someone could make a 'large' two-way, say a 10" sealed alignment, with a "big" dome tweeter, that reaches way down to pick-up the Woof....????

__________________________________________________ ______Rick..........

[picowallspeaker]

I want to do something like that , but with a little cone that allows for some extra-excursion when I crank the volume without breaking ...or without ferrofluid
To keep also efficiency aligned , I'm planning to reuse two dead woofers as
a brand new waveguide for the little mid-tweeter .
I think I'll be using , of course , a TB with phase plug
Still undecided about the woofer ...
Wallet's empty

[Cal Weldon]

Originally Posted by sansbury

I'll lean towards a smaller speaker over a larger one

You'll never get anywhere with that attitude.

[sansbury]

Originally Posted by Cal Weldon

You'll never get anywhere with that attitude.

Heh. To be clear, it's floor space I'm most concerned with. The Pi speakers I have now have a footprint of about 8.5"x12". That's fine, a little larger would be fine, and if they're five feet tall, that would be fine too.

@Richard & Pico: Sounds interesting, but I'm looking for a good proven design.

[AllenB]

Where's sreten when you need him?

Looking at Wayne's offerings I'd think you'd only need to go to the three pi to begin to benefit the way some of us here may be thinking. They are a little larger but I think it would be worth it. You could probably even go a little narrower in the cabinet if you were doing them yourself.

[sreten]

Hi,

Hmmm........

I wonder how the pi 1 speaker gets round baffle step .....
Seems the groundplane measurements sidesteps it .....

Baffle Step Compensation

Should make a big difference to the presentation.

Stentorians perhaps ?
Speaker Design Works

rgds, sreten.

[picowallspeaker]

Stentorians are just awful . maybe the very simple crossover just doesn't make a mess ,but all those drivers make me nervous . Are the suspension in 'foam' ? eh he !

[AllenB]

Originally Posted by sreten

gets round baffle step .....
Seems the groundplane measurements sidesteps it .....

Optimistic, maybe.

Perhaps sansbury could tell us whether his speakers 'sound like' small speakers. Do they give a natural weight to vocals, for example?

[sreten]

Originally Posted by AllenB

Optimistic, maybe.

Hi,

Not really. The pi one has no baffle step compensation.
It cannot given its sensitivity and the bass drivers specs.

rgds, sreten.