Hi everyone,
This project turned out to be quick, straightforward, and with a great outcome—so I figured it was worth sharing.
These desktop speakers deliver a clean, confident sound. They handle plenty of power, are solidly built, and easy to put together. The goal was to upgrade the speakers I use with my PC (driven by a TPA3116 amp) for listening to music, voice, and video—so clarity was key. That said, with a bit of EQ, they’re also more than capable of livening up a party.
I went with Faital drivers, partly because they’re readily available here in Buenos Aires, but also because they come with reliable and comprehensive specs.
I kept the crossover design simple—a first-order Butterworth filter set at 1kHz—and it did the trick. Of course, you can always tweak the resistor values if you want to shape the top end a bit more.
This project turned out to be quick, straightforward, and with a great outcome—so I figured it was worth sharing.
These desktop speakers deliver a clean, confident sound. They handle plenty of power, are solidly built, and easy to put together. The goal was to upgrade the speakers I use with my PC (driven by a TPA3116 amp) for listening to music, voice, and video—so clarity was key. That said, with a bit of EQ, they’re also more than capable of livening up a party.
I went with Faital drivers, partly because they’re readily available here in Buenos Aires, but also because they come with reliable and comprehensive specs.
I kept the crossover design simple—a first-order Butterworth filter set at 1kHz—and it did the trick. Of course, you can always tweak the resistor values if you want to shape the top end a bit more.
Here are the specs:
Power: 80W RMS
FR: 80hz to 16khz (metered)
Sensitivity: 88db (1W/1m)
Size: 380x170x180 mm (8.5l of effective internal volume)
Weight: 4kg each
Sorry I have few photos, but as I said the design and building was fast and trouble free.
material
Power: 80W RMS
FR: 80hz to 16khz (metered)
Sensitivity: 88db (1W/1m)
Size: 380x170x180 mm (8.5l of effective internal volume)
Weight: 4kg each
Sorry I have few photos, but as I said the design and building was fast and trouble free.
material
This is the list of materials
Tweeter 3FE22, 8 ohm
https://faitalpro.com/es/products/LF_Loudspeakers/product_details/index.php?id=401000100
Woofer 5FE100, 8 ohm
https://faitalpro.com/es/products/LF_Loudspeakers/product_details/index.php?id=401010100
Vent port 47x136mm
Capacitor 20uf 100v (x2)
Inductance 1.8mHy (x2)
Resistors 8ohm 10w (x2); 16ohm 10W (x2) NOTE this is for 30w max.
9mm MDF 380x180mm (x4); 180x152mm (x4); 362x152mm (x4)
20mm cotton fiber 0.6x0.3m (x2)
Veneer 2.6x0.3m (x2)
Contact cement 500g
Bulk material
Tweeter 3FE22, 8 ohm
https://faitalpro.com/es/products/LF_Loudspeakers/product_details/index.php?id=401000100
Woofer 5FE100, 8 ohm
https://faitalpro.com/es/products/LF_Loudspeakers/product_details/index.php?id=401010100
Vent port 47x136mm
Capacitor 20uf 100v (x2)
Inductance 1.8mHy (x2)
Resistors 8ohm 10w (x2); 16ohm 10W (x2) NOTE this is for 30w max.
9mm MDF 380x180mm (x4); 180x152mm (x4); 362x152mm (x4)
20mm cotton fiber 0.6x0.3m (x2)
Veneer 2.6x0.3m (x2)
Contact cement 500g
Bulk material
The boxes
This time most of the materials that I used were the ones I have or were available in Buenos Aires, and I made all the calculations in order to be able to use then.
After some iterations, using the specs of the woofer, I arrived to 8.5l boxes. For the construction I got precut 9mm MDF (12 pannel), and then I glue then with vinyl glue (the white one). Then I did the cuts for the speakers in the front and the port and connectors in the back.
The only issue was with the hole for the woofer that I had to do with a jigsaw, instead of a cup cutter. The result was functional but not neat.
The idea of placing the connectors directly over the MDF is simple, but in other projects I used a round terminal cup. I recommend this last one method.
The port tube is from Part Express and if flared, I think that in this application a PVC tube will also work.
After testing, I disassembly everything and proceeded to cover the MDF with veneer. I used Paraiso wood. There are 2 methods to do so, one using white vinyl glue (it takes longer but should be better), and one using contact cement. Due to the small size I prefer the second method.
Then I covered the veneer with 3 coats of acrylic transparent paint y cut the holes.
In the future I will add a front screen, and to do so I let magnets under the veneer.
This time most of the materials that I used were the ones I have or were available in Buenos Aires, and I made all the calculations in order to be able to use then.
After some iterations, using the specs of the woofer, I arrived to 8.5l boxes. For the construction I got precut 9mm MDF (12 pannel), and then I glue then with vinyl glue (the white one). Then I did the cuts for the speakers in the front and the port and connectors in the back.
The only issue was with the hole for the woofer that I had to do with a jigsaw, instead of a cup cutter. The result was functional but not neat.
The idea of placing the connectors directly over the MDF is simple, but in other projects I used a round terminal cup. I recommend this last one method.
The port tube is from Part Express and if flared, I think that in this application a PVC tube will also work.
After testing, I disassembly everything and proceeded to cover the MDF with veneer. I used Paraiso wood. There are 2 methods to do so, one using white vinyl glue (it takes longer but should be better), and one using contact cement. Due to the small size I prefer the second method.
Then I covered the veneer with 3 coats of acrylic transparent paint y cut the holes.
In the future I will add a front screen, and to do so I let magnets under the veneer.
Nice to see more WAWs.
The 3FExx is a good midTweeter, benefits from a coat of thinned puzzlekoat/modPodge.
Where is the XO?
Looks like little or no bracing, 9mm MDF could well be acting like passive radiators.
dave
The 3FExx is a good midTweeter, benefits from a coat of thinned puzzlekoat/modPodge.
Where is the XO?
Looks like little or no bracing, 9mm MDF could well be acting like passive radiators.
dave
Hi, the crossover parts were fixed to a piece of MDF, and this piece screwed to the bottom.
About using 9mm instead of 13mm I think for the use they have (over a desk at 1m from me) 13mm will be overkill. In fact, most commercial speakers use less dense material than MDF and less and cheaper acoustic insulation inside.
Anyway, I wonder how to check if the box is acting like passive radiators?
About using 9mm instead of 13mm I think for the use they have (over a desk at 1m from me) 13mm will be overkill. In fact, most commercial speakers use less dense material than MDF and less and cheaper acoustic insulation inside.
Anyway, I wonder how to check if the box is acting like passive radiators?
Use a mechanics stethescope and listen to the box while playing music.
dave
dave