help in chosing a design

[merlinx76]

I am looking for a good MTM design to go with subs which will be used mainly for music. Since this is my first full range project I would prefer to build a tried and true design. Designing my own x-over is not out of the question. I can build a Jig and use one of them little radio shack condenser mics...it would dedfinately be fun. I am just expecting better results from a more experienced designer and since I can't afford to not be satisfied, the end result is all that matters

For now I have a cheap technics (100W x5) HT reciever that I will use. This amp is probably temporary and I would like the speakers to have very good SPL capabilities and likely a power handing of 120W RMS+ unless they are exceptionally sensitive. They will be crossed over using the "small" setting on the reciever (HP @ 100Hz but slope unknown). Since LF extension is not required I would guess that a sealed design would be optimal.

My max budget for the pair is about $750 US for drivers and crossover.
Looking for the best sounding design with high SPL capability (above 80 -100hz or so) in this price range

[merlinx76]

Some contenders:


John krutke's Vifa XG18/ Seas 27TDFC MTM
Wayne's "Eros" Vifa PL18/ SS 2905/9500 MTM (or eros mkII)

Both of these designs are done by reputable designers and come highly recommended in their price range. So far these are the main designs I am considering. These will both keep me well within my budget.

Has anybody heard both of these? Any feedback to help in deciding would be appreciated.

A quick question: Would the vifa PL18's work well in a sealed application?(High passed w/ subs of course) Fs/Qes= 95 seems kinda borderline but I'm wondering if it matters much since they are high passed.

Are there other good contenders i should look at? (Madisound's SS 18W/8545K/ SS 2905/9500 Solist kit was another consideration but how much better are these Scan Speaks vs. the Vifas? Are they worth the $$$'s ?)

Just to note: I listen to a wide variety of music from metal/rap to pop/rock and easy listening.

[scone]

I'm actually building John Krutke's Vifa XG18/Seas 27TDFC MTM this winter. I'll be starting on the enclosure in about a week when my finals are over. I'll let you know how the project goes if you can wait that long.

There are a few people who commented about their sound in this thread . As far as price, I've spent $360 USD so far and I've aquired all of the electronic components from madisound (drivers, xo components, binding posts). That's all in keeping with what John said on his website. I'm not sure how much the cabinet materials are going to cost yet, but I'm assuming they won't add toooo much to the total cost.

[Grahamt]

These are both well under budget but check out the AV speakers from GR research and the KIT281 from www.adireaudio.com

[merlinx76]

I have looked at the GR research AV3 and AV3S. The Diluceo is a little too pricey. The only thing is I haven't heard about the drivers whereas the designs i mentioned use drivers that I have seen mentioned all over the place in this forum. Plus they are only 5.25" woofers so I wonder about the SPL capabilities.???

I'm not saying I won't consider a 5.25" design... All things being equal, they should be better in the midrange.

I also want to hear the Seas tweets and even more so, the Scan Speak 9500 and 9700 that I hear so much about.

As for the Adire kit 281... I heard a comparison made between the Adire kit and the Wayne's "Eros", and the guy basically said he found that while the 281's had superior bass, the midrange was clearer with the Eros and that the Adires are crossed over a little too high for the AV8's.

I will be using a sub so that's a bad tradeoff.

[Dave Jones]

If you are going to be using a subwoofer, think about a sealed box for the mains. I haven't had any luck integrating a sub with a ported system. Small sample, though. If you go with a ported design, you may wind up stuffing rags in the ports anyway.

[merlinx76]

If you are going to be using a subwoofer, think about a sealed box for the mains. I haven't had any luck integrating a sub with a ported system...

I most certainly agree, which is why I would like to know how some of these ported designs (in particular the vifa PL18) would sound if sealed with an active highpass.

The XG18/ 27TDFC is already a sealed design but the PL18's have higher power handling, and the SS 9500 I am guessing should be a little better than the Seas tweeter and has much more power handling which may come in handy with 1700 hz xo's

So if sealing the PL18's would sound fine, Eros should have higher SPL capabality. As for sound quality...

anybody have comments on the individual drivers?
Seas 27TDFC vs Scan Speak 2905/9500
Vifa PL18 vs XG18

Still welcoming other design ideas
Still would like to hear about the Madisound Solist too and the SS18W/8545 woofer. Is it a significant improvement over the Vifas to justify paying an added cost of $300 or so to the project (which gives many more designs to look at in this higher price range)

I have too many questions!

[merlinx76]

I got price quotes from Solen.ca for both designs and the XG18/27tdfc comes to only $470 CAD while the PL18/SS 9500 comes to $850. They only want $52 CAD for the XG18! Since it's soo much cheaper for John Krutke's MTM, that's probably the way I'll go.

If anybody looking for XG18's, Solen is a good place to consider.