Helo everyone! I'm new to the whole DIY audio concept. My uncle gave me a couple of KEF B110B's (SP1057) and T27's. He used to have them on a Constructor CS1 Model. He also gave me an old design of a mini t-line box to make (see attached images). I want your opinion on this design. Can u suggest a DIY stereo amplifier to drive these units. I don't need sth expensive or exquisite as i will only playback mp3 and flac audio files (mostly rock, blues and jazz music). Thank u in advance for your any answers!
Attachments
Besides being for the B200 which makes it unsuitable right off the top, i'd be looking to get the B110 into a TL done with modern design techniquies.
dave
dave
In fact, your B110 and T27 were the heart of the famous compact LS3/5 and LS3/5A monitor speakers, still a benchmark for voice reproduction.
Therefore, I'd look for plans of the LS3/5A and its filter. It's probably the best application for them.
For example, browse http://www.ls35a.com/
Regarding affordable DIY amps, these speakers may be refined in sound, but they were low sensitivity as well, so don't think about a low-powered tube amp for them, I'd rather google for "gainclone kit", and check out sites like http://www.audiosector.com/ and http://chipamp.com/
Therefore, I'd look for plans of the LS3/5A and its filter. It's probably the best application for them.
For example, browse http://www.ls35a.com/
Regarding affordable DIY amps, these speakers may be refined in sound, but they were low sensitivity as well, so don't think about a low-powered tube amp for them, I'd rather google for "gainclone kit", and check out sites like http://www.audiosector.com/ and http://chipamp.com/
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Hi,
FWIW the CS1 kit came with crossovers and that is what you should use.
AFAIK the drivers versions for the CS1 do not suit LS3/5A c/o's at all.
A tall slim TL is certainly doable, with the same baffle width as the CS1 plans.
rgds, sreten.
FWIW the CS1 kit came with crossovers and that is what you should use.
AFAIK the drivers versions for the CS1 do not suit LS3/5A c/o's at all.
A tall slim TL is certainly doable, with the same baffle width as the CS1 plans.
rgds, sreten.
Thanx for your responses! Having a look at The Unofficial LS3/5a Support Site got me some interesting ideas... I think I'll go for the LS3/5a kit and will make a sub woofer like this: LS3/5A Home-made Bass Extenders. Only problem is that they don't make B110B's no more so I'll look for a similar unit (maybe the Peerless SKO130 5").
Hi,
What LS3/5a kit ? I'll repeat specifically the CS1 drivers are not the same.
What you want is the CS1 crossover, not the expensive LS3/5a crossover.
rgds, sreten.
What LS3/5a kit ? I'll repeat specifically the CS1 drivers are not the same.
What you want is the CS1 crossover, not the expensive LS3/5a crossover.
rgds, sreten.
You're looking at two different designs. The one on the left in the trapezoidal box is a sealed enclosure for the B200, the small t-line on the right is for the B110. I remember seeing both designs published in the 1970s.
I was always curious about that small t-line, but I didn't know anyone who actually built that one. There were quite a number of us who were followers of all the DIY speaker projects published in British magazines such as Wireless World and HiFi News in the 1970s.
sreten is right, I didn't know that there were so many variants of the venerable B110, and your SP1057 variant does not have a crossover listed at Falcon Acoustics.
Indeed, best to recuperate the CS1 filter as well, or google for the schematic if you don't have the cabinets with the filters anymore.
Indeed, best to recuperate the CS1 filter as well, or google for the schematic if you don't have the cabinets with the filters anymore.
Sreten you're right. I downloaded the specification sheets from kef and saw the differences. So I'll be better off with either the CS1 or the Mini-TL design. Doy u think I'll still be able to use the AB1 as a sub-woofer but with a different x-over?
Another possibility is to build a crossover and enclosure for the Reference 101 model. They will sound great.
I would not recommend to start adventures with the B 110 and T 27 without having acces to measurement gear. The B 110's are all over the place in terms of SPL in the critical 800Hz-3Khz area. In other words , the B110 must be tamed in the X/O. T27 is also notoriously difficult to use. It has a rather high Fo and is mechanically vulnerable.
When I first measured a B110 in 1994, I could not believe this ultra-famous driver offered such poor midband performance. There is world of difference between reality and the KEF driver info of the 80-ties.
For the LS 3/5a to my best of knowledge, strictly spcified selected units were used. A simple drop in wil not work.
Good Luck!
Eelco
When I first measured a B110 in 1994, I could not believe this ultra-famous driver offered such poor midband performance. There is world of difference between reality and the KEF driver info of the 80-ties.
For the LS 3/5a to my best of knowledge, strictly spcified selected units were used. A simple drop in wil not work.
Good Luck!
Eelco
Hi,
Lets try and put some issues to bed.
The selected drivers for the LS3/5A were to one side of the bell curve
of typical B110 product runs. KEF themselves then used the peak of
the product runs for their own B110 designs, and may indeed have
used different selected B110's in their own various products.
(I''ll not go into the various versions of the LS3/5a.)
What is known is B110's were always graded, for various products.
The main issue (like the B200) being the mid peak level and frequency.
Drivers sold by KEF in the Constructors Series, sorry to say this,
were what was left, out of spec drivers, how much, who knows ....
This is often touted as a good B110 replacement :
SPH-135/AD - Monacor hiFi bass-midrange speaker 60Wmax 8Ω - Europe Audio
And may well work well in the AB1 subs, I haven't checked.
(I doubt it works well with B110 specific crossovers.)
TBH if I only had the drivers and no c/o I'd sell them (they go
for a lot) and start from scratch, building a speaker I want.
rgds, sreten.
Lets try and put some issues to bed.
The selected drivers for the LS3/5A were to one side of the bell curve
of typical B110 product runs. KEF themselves then used the peak of
the product runs for their own B110 designs, and may indeed have
used different selected B110's in their own various products.
(I''ll not go into the various versions of the LS3/5a.)
What is known is B110's were always graded, for various products.
The main issue (like the B200) being the mid peak level and frequency.
Drivers sold by KEF in the Constructors Series, sorry to say this,
were what was left, out of spec drivers, how much, who knows ....
This is often touted as a good B110 replacement :
SPH-135/AD - Monacor hiFi bass-midrange speaker 60Wmax 8Ω - Europe Audio
And may well work well in the AB1 subs, I haven't checked.
(I doubt it works well with B110 specific crossovers.)
TBH if I only had the drivers and no c/o I'd sell them (they go
for a lot) and start from scratch, building a speaker I want.
rgds, sreten.
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I'd go further and say that given their collectible value and the value inherent in people looking for replacements, that they can be sold for sufficient money to allow the build of a more satisfying loudspeaker.
dave
Re your original post and the plans. Mr. db is correct they are two different designs. Just expanding on his post. The one on the left hand side of the first page is the second version of a Wireless World design from the 1970's ('77 I think) Audax tweeter instead of the Kef T15.
On another approach if you do want to keep the B110 and use them in some sort of line you might check out the Fris "Daline" Again the second edition. I've seen plans on the Net.
Cheers Jonathan
On another approach if you do want to keep the B110 and use them in some sort of line you might check out the Fris "Daline" Again the second edition. I've seen plans on the Net.
Cheers Jonathan
Hi,
According to MJK (Quarter Wavelength Loudspeaker Design) the Daline design is
more conjecture than real science, and modelling it MJK found it to be quite poor.
I recall the crossover designs to be also quite primitive, its not a good design.
Having said that I was quite taken with it at the time, so much for hyperbole.
rgds, sreten.
http://www.quarter-wave.com/TLs/TL_Theory.html
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The Daline worked pretty well if you used it flat up against the wall, although I don't think there was much to the author's idea of the decoupling chamber. The crossover for the version with the KEF T15 tweeter gave a pretty decent response, but the 2-way was not so good.
It's been a long time since I created that thread and I haven't managed to build any kit yet! I still have the B110's and T27's along with 2xB139's that I just acquired. So I'm thinking into going for a larger TL speaker like this: http://www.keith-snook.info/wireles...e Transmission-line loudspeaker Enclosure.pdf.
There are no placement measurements for the B110 nad T27 though. Does anyone have plans for this design?
Thank u in advance!
There are no placement measurements for the B110 nad T27 though. Does anyone have plans for this design?
Thank u in advance!
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