Small diy monitors - two way or coaxial?

[wxn]

If I were to diy a pair of small (10-15l) studio-like monitors, tone balance, clear imaging and good detail being priorities, what would be the best (and reasonably simple) solution?

Price range: 35-100$/speaker for drivers+any passive circuitry required (or none if active).

International shipping is a bit too expensive so I would have to get away with what's available here. That includes most of Visaton, a couple of dozens of Peerless drivers and a few units from Morel, Gradient, Seas, Scan-Speak, Vifa.

I realise that for 100$ per speaker I could make a pretty decent two way system. But I know a guy who imports studio oriented coaxial drivers for 100$/piece. High quality stuff, something like drivers used in Tannoy System line. Being 6" or 8" they're quite capable of reproducing frequencies down to 50Hz or so. So I would simply get a pair of those, put them in a box and voila - a decent speakers. Plus that would be a "one point source" which is supposed to improve localisation etc.

Any comments?

[mazurek]

The woofer in a coaxial pair should not reproduce frequencies below ~300 Hz, or its horn movement will modulate the sound. Look at the htguide forums, they have an excellent thread on coaxials.

[pinkmouse]

Tell that to all the people who love Tannoy Golds...

[tktran303]

I think the Tannoy Golds get away with it because they use massive cones, allowing for minimal cone movement even at lower frequencies. Bass extension isn't deep, but loud and assisted by the vent.

Point source imaging is great, but coaxials tend to have ragged treble responses that can't compete with the best dome or ribbon tweeters.

pro's and con's I guess.

[navin]

There are a few coaxial drivers that produce as low at 100hz. KEF's Uni Q and Tannoy's Arena for example. Beyond that there are fullrange drivers from Tangband, Fostex, Jordan and Supravox that will produce "reasonable" energy at 100Hz. Given the demands of HT/AV systems and WAF there is a lot of development in this area (more so than large multi way floor standers) .

I guess you might find some more solutions over on the fullrange forum(s).

[ThorstenL]

Konnichiwa,

Originally posted by wxn
If I were to diy a pair of small (10-15l) studio-like monitors, tone balance, clear imaging and good detail being priorities, what would be the best (and reasonably simple) solution?

You might find this thread of interrest:

An easy and fairly inexpensive DIY Mini Monitor with a Fullrange Driver

I did not expect much from these and I have been very positively surprised. Despite being a full-range driver these manage excellent dynamics even pretty far down. There is not much below 40...50Hz (depending on room interactions), the rest however is really good.

I have, temporarily (I need some "normal" speakers for some development work) replaced my big rig with these little pint sized boxes and they do not yet induce a "take it away" reflex, which given the normal level of gear in my main system is quite something....

Sayonara

[wxn]

As I understand, these drivers are 134$/pair, shipping included. That makes them a very nice alternative indeed. But lacking response above 15kHz, a tweeter is almost a must. Hard to find a good tweeter for 35$ per unit. Still, very nice drivers, thanks.

[ThorstenL]

Konnichiwa,

Originally posted by wxn
As I understand, these drivers are 134$/pair, shipping included. That makes them a very nice alternative indeed. But lacking response above 15kHz, a tweeter is almost a must. Hard to find a good tweeter for 35$ per unit. Still, very nice drivers, thanks.

If you stretch a little, while stocks at Brian Cherry's place last I think you can have a pair of the same Foster Ribbons I used thrown into the shipment for an extra $ 100, so in total $ 234 (only $ 17 and a single 0.68uF capacitor per speaker over budget), the combo works well.

Sayonara