2.5" driver recommendation

nanl2053 · 20th February 2007, 02:35 AM

Hi guys,

I have some left over 1/2" birch plywood from a cabinet I built and I want to make some small computer speakers.

I am looking for a driver that is smaller than the Hi-Vi B3s preferably. Sound quality isn't a big issue. I just want something that will look cool and function in a near field environment at low volume. Lets assume I can do a digital crossover to a reasonable sub at 150+ hz.

Any cheap drivers out there that I might be able to play with? I will probably power these with an older sony stereo receiver. They need not be loud or perfect.

Thanks!

~Nathaniel

Dag · 20th February 2007, 08:54 AM

Check out zaphs tests at
http://www.zaphaudio.com/smalltest/
http://www.zaphaudio.com/minitest/

sreten · 20th February 2007, 11:04 AM

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=264-830

possibly,

/sreten.

nanl2053 · 21st February 2007, 02:21 AM

Thank you both for the links.

After reading Zaph's tests it looks like there really aren't "useable" drivers out there under 3". Is there anyway to get decent performance out of the B3S in a small enclosure? I am thinking something along the lines of 1 - 1.5l?

What driver properties would indicate decent performance in a small enclosure?

holdent · 21st February 2007, 03:13 AM

Zaph's "Hi-Vi B3S single driver system" (http://www.zaphaudio.com/audio-speaker18.html) enclosure is small but more like 3.75 L by my calculations. I quickly modeled the B3S in three sealed enclosures sizes; 1.0 L, 1.5 L and 2.0 L. There are trade-offs in bass extension at these smaller sizes (particularly the 1.0 L and 1.5 L) that may make subwoofer integration even more problematic (Zaph has a very good analysis of this problem in the link above). If I were you I'd stick to the larger box size Zaph uses.

BTW I bought the round flange version, the B3N, from Madisound and they are very attractive, great sounding, and surprisingly small drivers. I think they are a great deal.

nanl2053 · 21st February 2007, 03:20 AM

I am listening to a pair of Zaph's B3S speakers now :-)

I am really looking to go smaller so that they could go on the desk in my office with a little footprint. I am valuing looks over performance here. I guess I should try some modeling and see what I come up with. The round Hi-Vi's might be a good option.

Too bad the A2S has such poor response. I think I could do something cool with a speaker that size.

sreten · 21st February 2007, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by nanl2053
Thank you both for the links.

After reading Zaph's tests it looks like there really aren't "useable" drivers out there under 3". Is there anyway to get decent performance out of the B3S in a small enclosure? I am thinking something along the lines of 1 - 1.5l?

What driver properties would indicate decent performance in a small enclosure?

Quote:

Originally posted by holdent
Zaph's "Hi-Vi B3S single driver system" (http://www.zaphaudio.com/audio-speaker18.html) enclosure is small but more like 3.75 L by my calculations. I quickly modeled the B3S in three sealed enclosures sizes; 1.0 L, 1.5 L and 2.0 L. There are trade-offs in bass extension at these smaller sizes (particularly the 1.0 L and 1.5 L) that may make subwoofer integration even more problematic (Zaph has a very good analysis of this problem in the link above). If I were you I'd stick to the larger box size Zaph uses.

BTW I bought the round flange version, the B3N, from Madisound and they are very attractive, great sounding, and surprisingly small drivers. I think they are a great deal.

Quote:

Originally posted by nanl2053
I am listening to a pair of Zaph's B3S speakers now :-)

I am really looking to go smaller so that they could go on the desk in my office with a little footprint. I am valuing looks over performance here. I guess I should try some modeling and see what I come up with. The round Hi-Vi's might be a good option.

Too bad the A2S has such poor response. I think I could do something cool with a speaker that size.

Hi,

Zaph is simply lazy in re-using using those boxes
- they are not designed volumes for the B3S.

Using Zaph measured Vas for the B3S indicates 1.5L will be fine.

Box depth can be reduced, hieght somewhat, keep width the same.

Follow Zaph design and use the near field filter options, you can't do better.

/sreten.

sreten · 21st February 2007, 10:25 AM

Hi,

with Vas = 0.8L problems only start at < 1L.

/sreten.

nanl2053 · 21st February 2007, 11:44 AM

Thanks Sreten, I think I will do just that. I will post up some pictures when I finish.

nanl2053 · 21st February 2007, 01:30 PM

I am thinking of something with this shape. Internal volume of 1.528 Liters accounting for the back of the driver. Zaph's near field filter outside the speaker under the desk.

Not drawn exactly to scale. The baffles external dimensions would be 13.5 x 13.5 cm

Thoughts?

20th February 2007, 02:35 AM	#1
nanl2053 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006	2.5" driver recommendation Hi guys, I have some left over 1/2" birch plywood from a cabinet I built and I want to make some small computer speakers. I am looking for a driver that is smaller than the Hi-Vi B3s preferably. Sound quality isn't a big issue. I just want something that will look cool and function in a near field environment at low volume. Lets assume I can do a digital crossover to a reasonable sub at 150+ hz. Any cheap drivers out there that I might be able to play with? I will probably power these with an older sony stereo receiver. They need not be loud or perfect. Thanks! ~Nathaniel

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20th February 2007, 08:54 AM	#2
Dag diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Goteborg	Check out zaphs tests at http://www.zaphaudio.com/smalltest/ http://www.zaphaudio.com/minitest/

20th February 2007, 11:04 AM	#3
sreten diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brighton UK	http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=264-830 possibly, /sreten.

21st February 2007, 02:21 AM	#4
nanl2053 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006	Thank you both for the links. After reading Zaph's tests it looks like there really aren't "useable" drivers out there under 3". Is there anyway to get decent performance out of the B3S in a small enclosure? I am thinking something along the lines of 1 - 1.5l? What driver properties would indicate decent performance in a small enclosure?

21st February 2007, 03:13 AM	#5
holdent diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ontario	Zaph's "Hi-Vi B3S single driver system" (http://www.zaphaudio.com/audio-speaker18.html) enclosure is small but more like 3.75 L by my calculations. I quickly modeled the B3S in three sealed enclosures sizes; 1.0 L, 1.5 L and 2.0 L. There are trade-offs in bass extension at these smaller sizes (particularly the 1.0 L and 1.5 L) that may make subwoofer integration even more problematic (Zaph has a very good analysis of this problem in the link above). If I were you I'd stick to the larger box size Zaph uses. BTW I bought the round flange version, the B3N, from Madisound and they are very attractive, great sounding, and surprisingly small drivers. I think they are a great deal.

21st February 2007, 03:20 AM	#6
nanl2053 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006	I am listening to a pair of Zaph's B3S speakers now :-) I am really looking to go smaller so that they could go on the desk in my office with a little footprint. I am valuing looks over performance here. I guess I should try some modeling and see what I come up with. The round Hi-Vi's might be a good option. Too bad the A2S has such poor response. I think I could do something cool with a speaker that size.

21st February 2007, 11:44 AM	#9
nanl2053 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006	Thanks Sreten, I think I will do just that. I will post up some pictures when I finish.

21st February 2007, 01:30 PM	#10
nanl2053 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006	I am thinking of something with this shape. Internal volume of 1.528 Liters accounting for the back of the driver. Zaph's near field filter outside the speaker under the desk. Not drawn exactly to scale. The baffles external dimensions would be 13.5 x 13.5 cm Thoughts?

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