| BIB and underwear, nothing on top - Click HERE for Original Thread |
| gychang |
First I want to thank all those who helped this newbie. In particular scottmoose, special thanks.
I built BIB with the cheapest ("el cheapo") speaker that has the right numbers to be used in BIB. (http://www.mcminone.com/product.asp...t%5Fid=51%2D075), which sells for $11 each. It is not completely finished yet, but since the result is simply astounding, I will be changing the speaker to FE107E. To see how much more the sound can improve. I still have to finish the bottom molding and thinking about baffle around the speaker
My wife thinks I must have paid lots of $$, the sounds and looks is outstanding, despite my amateurish woodworking abilities.
The pictures should be self explanatory. Sorry about the underwear showing...
gychang |
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| gychang |
this one chronicles the build...
gychang |
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| holdent |
| They look great! I particularly like the way you've put molding around the mouth and painted it and the mouth black. This solves a big quandry for me in finishing the BIBs I working on now. |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by holdent
They look great! I particularly like the way you've put molding around the mouth and painted it and the mouth black. This solves a big quandry for me in finishing the BIBs I working on now. |
thanks, yes black inside is the key to clean look, I plan to install metal screen on top later... |
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| dmason |
"Aren't they glorious?!!" John Hammond, Proprietor, Jurassic Park
Those, are wonderful looking BIB's. I love the looks of these damn things. The view from upstairs is especially kool. Mine are very similar looking, in dark-stain Cherry veneer, with the Fostex FE168EZ. Fostex drivers in these things really rip. I think the black moulding on top and bottom really truly sets them off. Makes me think about a steel wooled Steinway black moulding top and bottom, with concentric baffle, and Walnut veneer BIB.
Elegant A+ |
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| peterbrorsson |
Hi!
Really nice done!!
A+++
Cheers
Peter |
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| Scottmoose |
| Nice work indeed. Love the veneer; I liked that overhead shot too. Great stuff. |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by Scottmoose
Nice work indeed. Love the veneer; I liked that overhead shot too. Great stuff. |
Actually cheap plywood, water stain, and water poly finish. never veneered before. Considering painting the cone white color (from craft shop paint, I can experiement with them since $11 each speaker...) and adding black round speaker baffle...
may have some more changes, will put up pictures. Thanks Scott for your help otherwise would have never made these.
gychang |
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| Scottmoose |
| That's cheap plywood? Hell's teeth! This is a person who claims amateurish woodworking ability? If that's amateurish, what's good supposed to be like? If I could build like that, I'd be a happy camper. |
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| vangogh-hk |
Oh my god!
What a professional looking DIY speaker I have been dreaming of.
What kind of amp are you using and what is your listening area.
How do you feel about it in playing classic and vocal.
Thank |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by vangogh-hk
Oh my god!
What a professional looking DIY speaker I have been dreaming of.
What kind of amp are you using and what is your listening area.
How do you feel about it in playing classic and vocal.
Thank |
my home is smallish but 2 stories so the ceiling is high. I am surprised and little embarrassed by the reaction. The speaker is $11 per each but the cabinet makes the sound in my opinion. Base is tight and there. Great speaker design, Scottmoose deserves the credit for the design and urging of the DIY community.
The stain and finish makes it look good, I had to spend several hours on weekends to patch up with the wood filler, molding is cut with small hand saw (since I have no table saw or miter saw). All the building is done with a circular saw and hand muscle. I spent 15X of price of a speaker to buy a router but only used it to make the base of the cabinet. Amp presently is from a portable cheapie combo unit, but I have amp6BASIC coming, that costs $35 (t-amp)... I will be using it to drive these.
thanks,
gychang |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by vangogh-hk
Oh my god!
What a professional looking DIY speaker I have been dreaming of.
What kind of amp are you using and what is your listening area.
How do you feel about it in playing classic and vocal.
Thank |
I forgot to add, I like classical/jazz mainly. Not into rock at all. These are great, who said fullrange needs subwoooooofer??
gychang |
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| dmason |
If that "portable cheapie" is one of those JVC digital "Executive" things, they really sound great. JVC's switching amplifiers are the best I had heard, having the F-10 for awhile, and with Fostex it was just amazing. It is too bad JVC never even attempted to offer more advanced implementations of their circuit.
Again, I love those shots. It will be interesting to see what, and iF there is an improvement with Fostex 107. More pictures, please.
Mr Chang's efforts show that with some good care, TLC, these things, and good woodworking is within just about anyone's reach. |
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| Scottmoose |
Not me gychang. All credit to Terry Cain, who managed to bring this generally ignored cab type back into the public gaze, and GM, who never forgot about it anyway. Martin and Jeff too, for MathCad worksheets, and for hosting the dedicated BIB pages on zillaspeak, respectively. All I've tried to do since first building a pair is encourage people to try them.
You've made a cracking job on these. If you can stretch to the FX120 (I know it's not cheap, but well worth it) you'll be left wondering if you'll ever really need to upgrade again. |
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| holdent |
Scottmoose - is the Fostex FX120 one of your favorite drivers for a BIB? I looked it up and it has an impressively flat freq. resp. though not quite as sensitive as the FE series. Strange that Fostex doesn't list the BL for that driver - do you know what it is?
I you had to rank order drivers for a BIB what would be your top 5? Anyone else have any opinions out there? |
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| Godzilla |
I have a couple of comments. Firstly, great job!
I give you credit for choosing the cheapest driver you could find to work in a BIB… you didn’t take the easy route when building these by selecting what was available on the BIB web pages. That makes you a pioneer of sorts. If you decide to upgrade the driver in the future you can. Something to look forward too is always nice. You can always make another baffle to fit different drivers.
I plan to cover the tops with a grill cloth to keep dust out. Will you do the same or leave them open? Also, do you plan to build some kind of grill cover for the front?
The stain looks great as does the top and bottom treatment. I wonder if there is a way to further clean up the wires? Perhaps a small piece of furniture between the speakers for your cd and dvd collection?
Which dims did you use?
Godzilla |
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| panomaniac |
Very nice job! They look great.
Funny to see that tiny driver in such a huge box. Completely opposite to the modern look of big drivers squeezed into a small box.
Congratulations, a fine job - very inspiring. |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by dmason
If that "portable cheapie" is one of those JVC digital "Executive" things, they really sound great.
Mr Chang's efforts show that with some good care, TLC, these things, and good woodworking is within just about anyone's reach. |
You have a sharp eye, yes it is JVC with bamboo speakers (tiny), my BIB speakers are head and above. I agree if I can do it just with a circular saw anyone can do this. Just make sure u end up with 10 fingers afterward...
gychang |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by Scottmoose
Not me gychang. All credit to Terry Cain, who managed to bring this generally ignored cab type back into the public gaze, and GM, who never forgot about it anyway. Martin and Jeff too, for MathCad worksheets, and for hosting the dedicated BIB pages on zillaspeak, respectively. All I've tried to do since first building a pair is encourage people to try them.
You've made a cracking job on these. If you can stretch to the FX120 (I know it's not cheap, but well worth it) you'll be left wondering if you'll ever really need to upgrade again. |
I have to thank many folks, feel like I don't know them as well as you (although we never met). You were generous by answering my personal email even.
regarding FX120, my wife already thinks the speakers sound so good, she does not believe each cost $11/each. I showed her the receipt and says she will check the credit card statement...
I will have to think about FX120, since u have been the driver (no pun intended) for my project.
gychang |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by Godzilla
I have a couple of comments. Firstly, great job!
That makes you a pioneer of sorts. If you decide to upgrade the driver in the future you can. Something to look forward too is always nice. You can always make another baffle to fit different drivers.
I plan to cover the tops with a grill cloth to keep dust out. Will you do the same or leave them open? Also, do you plan to build some kind of grill cover for the front?
The stain looks great as does the top and bottom treatment. I wonder if there is a way to further clean up the wires? Perhaps a small piece of furniture between the speakers for your cd and dvd collection?
Which dims did you use?
Godzilla |
You are generous with your praise.
I plan to cover the top with metal grid of somesort, after installing the "expensive speakers" I will put on a grill (plan on bending the clothes hanger and paint). This weekend I will clean up the wires with heat-shrink tube.
thanks,
gychang |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by panomaniac
Very nice job! They look great.
Congratulations, a fine job - very inspiring. |
You and Gozilla has given me many information that led me to build these since I learned everything from this forum.
gychang |
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| Scottmoose |
Top 5 BIB drivers? Nasty.
In no particular order:
FE168ESigma
FF165K
FE166E
Monacor SPH-60X
Lowther PM6C
Fostex for drivers pre-dating the introduction of the FExxxE series didn't menton BL Factor for some reason. I used Martin's T/S parameter check sheet to calculate Vas. Came out at about 5.5 if memory serves.
The FX120 isn't the most sensitive driver Fostex make, but it's a heck of a good one. Plenty of excurson, so you can push it harder than some of the others, lovely flat response, and a very architectural sound. Expensive but worth looking into IMO. |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by Godzilla
I have a couple of comments. Firstly, great job!
Which dims did you use?
Godzilla |
I used the Scottmoose's suggestion, from his original quote.
"El Cheapo speaker BIB demension: (Scottmoose)
Try a 120in line length, driver at 24in down from the sealed end, 70in^2 terminus area. Inside demensions: 7x10, height:60, speaker placement: 24” from top to middle of the speaker, inside slanting baffle ends 5” from the floor and 5” from front and 5” from back."
I used the hardibacker (1/4" cement board to stiffen 1/2" plywood).
gychang |
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| gychang |
these are cheap but amazing in BIB.
gychang |
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| dmason |
Maybe the F120A would be the belle of the ball, in this size. AlNiCo sweet/happy sound, emotion, and throaty BIB gestalt. I sense the big bell housing on the magnet might be abit deep to avoid mechanical surgery. They run fine on 3 watts these 120's.
need sawdust fix... :smash: |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by dmason
Maybe the F120A would be the bell of the ball, in this size. AlNiCo sweet/happy sound, emotion, and throaty BIB gestalt. I sense the big bell housing on the magnet might be abit deep to avoid mechanical surgery. They run fine on 3 watts these 120's.
need sawdust fix... :smash: |
I was going to change the speakers to more main stream (e.i. more expensive) but my wife says how can they sound any better?? I admit I may not have the golden ear of the audiophile, but I listened to many speakers (had electrostatics magnaplanar etc), and these actually sound real good... so for now I will just enjoy these pups.
gychang |
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| dmason |
I am actually thinking about me. New BIB's, the 60 inch flavor. New measurements, new cuts, new speakers to listen to. Been awhile.
High passed at 70Hz with a tiny sub. Very tight sound. Q-perfect for this, AlNiCo mags, and known to run very okay with 3 watts, within the usual constraints. And, I could try THOSE cheapo wunder drivers. First. |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by dmason
I am actually thinking about me. New BIB's, the 60 inch flavor. New measurements, new cuts, new speakers to listen to. Been awhile.
High passed at 70Hz with a tiny sub. Very tight sound. Q-perfect for this, AlNiCo mags, and known to run very okay with 3 watts, within the usual constraints. And, I could try THOSE cheapo wunder drivers. First. |
I live near u in Irvine, know San Diego well. You should try the el cheapo in BIB, just amazzzing. I was actually building these as a trial for FE167 in BIB, but turned out too good.
Now I may get the same el cheapo and try it in another cabinet, but so far I am totally sold in BIB format.
gychang |
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| dmason |
| I intend to. Pioneer? Never let me down. |
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| Scottmoose |
| The F120a should be excellent, though the magnet might get in the way a bit when horn-loading in this way. Frighteningly expensive too. I still reckon the FX is the canny choice. |
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| panomaniac |
| quote: | Originally posted by gychang
but I listened to many speakers (had electrostatics magnaplanar etc), |
Well we certainly can't argue with your references! Some of my favorites.
It's just hard to see that cheap little driver and imagine how it must sound.
What is it about these that you like? |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by panomaniac
Well we certainly can't argue with your references! Some of my favorites.
It's just hard to see that cheap little driver and imagine how it must sound.
What is it about these that you like? |
to me, it sounds good, Lee Ritenour's guitar, Tony Bennett's, and Miles Davis, and Mozart's operas just sound real, precise, and most importantly there is no void in base as far as I can tell. I used to have 1+1 Acoustat and I can concede highs were more airy but this cheapo is close enough, and my wife gets emotional when she hears a her favorite Korean singer...
Regardless of the price, to us, these things just sound good, must have been lucky to have matched the speaker, cabinet and my home.
gychang |
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| vangogh-hk |
Dear Scottmoose
After searching for a long time for my 1st DIY speaker project,
I think it is time to make up my mind rather than keeping on the endless road of looking for the perfect one. Instead of gethering endless information, I would rather build something to see what it could be. (As a Christmas gift for myself)
But basically, I would like to know with the following condition:
My listening area = approx. 13ft(width)x10ft(depth)x8ft(height), wooden ceiling
My amp = 2watt SE, 6watt SE, 30 watt PP (all tube amp)
Speaker position = on the 13ft-width wall and each about 40"(left/right) from the centre.
Music listen = Classic and vocal
Preferal = clear sound stage and details
do you think a "BIB" or a "Spawn of Frugel-Horn" will more suit my taste and listening environment. Could you recommend a driver for me as well. If BIB is the right candidate, could you advise the dimension as well.
Many thanks again:D :D |
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| dmason |
One thing I have learned is "price" is very often irrelevant to aesthetic value.
Most luxurious tube sound: my brother's ancient Bogen two channel "PA" amplifier. Seriously addictive sounding machine. My guess is that the JVC "Executive" "portable cheapie" has a role in the overall gestalt of your set up, Chang.
I have become a BIG believer in total synergy, that oft overused term, applies right here. So, I ordered a pair of these drivers, and a pair of Fostex FX120. The FX200 are drivers I deeply regret selling, so I know I am in a win win situation. I sorely wish I had a pair of those, for BIB's. |
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| one1speed |
| quote: | Originally posted by dmason
So, I ordered a pair of these drivers, and a pair of Fostex FX120. The FX200 are drivers I deeply regret selling, so I know I am in a win win situation. I sorely wish I had a pair of those, for BIB's. |
I'll be very curious to hear your thoughts on these drivers, as will others, I'm sure. |
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| Scottmoose |
| quote: | Originally posted by dmason
The FX200... I sorely wish I had a pair of those, for BIB's. |
You and me both Dan.
Harvey's or BIBs? Ouch. Nasty. |
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| nodiak |
gychang,
I also enjoy your BIB, it's a great influence on me too.
Just wanted to mention I have the JVC EX-A1 and have used it with 8" Hemps and B200 and like it alot. I find lm3875 gainclone integrated more clear and open, but the jvc warmer. When I use the aux. out on the jvc to a better dac and cdp it actually opens up alot and is very satisfying. Anyway,just putting in a vote that you keep it around to compare with other amps, I'd be interested in your opinion. It's my backup and is great as a small ht system.
Great speakers!
Don |
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| Scottmoose |
Having thought about it for a few minutes, I'd strongly advise the Harveys (double horns), as with your particular room, you don't have the corners to load BIBs right, which the smaller versions do need. Use either Dave's modified FE126E, or, with the higher power amps, the FX120 or even F120a. FX could be spectacular if fed a few watts. They share quite a few sonic traits with the BIBs -huge soundstage, excellent imaging, great bass. They couple to the room very nicely indeed. Look pretty good too.
Scott |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by nodiak
gychang,
I also enjoy your BIB, it's a great influence on me too.
Just wanted to mention I have the JVC EX-A1 and have used it with 8" Hemps and B200 and like it alot. I find lm3875 gainclone integrated more clear and open, but the jvc warmer. When I use the aux. out on the jvc to a better dac and cdp it actually opens up alot and is very satisfying. Anyway,just putting in a vote that you keep it around to compare with other amps, I'd be interested in your opinion. It's my backup and is great as a small ht system.
Great speakers!
Don |
thanks, I only have JVC at home for now, I will be getting hold of amp6BASIC soon so I can compare. Now with my BIB and JVC I agree sounds excellent, wife can't understand why I want to change anything. (she doesn't understand this DIY thing.)
Nice to hear your opinion, and glad to know someone else is also enjoying the "medhifi" JVC.
gychang |
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| Kensai |
I've got an older, lower end JVC that's got a first generation Hybrid Feedback amplifier in it (I've read that the ones in the new JVC receivers is third generation, whatever that means). Its not as clean as an SI T-Amp (similar to the Amp6, I'm guessing, though inferior in a couple respects), but given that its an integrated unit, its alot more stable (I've burned out 2 T-Amps simply by trying a different power supply from the 1 that I've found that works so far). I picked up as an open box with parts missing deal at Circuit City (like $40 down from the MSRP of $150), and its serving faithfully as my back up unit while I figure out what to do next (tired of burning through T-Amps, and I'm not likely to build my own).
I'd love to pick up one of the newer/pricier ones, for the amp, and to play with the wood coned drivers, but I've got better things to do with my money right now.
Kensai |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by holdent
They look great! I particularly like the way you've put molding around the mouth and painted it and the mouth black. This solves a big quandry for me in finishing the BIBs I working on now. |
like to see it when u finish and compare notes...
gychang |
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| pinkmouse |
| Sorry, we don't allow code in posts to protect our members. |
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