Hi all. After many months of learning about DIY from the nice folks here, I ordered one Amiga MT tower kit and used it as a template for the 2nd matching speaker. I've got a small woodshop that allows me to do that w/o a real issue; it was just a matter of learning the process.
Personal opinion on the Amiga MT: clean and clear, great for music when paired with a sub. I really like them - alot. Serious thanks to Paul Carmody for his work in the DIY community.
Comparison to my B&W 684 S1's: the Amiga's blow them out of the water for clarity, and that doesn't even cover the reduction in harshness. I examined the crossovers in the 684s and no wonder... there's just no serious attention given to them (imo). I dunno, I'm sure they sound like they want them to sound.
Next: My goal is to complete 4 more builds before I order measurement equipment and begin to design my own. I've planned the following:
So, what bookshelf would the community recommend I build to take DIY to the next level?
What speaker would open up the soundstage more and make things three dimensional while working really well with a sub? I considered the X-LS Encore's. Anything else?
Thanks - looking forward to being around here for a long time.
Personal opinion on the Amiga MT: clean and clear, great for music when paired with a sub. I really like them - alot. Serious thanks to Paul Carmody for his work in the DIY community.
Comparison to my B&W 684 S1's: the Amiga's blow them out of the water for clarity, and that doesn't even cover the reduction in harshness. I examined the crossovers in the 684s and no wonder... there's just no serious attention given to them (imo). I dunno, I'm sure they sound like they want them to sound.
Next: My goal is to complete 4 more builds before I order measurement equipment and begin to design my own. I've planned the following:
- C-notes (being shipped now, for my son's 16th b-day)
- Paul Carmody's Sunflower Center (to match the Amigas)
- Dayton Ultimax 12" Sub
- TBD Bookshelf
So, what bookshelf would the community recommend I build to take DIY to the next level?
What speaker would open up the soundstage more and make things three dimensional while working really well with a sub? I considered the X-LS Encore's. Anything else?
Thanks - looking forward to being around here for a long time.
I wouldn't call it that because these were developed according to a time when audiophiles wanted to see crossovers take a minimalist approach.
I see a chance to use modern techniques to get the most out of these.
@AllenB - That's fair, a bit assumptive on my part due to the limited parts (4) in the XO compared to the sound quality as I perceive it. I considered attempting a custom XO for these to see what I could get out of them, but I think I'd rather just build something else and learn broader right now, rather than deeper.
Do you have any bookshelf kit favorites, yourself? Its all a bit of a shot in the dark for me at the moment.
@Zvu - thanks for this recommendation. I'm checking it out!
Do you have any bookshelf kit favorites, yourself? Its all a bit of a shot in the dark for me at the moment.
@Zvu - thanks for this recommendation. I'm checking it out!
I wouldn't hesitate to go with Zvu's recommendation of the Philharmonic BMR kit. Dennis Murphy is a superior speaker designer.
Would you guys recommend the BMR for both music AND home theater?
And if so, is there a center that would work with it? Or is it mostly music focused?
And if so, is there a center that would work with it? Or is it mostly music focused?
Check out Jim and Curt's Traveller's. Rhythm Audio Design has some of Chuck and Wolf's designs that look great, and one of Jeff Bagby's that has yet to be released. Helix by Jeff at diysoundgroup, and Pete's Apollo are great options to check out. What's your price max? Glenn.
Thanks all for the suggestions. A friend just built the Helix and I will be heading over to check that out in a week or so.
@Drummer2005 Price max for this round is $500-800.
@Drummer2005 Price max for this round is $500-800.
What's your room like? Live, treated, carpet, hardwood or tile, etc? What do you listen to the most, and at what spl? With subs, you don't have to focus on extension as much as integration. Are you a jazz guy, classical, hard rock ,etc? Size and placement constraints? One man's bookshelf is another's beastly box. When I think purely of soundstage, and 3d, I think open baffle. I really love cd/waveguides, but everything is a compromise, and I listen at higher volume than a lot, and play more electric based, processed mixes than acoustic based. Different designers voicing preferences can be huge. Laid back, BBC curve, analytical or forward, etc. Glenn.
Carpet. Open area living room downstairs. No back wall, just a half-wall behind the couch. It's probably an acoustic nightmare.
It's going to be a 50/50 mix of music and home theater.
Music preferences range from rock to jazz to opera. I prefer rock, but when I listen to Steely Dan or Fleetwood Mac, I want the clarity to be superb. I don't like the "wall of sound" (my personal impressions of Klipsch), I want to hear every detail possible.
Size I'm building my own bookcases, so I plan to make a shelf just for bookshelves and then another for a center. I know its not the best acoustically, but I need the balance of aesthetics and sound. Fortunately, I have no wife approval issue; I'm the picky one; I have a design background.
Also, if soundstage and 3d is truly best on open baffle (as a beginner, this is not something I know yet), I will just have to save that for another room in the house at another time.
It's going to be a 50/50 mix of music and home theater.
Music preferences range from rock to jazz to opera. I prefer rock, but when I listen to Steely Dan or Fleetwood Mac, I want the clarity to be superb. I don't like the "wall of sound" (my personal impressions of Klipsch), I want to hear every detail possible.
Size I'm building my own bookcases, so I plan to make a shelf just for bookshelves and then another for a center. I know its not the best acoustically, but I need the balance of aesthetics and sound. Fortunately, I have no wife approval issue; I'm the picky one; I have a design background.
Also, if soundstage and 3d is truly best on open baffle (as a beginner, this is not something I know yet), I will just have to save that for another room in the house at another time.
Forget anything open baffle then. If the speakers are going on the shelving with their back against the wall, you may want a sealed cabinet, or front ported. The against the wall placement will affect the boundary gain of the low end response, so that is a consideration. If the speakers will have no toe in option, and have to fire straight into the room, that's another consideration wrt off axis dispersion. Less BSC may be in order to ensure that you don't have boomy or muddy mid bass, due to back wall proximity. The carpet is good to dampen and lessen floor bounce. Some designers have modified crossover designs for against a wall placement. Glenn.
What are you using for power? Are you using avr power that you will cross your mains at a higher frequency, or run them full range? I'm asking all the things that I can think of, so that the guys that are world's more knowledgeable than my rudimentary understanding, may chime in based on your answers. All the speakers that have been mentioned, are all well regarded. Check out Craig's Keramiska (sp?), too, for an alternative to a dome tweet. Already having a powered sub gives more options, if the speaker can meet your spl needs.