Building my first speakers – In need of directions!

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calmant

Member
Joined 2020
#1
I really hope I'm posting in the right place, there doesn't seem to be a subforum dedicated to stupid questions. I'm having a hard time trying to pin down which speakers I should chose to build.

I'd like to build my own multi-way speaker system instead of sinking a lot of money on ready-made speakers. I've been scouring the Multi-Way speaker section, looking at pictures of members system, but it actually gotten me even more confused as to which setup I should choose.

I've been using KRK Rokit's 5 active speakers for years. They do the trick nicely, but now, it's financially viable for me to upgrade to passive speakers and an amp system.

I took a look at commonly available speaker kits, such as Paul Carmody's, but I'd like something a little weirder, a little bigger, and perhaps a little better. What I'd like to end up with are a pair of big floorstanders, something in the ballpark of Troels Gravesen's 3-way floorstanders or 5-way speakers.

The speakers would be used in my 20sqm bedroom. I'm not pressed for time and would like to build them slowly over time. It would be nice if I could keep the budget sub-700$.

I'm looking for any pointers, any suggestions. I'm sorry if my questions seem redundant or uninformed. I guess we all have to start somewhere.

EDIT: If that's of any help at all, the speakers would be placed in two corners of the room. The room itself is a fairly standard rectangle, but as a high ceiling, about 3 to 3.5meters.
I have access to a fully fledged wood workshop, but I don't feel like getting into a very complex build.
 
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#3
You're right.

Then my question gets much simpler and clearer – What's the best 3-way I can build for around 500$? Will go to 700-ish if there's a clear step up in audio quality.

I will be getting an amp in accordance to the speakers I end up choosing.
 
#5
What kind of sound do you like? Bass heavy, loud? Or maybe more detailed and stereo soundstage? Music type? What amp do you have? Many aspects to consider in that price range because you still need to compromise a lot yet your expectations will be high, so it’s important to plan well and select kits based on your preference and also maybe reduce your expectation if this is your first project, many things can go bad and you need to be prepared for that. Do you have tools and experience or someone to help for the wood work it helps a lot. For 700 I would seriously consider the eminence beta coaxial two ways if you like a little power and simple fun but it might not be as “hifi” as some want. Yet as your first project what you want may be simplicity and not complexity. Start drawing some box ideas and we can help in the review.
 
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#6
fabricadetabaco said:
What kind of sound do you like? Bass heavy, loud? Or maybe more detailed and stereo soundstage? Music type? What amp do you have? Many aspects to consider in that price range because you still need to compromise a lot yet your expectations will be high, so it’s important to plan well and select kits based on your preference and also maybe reduce your expectation if this is your first project, many things can go bad and you need to be prepared for that. Do you have tools and experience or someone to help for the wood work it helps a lot.
Click to expand...

I'd say I'm used to neutral sounding speakers, let's say warm neutral.

I mainly listen to electronic music, ranging from ambient to experimental genres with emphasized sound design, all the way to techno and house.
Apart from that, I have a hefty jazz collection, and I occasionally dip my toes is rock-affiliated genres, but always on the experimental side of things.

So, yes, I'd prefer details and subtlety over loudness. I think subtlety is key here.

I'd like the speaker to able to go loud, but that's not a definite requirements, I will mainly listen at low to medium level 90% of the time.

One thing I'd like is for the speakers not too be too directional, I'd like something that would 'engulf' the room rather than require you to sit in the exact middle to get a good sound. So, yeah, I don't know if that's a reasonable thing to ask for, speakers that are still good when slightly off-axis.

I was reading about the tendency of OB speakers to 'disappear' with the correct music genres, that seems like something I'd like.

Regarding the amping section, I have a NAD amp from the 80s at my parents place. I do plan on buying or building an amp based on the speakers I end up buying. I'd like to have the option to pair it with a tube amp (optional).

I have experience in woodworking and have access to a professional workshop. I have woodworker friends who will be able to help me with the most complex parts if needs be. I also have access to a professional-grade CNC router.
 
#7
Approximately what size of a speaker is ok for you? Is 12” bass too much? I truly believe that you would enjoy a 10” or 12” solution more than a tiny slim tower looking at your musical preference, it matches my type of music and was very happy with my recent coaxial projects (i can find the threads if you like). What I enjoyed with these was the presence and sensitivity of micro dynamics at low volumes plus the ability to crank it up on need.
 
#8
fabricadetabaco said:
Approximately what size of a speaker is ok for you? Is 12” bass too much? I truly believe that you would enjoy a 10” or 12” solution more than a tiny slim tower looking at your musical preference, it matches my type of music and was very happy with my recent coaxial projects (i can find the threads if you like). What I enjoyed with these was the presence and sensitivity of micro dynamics at low volumes plus the ability to crank it up on need.
Click to expand...

I'm not afraid of big at all. I like a mean looking speaker! I don't actually like these tiny slim tower, as you say...

What you're describing sounds perfect! Please do send me these links if you can find them 🙂
 
#10
calmant,

You mentioned that you'd like to try something little bit different - you can take a look at this project:

https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/ful...5-8-fast-waw-ref-monitor-228.html#post6127344

The build should be possible well within $700. If you use the Vifa TC9FD instead of the ScanSpeak 10F it will come even lower. However using a wide-band driver instead of a dedicated tweeter can make the highs sound slightly less prominent vs a high quality dome or ribbon tweeter. Can be good or bad depending on what one prefers.
 
#12
I would suggest some variation of the Econowave (12" pro woofer + 1" horn)
Efficient, dynamic and well-behaved. Also fun and loud!
Unbeatable bang for the buck and a good first project, lots of documentation (maybe too much LOL)

90 degree constant directivity horns in the corners of a room are quite nice. Build cabinets that nestle into the corner and "cross-eye" on the diagonal, it creates an airy enveloping cloud of stereo image that fills the whole space.
 
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#13
You like music that is bass heavy. Do you have or are you planning on a subwoofer?

If yes - then I recommend a quality 2 way. I'm not aware of any up to date index of designs... but meniscus has some quality kits, plus speakerdesignworks (Curt Campbell) has a range of designs. Plus I'm sure you've been browsing here.

If no to the subwoofer - then you'll need a ported or passive radiator 3 way to get the bass extension you need. Problem here is choosing a speaker with a front port so you have more flexibility on room placement.

I'm focusing on room placement - as your room (5m * 4m assumed) being a bedroom is likely to constrain your placement choice.
 
#14
+1 on 12"+horn if size is no problem, and for your type of music preference.
Klipch Heresy style perhaps; 60*40*40cm some 75l with rear bass reflex.

Klipsch-Heresy-IV-4-300x300.jpg


Its not much different from the eminence coax project I talked about (mine was 55*37*30 so a little too small for the deepest bass), but there is no reason to go coax if you don't want to, I just find that concept very intruding and the driver selection was easy. You may also be happy with the 10" version...

My part list for 12" was:
2x Eminence Beta 12CX 12" bass driver
2x Eminence ASD1001 or PSD2002 1" compression drivers
2x Eminence PXB 2k5CX crossover
2x Eminence L-Pad
Wood, screw, glue, paint, cables, grills, terminals
Should be less than 700 total.

Some more links:Eminence coax done better + info links:
https://images.weserv.nl/?url=http://www.booyah.fi/~joni/diy/jii-LS04/DSC_0266.JPG&w=800&t=fit
Using coaxial products for DIY monitors and home hi-fi applications
https://www.eminence.com/pdf/Eminence_Coax_Use_v1.pdf

Further there are tons of alternative 12" bass drivers and horns for a Heresy inspired design; Fane, Celestion, Eminence all have cheap good drivers for this I am sure this forum will help you in this direction if that's what you want (and you will most likely be very happy about a solution like this).

Econowave suggestion above is in this direction, and I totally aprove that too 🙂
Econowave SR examples:
https://i.redd.it/4pa5b5i16g651.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/I7NGdO2.jpg
 
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#15
Dave Bullet said:
You like music that is bass heavy. Do you have or are you planning on a subwoofer?

If yes - then I recommend a quality 2 way. I'm not aware of any up to date index of designs... but meniscus has some quality kits, plus speakerdesignworks (Curt Campbell) has a range of designs. Plus I'm sure you've been browsing here.

If no to the subwoofer - then you'll need a ported or passive radiator 3 way to get the bass extension you need. Problem here is choosing a speaker with a front port so you have more flexibility on room placement.

I'm focusing on room placement - as your room (5m * 4m assumed) being a bedroom is likely to constrain your placement choice.
Click to expand...

Ideally, I'd get big enough speakers to ensure bass reponse is fine without a subwoofer.

I've made a detailed plan of my room layout and added two Klipsch Heresy in two corners, that's where I want to put my speakers. As you can see, there won't be a lot of wiggle room to play around with placement. I hope that helps?

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

fabricadetabaco said:
Further there are tons of alternative 12" bass drivers and horns for a Heresy inspired design; Fane, Celestion, Eminence all have cheap good drivers for this I am sure this forum will help you in this direction if that's what you want (and you will most likely be very happy about a solution like this).

Econowave suggestion above is in this direction, and I totally aprove that too 🙂
Econowave SR examples:
https://i.redd.it/4pa5b5i16g651.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/I7NGdO2.jpg
Click to expand...

That really helps, thanks, that exactly what I'm looking for in terms of form factor! I'll look into all of that.
 
#17
Although it was stated here that EconoWave are very well documented, it's very hard to navigate all of the informations.

But thanks to the answers I already got from this thread, my demand is much, much clearer. It seems like what I'm looking for is a sensitive (because sensitive equals lots of details even at low volume, if I understood that correctly), 12" with a fairly big cabinet (enhances bass?), that could fit my room, the plan of which I posted just above.

Can't wait to get recommendations from you guys and get started for real!
 
#18
I wouldn't say high sensitivity necessarily = lots of detail, but that's the beginning of a very large discussion. The short version is this: some people have heard high-sensitivity speakers, and have said they appear to present more "detail" in the music.
Since those tests are usually sighted, with no attempt to match levels etc, and we don't really know how to measure "detail", it's difficult to confirm.

I can say that in the tests I've done, playing a few dB louder (without running into the limitations of the speakers) gives the impression of more detail.


An Econowave-style box will have high sensitivity, but being fairly compact, will have limited LF extension. Getting 30Hz out of a PA 12" midbass is difficult, but probably not impossible.


Chris
 
#19
The more I look at it, the less I want an econowave-style speaker sets. I know myself, I'll get upgraditis 10 minutes after turning them on for the first time. I already want to upgrade them and I don't have them yet.

Let's crank up the hypothetical budget then. Let's not factor in the wood in my budget, this I'll get for free, pretty much.

What I'd love is something in the vein of these vintage JBL monitors, the 4345 for instance. Front-vented three-way with 12" woofer.
I'd love a really big cabinet actually, any pointers in that direction?
 
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