$500 Dollar Project Budget for a $1000 SET Amp Project... Speaker Advice Needed

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high510

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Joined 2023
#1
I have inherited a 90% complete Audio Note Kit1 8wpc SET 300B amp. I need some appropriate entry level speakers. I know I want Tekton (probably Lore) later on if I decide to keep the amp, but for right now I need budget (I know... lol) fairly efficient speakers for the amp. Not really sure what my source will be. I figured I would be building something that has 90db or so efficiency and, including wood and all speaker parts, should keep me under $300. I do have all woodworking equipment I should need, including gobs of clamps (I built a boat once!! lol)

I have a $200 or so in new caps, tubes and the like for the amp itself, so that is where I get the $300 budget. My research has led me to either Fostex or Mark Audio full range kits (looking at Pensils most closely). My room will be 15x18 foot basement with 7.5 foot ceilings. Cinder and waterproof walls and a wife that thinks the project is superfluous (so infinite WAF factor is desired (again... lol)).

I am seeking advice on optimum full range kits (even which Pesil would be optimum) or anyone's favorite 90db vintage speakers near my budget.

This is a project that is very interesting to me and I would like to see my friend's hardware sing, so any advice is greatly appreciated.

John
 
#3
I drive a set of Mark Audio Alpair 10p and 12p bookshelf speakers with a 6 watts SEP and don't feel I'm missing much. The 12p are a little more efficient at 92 dbs than the 10p at 89 and therefore play a louder at the same volume level. Both are very non fatiguing and throw a huge soundstage. The 10p's offer more base but to me is an non issue since they are assisted by a REL T5X powered sub. You can't go wrong with either.
 
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#6
Plywood + Fane Sovereign 12-250TC. I've got a friend who grabbed spare plywood, bought those drivers, installed them. Sounds great. Not going to give you great bass.

Lots of people are happy with Lii speakers.

Here's an even more left-field suggestion...

I've got a pair of Polk Monitor Series 2 M5JR that I inherited from my parents. I think they date to the early 90s. Recently I modified my SE 2A3 amp to take full advantage of the JJ 2A3-40. I haven't made measurements but I estimate that I am running at ~5-6 W RMS, close to what your 300B amp would run. The speakers have always sounded good IMO but now they sound excellent in our 14x20' living room. Great bass, great timbre, air, nuance. You can easily find these for sale on eBay for $99 a pair. That's a steal.
 
#7
The Kleinhorns should be efficient enough and with the correct stain, they could match your decor, thus enhancing the WAF, though they might be a tight fit in the basement. https://www.passdiy.com/project/speakers/the-kleinhorn-part-1.

Really, there are many choices, don't get stuck searching for the ultimate choice, choose one and run with it. It might not be perfect, but it will start your journey. The journey is at least as important as the destination. Have fun with it.
 
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#9
high510 said:
I have inherited a 90% complete Audio Note Kit1 8wpc SET 300B amp. I need some appropriate entry level speakers. I know I want Tekton (probably Lore) later on if I decide to keep the amp, but for right now I need budget (I know... lol) fairly efficient speakers for the amp. Not really sure what my source will be. I figured I would be building something that has 90db or so efficiency and, including wood and all speaker parts, should keep me under $300. I do have all woodworking equipment I should need, including gobs of clamps (I built a boat once!! lol)

I have a $200 or so in new caps, tubes and the like for the amp itself, so that is where I get the $300 budget. My research has led me to either Fostex or Mark Audio full range kits (looking at Pensils most closely). My room will be 15x18 foot basement with 7.5 foot ceilings. Cinder and waterproof walls and a wife that thinks the project is superfluous (so infinite WAF factor is desired (again... lol)).

I am seeking advice on optimum full range kits (even which Pesil would be optimum) or anyone's favorite 90db vintage speakers near my budget.

This is a project that is very interesting to me and I would like to see my friend's hardware sing, so any advice is greatly appreciated.

John
Click to expand...
Carve 2 logs into a streamlined 'teardrop' shape, or a heart shape to boost the efficiency. Either way, be prepared to use a bit of EQ in a carefully designed analogue pre-amp). Attach preferred speaker in the middle. Suspend each box using strings (and a sturdy hang-man like contraption maybe?) such that dipole motion of the boxes is uninhibited, and the mass is symmetrical to minimise any twisting forces.
 
#11
I think multiple configurations are possible. I sometimes seek guidance from others about what they think about certain changes in the system tuning, but this takes things to a whole new level where the wife may be able to adjust the string tension until WAF improves.
 
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#12
A 0.53x Karlsonator with dual 3FE25-16’s will give you a 93dB 8ohm speaker. Very suitable for drive by a smaller fleawatt amp. Many people like the sound. Thread here.

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/mini-karlsonator-0-53x-with-dual-tc9fds.239338/


634541d1504988311-aca-speaker-short-list-capture-jpg
 
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