6 to 8 inch driver for studio monitors

[cm961]

Hi guys,

I hate to ask for driver selection advice, but I've been searching for days, and projected graphs based on skeptical speaker parameters are driving me insane.

The Project: I'm building a set of powered studio monitors to replace my current ones. They will be biamped and use gain clones (LM3886 for woofer, LM3875 for tweeter). I have already designed the circuit board, crossovers, power supply, mechanical layout, etc. (although I can alter the 24dB L-R crossover frequency to whatever). Oh and I might be pursuing (sp?) these as a commercial endevour (as in have a few hundred made) if it works out well.

I initially looked at the vifa P22WPs used in the mackie HR824 studio monitors availible for cheap at various places. They are a little less than $30 and they look really great. One problem though, they aren't shielded. I'm almost positive that shielded studio monitors are a must as more and more studios are using computers. My current set are unshielded and I have to keep them about 1-1/2 foot to 2 feet away from the screen, which can be a pain. So I started looking at shielded drivers. The Tang Band drivers look really great except for their low power handling, but they have a higher efficiency to compensate. In fact, they graph so well that I wonder if the parameters are a bit exagerated (sp?). Can anyone comment on this or recommened a good driver for around or less than $30 USD?

Thanks a lot!

Pete

P.S. I'll be more than happy to share my gainclone PCBoard layout as soon as its finished. It contains the power supply (except Xformer), crossovers, and two channels of gainclones (3886, 3875) on one 6"x4.1" board.

[GM]

Not at that price. I would use two of the Mackie Vifas in a 1.5ft^3 bipole with the mags touching to make them complementary bucking magnets.

GM

[RussianBlue]

Originally posted by cm961
Hi guys,

I hate to ask for driver selection advice, but I've been searching for days, and projected graphs based on skeptical speaker parameters are driving me insane.

The Project: I'm building a set of powered studio monitors to replace my current ones. They will be biamped and use gain clones (LM3886 for woofer, LM3875 for tweeter). I have already designed the circuit board, crossovers, power supply, mechanical layout, etc. (although I can alter the 24dB L-R crossover frequency to whatever). Oh and I might be pursuing (sp?) these as a commercial endevour (as in have a few hundred made) if it works out well.

I initially looked at the vifa P22WPs used in the mackie HR824 studio monitors availible for cheap at various places. They are a little less than $30 and they look really great. One problem though, they aren't shielded. I'm almost positive that shielded studio monitors are a must as more and more studios are using computers. My current set are unshielded and I have to keep them about 1-1/2 foot to 2 feet away from the screen, which can be a pain. So I started looking at shielded drivers. The Tang Band drivers look really great except for their low power handling, but they have a higher efficiency to compensate. In fact, they graph so well that I wonder if the parameters are a bit exagerated (sp?). Can anyone comment on this or recommened a good driver for around or less than $30 USD?

Thanks a lot!

Pete

P.S. I'll be more than happy to share my gainclone PCBoard layout as soon as its finished. It contains the power supply (except Xformer), crossovers, and two channels of gainclones (3886, 3875) on one 6"x4.1" board.

Well, I am running my HR 824s directly next to the monitors - no problems here - but then again, they are flat panels. Point is: I am not sure you really need to worry about the shielding at this point (or build it into the cabinets).
Check out the SEAS P21 etc. drivers - personally I am not fond of the VIFAs, I am ready to rip them out of the HR824s (along with the SEAS HF driver) and start over.

Cheers



Cheers

[ooheadsoo]

What ever happened to this project? I was looking into making an Alesis amp/Mackie hybrid just because the amp and woofer are cheap and I like the way the mackie sounds. However, I'm sure the Mackies are shielded...