How the #$*&@#* do you actually choose speakers?

[elambert]

I have spent countless hours reading boards, reading books, and working through different ideas to finally come to realization I have absolutely no clue as to what drivers to use.

I have, what I would think, a pretty fair understanding of speaker design is. Not fabulous, or anything marketable or even remarkable... but enough to make me dangerous.

My problem is in choosing drivers for my project.

How do you go about doing this? I can look at manufacturer freq response plots all day but in the end, in not being able to actually hear the drivers before purchase, how do I choose?

Wonderful people will suggest drivers they like, and suggest drivers that many others have liked, but how can I know if I would like them????

I do not have anywhere close to audition speakers. Drivers nor complete mid-fi to hi-fi range speakers. Only cheap junk abound around me.

I do not have the budget to buy drivers to listen to, nor do I have the budget to build an "ulitmate" set of speakers. Listening is such a subjective thing, and being a musician myself I do think I have a bit more of a critical ear than most. When you spend many hours practicing, listening, and trying to blend with a band of instruments, you tastes tend to devolop a bit I think.

Sorry about the rant... but I am having a heckuva time deciding on drivers. The whole reason I am having the problem in the first place is pretty much every design I have found to date either doesn't satisfy me... or is too expensive an option to consider.

Ethan

[454Casull]

Headphones are cheaper.

[Cal Weldon]

What kind of car do you drive? Why did you choose that one?

It's really just preference when you get down to it. The only way to have preferences is to have involvement.

Without that, you ask others.

[Audiophilenoob]

I buy a ton of speakers... listen... and return the losers

also going out and listening to a lot of store boughts you can get a good idea for a lot of the speakers offered from a certain brand... like SS and focal is Wilson audio, etc.

[ron.eddy]

What I would recommend for you to do (if you want to completely design them yourself) is decide on the type of speakers you want, and focus on just building a pair of them. Do you want MTM or regular 2-way, or how about a three way, or maybe something exotic? Then, go to the online suppliers and find some of the less expensive of the brand name's models. Try Vifa, Audax (my current brand), or Scanspeak. This way, you can start your system with a good brand, but not necessarily the best model in the brand.

I promise you if you build the box using software designed for the calculations and are using even decent speakers and crossover you will be stunned by the sound they produce.

Anyway, back to topic: As an example, start out looking for 6.5" drivers and once you find one that is in your budget, design the system around that. Look at the frequency response of that woofer and find a suitable tweeter to compliment it (often times the companies will list their own recommended combinations). If this were to be an MTM setup you would then get 4 woofers and 2 tweeters, but if you are tight on money, just build a bookshelf set to start, 2 woofers, 2 tweeters. Audax, for example, sells very good (for the price) woofers and tweeters for around 30 to 35 dollars (this was 4 years ago, prices may be different now) a piece. So that would set you back $120 to $140 bucks, plus the wood to build them. Last but not least is the crossover. You will need to figure out the optimal crossover point and what type to use. You could build your own to save some money or buy premade ones. All in all you should be able to build a very quality set of 2-way speakers for under $200 and I think you would be amazed at their sound.

My point in this is that as long as you start with a decent brand to begin your DIY adventure, and design around it appropriately you WILL get good results. Also, it won't cost you an arm and a leg. Someone on this forum once said you should never make your first project your last project, of course meaning that you should start simple, and learn from it.

When compared to almost any 2-way you can buy at stores like Best Buy (at any price) yours will almost certainly sound better (if designed properly). I am not an expert BY ANY MEANS on this matter, but I hope what I have said is helpful. I have built many dozens of home speakers (all on a budget, never high high end) and it never ceases to amaze me how much quality you can squeeze out of so little money when you DIY!

If you don't want to design them yourself, you could always search for budget DIY loudspeaker plans on the net. Thats how I found out about the Audax set I built.

Regards, Ron

[ron.eddy]

I may add that I think I understated the importance of the crossover. In many cases the crossover is as important or MORE important than the drivers in question. An improper crossover will kill the SQ of almost any speakers, regardless of price. I, myself, have no design experience with crossovers, but be sure to consider it in your design.

- Ron

[ron.eddy]

Some good stuff here:

http://ldsg.snippets.org/idx.php3

[audioferret]

I have to say that really resonated with me...

I have been trying to focus on the "One" speaker, hoping that I will do one project and that it will be perfect.

I have currently settled on the Orion by SL, but I also know that after every project I have done, I've sat back and said:

"Wow, if I could do that again...I would..."

The focus on starting small and working your way up is really good advice. In that frame of mind, I think I would like to try to start by besting the PSB B-15s I have...what to build...

[kfr01]

Build a KIT or established design as your first pair. Make sure the kit or design you choose uses drivers that you may want to implement in your own design.

As a beginner myself, I find kits a nice way to demo driver and design sound. (and refine my building skills).

Check out some designs at diycable.com. I've found the designs very easy to build and well supported by the designers.

The Kit61 was a fun kit to build and was a nice way to hear the sound of the Extremis 7" driver and an Usher Audio tweeter used in some expensive commercial designs. I'll be keeping that pair as bedroom speakers.

Cheers


Also, I would not focus on -the one- speaker. Design, buy, or build something in your price range. This hobby is addicting-your first project won't be your last.

[audioferret]

What I was saying is that I have caught myself seeking the "holy grail" of speakers when I should just build something simple.

I would hate to drop over a grand on drivers just to ruin them...

DIYcable is calling to me too. What commercial product would you compare their entry-level bookshelf to? At the least I do want to build something better than my B-15s (the only decent speaker I own) Any preference to RawAcoustics? The HT1 has a nice-looking ribbon setup...

Too many choices...