(also posted in "everything else", wasn't sure of best place to put it)
Hey there,
Total noob here...
I'm looking to build one self-powered monitor specifically for mobile dj'ing. This is for putting in the dj booth with me, pointed towards me, so I can hear what I'm doing. Essentially, whatever the crowd is hearing is what I'll be hearing through this monitor.
Requirements:
- 8" or 10" woofer
- not sure what size or type of tweeter I should use
- INTERNAL amplifier(s), ideally bi-amped
- 100 Watts rms minimum (combined power of both amps)
- bass, treble, and volume gains
- RCA inputs at the very least, 1/4" would be nice too
- rugged construction for mobile dj'ing
- don't want to spend more than $300 on components and materials
- doesn't need to be studio monitor quality, it just needs to get the job done and be reliable
The holy grail would be to duplicate a Mackie SRM350 (obviously not the molded ohusing). I'm sure it's unrealistic for me to build a speaker of this caliber, but check it out and it'll give you a sense of the basic specs I'm after:
http://www.mackie.com/products/srm350/index.html
I'm new to the world of building speakers, but I have a lot of experience in a model shop, and I have a model shop at my disposable with every tool under the sun. The tools and the craftsmanship are there, just not the specific know-how for speakers. I'm sure it's unrealistic for me to get into the hardcore intricacies that you guys do, but I'm sure that if I had the right components and some advice on assembly I could get it done.
Please kindly help me with:
- recommended components and where to get them
- how-to advice or links to how-to advice
- an assessment of whether I'm in over my head or not
THANK YOU!!
Hey there,
Total noob here...
I'm looking to build one self-powered monitor specifically for mobile dj'ing. This is for putting in the dj booth with me, pointed towards me, so I can hear what I'm doing. Essentially, whatever the crowd is hearing is what I'll be hearing through this monitor.
Requirements:
- 8" or 10" woofer
- not sure what size or type of tweeter I should use
- INTERNAL amplifier(s), ideally bi-amped
- 100 Watts rms minimum (combined power of both amps)
- bass, treble, and volume gains
- RCA inputs at the very least, 1/4" would be nice too
- rugged construction for mobile dj'ing
- don't want to spend more than $300 on components and materials
- doesn't need to be studio monitor quality, it just needs to get the job done and be reliable
The holy grail would be to duplicate a Mackie SRM350 (obviously not the molded ohusing). I'm sure it's unrealistic for me to build a speaker of this caliber, but check it out and it'll give you a sense of the basic specs I'm after:
http://www.mackie.com/products/srm350/index.html
I'm new to the world of building speakers, but I have a lot of experience in a model shop, and I have a model shop at my disposable with every tool under the sun. The tools and the craftsmanship are there, just not the specific know-how for speakers. I'm sure it's unrealistic for me to get into the hardcore intricacies that you guys do, but I'm sure that if I had the right components and some advice on assembly I could get it done.
Please kindly help me with:
- recommended components and where to get them
- how-to advice or links to how-to advice
- an assessment of whether I'm in over my head or not
THANK YOU!!
might be better in a different forum, but i will give a suggestion, 300 isn't that much for a pair of monitors, but I have a pair of Pi Speakers Studio Series II, they have decent bass but the low end is pushing it for the Eminence drivers, but for moderate listening they are really nice. I also have the previous version, the ones with a piezo tweeter and i can only imagine that the Vifas they replaced them with make the top end much much better.
Ask a moderator to move this topic to the Loudspeakers forum 
Do you only want a single speaker? It's not clear from your oroginal post if you want a pair. I think you need to be looking at a 10 inch drive unit if you only want one speaker. I guess the Eminence range is the place to start looking. Don't be concerned about power handling figures, they are largely nonsense and irrelevant.
Do you only want a single speaker? It's not clear from your oroginal post if you want a pair. I think you need to be looking at a 10 inch drive unit if you only want one speaker. I guess the Eminence range is the place to start looking. Don't be concerned about power handling figures, they are largely nonsense and irrelevant.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
These are already built -- $369.00 Pair
- 2-way Bass reflex cabinet manufactured with a rugged, high-quality Poly-Resin material.
- 12" High Output, Long Throw Woofer with treated cone and high temperature voice coil (3" VC diameter ->58.8 oz magnet!).
- High Efficiency Light Weight 1 1/2" Pure Titanium Wedge Compression Driver with True Formtm 90° x 60° exponential horn tweeter.
- Inputs/Outputs - 1/4" jack Mic-In,RCA Line In/Line-Out, XLR In/OUT
- Bass/Treble Controls
- 260rms/500 Watts Amp Music Power
- Size: 25.0"(h) x 21.5"(W) x 14.2"(D)
- Adjustable Frequency Response: 45~20KHz
- SPL: 95 +/-2 dB
- Weight: 40lbs each
- Strong side carrying handle.
- Steel grill.
- Hard-rubber feet.
- Adjustable bottom pole mount allows for easy tripod mounting.
I think for $300 you will be hard pressed to get what you want out of it
You are going to want to build two power amplifiers an active crossover, the loudspeaker cabinet finished with some sort of heavy duty design, the drive units themselves etc. The amplifiers will require a power supply which is likely to cost alot unless you know of where to get bargain stuff.
The speaker posted by Magnetar is a good idea, mass produced stuff can do things cheap, like power supplies amplifiers etc.
This is rather adventurous for a 1st time project and not one I would recommend on a budget. If you wanted to build a passive version of this then I would say its doable but including all those electronics stretches the budget too far. Youd be surprised of all the other things you will include or use that will bump up the price.
Actually your best bet may be to hunt down a cheap and cheerful budget amplifier and use that as the main box of tricks. Most come with all the features you could need and will also have a preamp section already with suitable voltages for an active xover of your own design. Or you could just use PLLXO's, high pass on the left channel, low pass on the right channel then feed the drive units from the suitable output. How much can you get a budget integrated for on clear out in the states? Adding a PLLXO to one should be cheaper then making all your own electronics right? a £50 sale at richersounds would be cheaper over here then if I had to make all my own amps and xovers.
You are going to want to build two power amplifiers an active crossover, the loudspeaker cabinet finished with some sort of heavy duty design, the drive units themselves etc. The amplifiers will require a power supply which is likely to cost alot unless you know of where to get bargain stuff.
The speaker posted by Magnetar is a good idea, mass produced stuff can do things cheap, like power supplies amplifiers etc.
This is rather adventurous for a 1st time project and not one I would recommend on a budget. If you wanted to build a passive version of this then I would say its doable but including all those electronics stretches the budget too far. Youd be surprised of all the other things you will include or use that will bump up the price.
Actually your best bet may be to hunt down a cheap and cheerful budget amplifier and use that as the main box of tricks. Most come with all the features you could need and will also have a preamp section already with suitable voltages for an active xover of your own design. Or you could just use PLLXO's, high pass on the left channel, low pass on the right channel then feed the drive units from the suitable output. How much can you get a budget integrated for on clear out in the states? Adding a PLLXO to one should be cheaper then making all your own electronics right? a £50 sale at richersounds would be cheaper over here then if I had to make all my own amps and xovers.
lunchmoney said:
I'm thinking along the same lines as Magnetar. DIY'ing an active speaker is no trivial matter, and probably best left to someone interested in the hobby for its own sake, rather than to fulfill an imminent business need.
I'd recommend a pair of these Berhringers. I've never heard them, but as you stated, you don't need super-fi. They're at your budget for a pair, but you could sell one, or keep it as a spare.
http://www.partsexpress.com/pdf/248-640s.pdf
Good luck,
Dan
I guess I'm a bit over-budget and under-educated to do this right.
Thanks for the recommendation for the monitors. I think I will pass on them though...Behringer is not a name I trust...their dj eqipment is garbage. Maybe their speakers are better, but I just don't trust the name.
The other ones are too inexpensive and anonymous...I've had it with cheap speakers. Don't trust 'em.
I know this is ironic considering that I wanted to build my own cheap speaker
I think I will be getting the Yamaha MSR100. I've read great reviews on it, seems solid. Do you guys have any insight on this thing?:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=live/search/detail/base_pid/600910/
Not as nice as the Mackie SRM350 for sure, but quite a bit cheaper. Smaller and lighter too...aww who am I kidding I want the fricking Mackie. Just too much cabbage though.
Thanks for all your help, guys. Great forum!
Thanks for the recommendation for the monitors. I think I will pass on them though...Behringer is not a name I trust...their dj eqipment is garbage. Maybe their speakers are better, but I just don't trust the name.
The other ones are too inexpensive and anonymous...I've had it with cheap speakers. Don't trust 'em.
I know this is ironic considering that I wanted to build my own cheap speaker
I think I will be getting the Yamaha MSR100. I've read great reviews on it, seems solid. Do you guys have any insight on this thing?:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=live/search/detail/base_pid/600910/
Not as nice as the Mackie SRM350 for sure, but quite a bit cheaper. Smaller and lighter too...aww who am I kidding I want the fricking Mackie. Just too much cabbage though.
Thanks for all your help, guys. Great forum!
help is here
use the selenium 12inch coax from parts express and the Pa plate amp from the same company.
Or get one ht10.1 from adire audio and the plate amp mentioned above. Make a nice baltic birch box using measurements from the freeware winISD.
Or get a pair of ht10s and a used 200w amp from ebay.
Dont use anything more powerful as the he10.1 tweeter wont handle it.
good luck you can do it.
Dont pay attention to others that you should simply buy some speaker from somewhere.They are browsing the wrong forum.
This is for fanatics,OK?Build your own.
use the selenium 12inch coax from parts express and the Pa plate amp from the same company.
Or get one ht10.1 from adire audio and the plate amp mentioned above. Make a nice baltic birch box using measurements from the freeware winISD.
Or get a pair of ht10s and a used 200w amp from ebay.
Dont use anything more powerful as the he10.1 tweeter wont handle it.
good luck you can do it.
Dont pay attention to others that you should simply buy some speaker from somewhere.They are browsing the wrong forum.
This is for fanatics,OK?Build your own.
holger honda is on the right track with the selenium coax
coming from the stand point of a dj what you need is a point source design, monitors are so close to your head that the different height of seperate drivers can cause serious problems
real low frequency handling is questionable as well
down to 50-55Hz will do you quite comfortably, kick drums are centered around 60 - 90Hz, also you'll find the bass from the monitor is drowned out by the bass from the front of house
what you need instead is are accurate and clear mid and highs (mix off the high hats your timing will be more accurate)
beyma and b&c both do some nice coax designs but the selenium has the crossover already built in
coming from the stand point of a dj what you need is a point source design, monitors are so close to your head that the different height of seperate drivers can cause serious problems
real low frequency handling is questionable as well
down to 50-55Hz will do you quite comfortably, kick drums are centered around 60 - 90Hz, also you'll find the bass from the monitor is drowned out by the bass from the front of house
what you need instead is are accurate and clear mid and highs (mix off the high hats your timing will be more accurate)
beyma and b&c both do some nice coax designs but the selenium has the crossover already built in
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