My DIY Project - Advice VERY Welcome!

[ben_scammell]

Hi Everyone,

Firstly...thanks for reading this.

I am planning on the following but still have many decisions to make:-

Front Left & Right & Centre

Either:-
One Usher 9950C-15 Soft Dome Tweeter
One Creative Sound WR125S Paper Cone Midrange
Two Adire Audio Extremis 6.8 Midwoofers

Or:-

One Usher 9950C-15 Soft Dome Tweeter
Two Adire Audio Extremis 6.8 Midwoofers

Rear Left & Right

One Usher 9950C-15 Soft Dome Tweeter
One Adire Audio Extremis 6.8 Midwoofers

I am going to use the www.hypex.nl class-d UcD amplifiers for a fully active setup. The amps, psus, crossovers etc. will all be inside the speakers so will be matched for the application.

I am planning to use the www.linkwitzlab.com active crossover in each speaker.

I am unsure on Sub yet, but perhaps a Adire Maelstrom 12D4 is looking popular.

My questions are as follows:-

Vented or Sealed on the Fronts, Centre, Rears and Sub? Anybody fancy helping me through the design, I am a bit rusty.... ;-)

Can anybody think of better components (speakers, amps, crossovers)?

What should I do for source selection and pre-amp?

Thanks,

Ben

[madscience]

I'd go for a sealed system (or at least pluggable) if you plan to use a subwoofer and if you like precision (like me). Crossover at 80 Hz or below (maybe 60 Hz). The Adire Extremis has quite a low f3 cutoff point even in a sealed enclosure.
If you plan to use the speakers as nearfield speakers then I'd consider the CSS drivers which lets you crossover at non-critical frequencies (better phase coherency). Personally, I think the drivers you mentioned are quite adequate for first order passive crossovers due to their wide bandwidth. But if you go active there's less chance of messing up, of course...
By the way, I'm currently building the 7l BR box for the CSS FR125S because the purist's approach fascinates me...No crossover, perfect phase coherency, full range...