help me with my first diy

[bser]

Okay so I've done some major research in the past 2 weeks since first discovering this site, and I've learned alot. But there is one way to really learn how to do stuff and that is to just do it. So I'm gonna start cheap with some drivers that I won't cry over when they break but can still yield some satisfactory results. What I'd like to do is start of my diying with a simple 2way stereo setup consisting of a driver that goes pretty low, so as not to need a sub, and a tweeter that can cross the mid at 3Khz or so. My budget for this "starter set" of speakers will be very limited so I have cash left for actually building my real HT setup once I get felling better about my speaker building skills. I'm looking to spend about $100 total, so the way I figure I have maybe $60 to spend on speakers. Can someone recomend a quality woofer and tweater that fits the bill? A speaker combo that has been used often is also good so I will have acess to some crossover diagrams as I have never done them before either. Thanks to all who take time to help

[bser]

I forgot to mention that I would like to use these drivers in a ported setup, the amp I have is an old kenwood 100x2 stereo amp, but these speaker by no means have to handle that.

One setup I was looking at was:
woofer: 2x dayton reference
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshow...=295-362&DID=7

tweeter: 2x HI VI TN28
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=297-409

will these work well together?

[Bill Fitzpatrick]

$30 per channel on drivers is really low, but not impossible. If you build something, it is no more trouble to build it right so you needn't think in terms of throwaway test units - build a pair of keepers.

If you would consider increasing the budget a bit, I offer the following for your consideration.

http://www.adireaudio.com/TextPages/...eFrameText.htm

Of course there are loads of other possibilities.

[RJ]

That RS-150S 6" speaker you chose will probably need a 3rd or 4th order crossover to get past that cone breakup starting at 5K...
The SPL matches the tweeter .
The box is small - .4 cu. ft. or 11.5 Liters..

If you could wait a while the guys at Madisound or Parts Express or busily building speakers with that woofer...
PE Express; http://www.pesupport.com/cgi-bin/config.pl
Madisound;http://www.madisound.com/cgi-bin/discuss.cgi
Project Showcase
;http://www.partsexpress.com/projects...homeaudio.html

Speaker Builder;
http://speakerbuilder.net/web_files/default.htm

At least this is a start....rj

[bser]

RJ are you saying to email those guys with a question and they may design a crossover suitable for the woofer? Would I still need perhaps a 4th order crossover if I plan on crossing the woofer at 3Khz?

Bill that adire link looks interesting, but what can be said about the sq? I'm a little worried about the quality of drivers used in the project, sure the response is flat, but as I've heard this isn't all it take for a good sounding speaker.

Are there any other projects like that with perhaps slightly better drivers that can easily be reproduced? And lastly is there a good program you all use to help calculate crossovers for certain drivers, or what does it take to know what kind of a crossover will work well with a certain driver?

[5th element]

I would not recommend using that woofer unless you have the skills. Its not a nice driver to work with.

The tweeter and woofer might be the same sensativity but you still need to use baffle step which will cut the woofers sensativity by up to 6dB.

[usekgb]

If you're not afraid of some woodworking, you might want to try this one:

Dayton TL

Cheers,
Zach

[5th element]

I realise that my first post wasnt very helpful.

Originally posted by bser
RJ are you saying to email those guys with a question and they may design a crossover suitable for the woofer?

No what he means is that in time someone will come up with a design that you could use.

Would I still need perhaps a 4th order crossover if I plan on crossing the woofer at 3Khz?

Yes, crossovers are not instant and roll off at various rates. If the resonance is at 6khz using a 1st order will have the 6k peak down by 6dB. This isnt very much. A fourth order network has it down 24dB which is much better. Steep slopes with notch filters are required to tame resonance peaks associated with metal cones.

Are there any other projects like that with perhaps slightly better drivers that can easily be reproduced?

Yes there are many kits available that use better quality drivers which can be easily made.

And lastly is there a good program you all use to help calculate crossovers for certain drivers, or what does it take to know what kind of a crossover will work well with a certain driver?

Speaker workshop by adua is the only free simulating program out there so maybe you should have a go with that. You will need to use SPL trace to copy the response of the drivers from picture files.

What it takes is knowledge learnt over time.

[RJ]

The Dayton RS Drivers just came out late last month. Theres not enough speakers built yet to come up with a solid design. There are advanced DIY'ers that are building speakers with these drivers right now.
I'm following xgecko on Parts Express Tech Talk and his project.
I want to know how the BG Planar/Ribbon tweeter matchs up with these aluminum drivers.
My idea was to use 2 8" RS drivers and 1 BG Planar/Ribbon in a tower speaker. Like the Dayton 8's--- http://www.wadsnet.com/~dtenney/dayton_8MTM.htm

There's a bunch of free speaker design software here;
http://www.pvconsultants.com/audio/frdarticles.htm

You'll need Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet program to use most of them..
Hope This Helps ---- rj

p.s. If you need more help keep asking....

[Timn8ter]

Originally posted by Bill Fitzpatrick
$30 per channel on drivers is really low, but not impossible. If you build something, it is no more trouble to build it right so you needn't think in terms of throwaway test units - build a pair of keepers.

If you would consider increasing the budget a bit, I offer the following for your consideration.

http://www.adireaudio.com/TextPages/...eFrameText.htm

Of course there are loads of other possibilities.

I was going to say the same thing. The guys at Adire still listen to these in their warehouse. That is, when Dan's not going crazy with the Hurricane.