Hello,
i recently refurbished a pair of Revolver Purdey speakers for someone else. I replaced everything as they were twenty years old and the woofers were visibly cracked and worn. Having completed this project and getting a lot of satisfaction from it I am tempted to take on a new challenge; build a set of speakers from scratch. ( I am good at woodwork and there was very little woodwork in the last project). The tweeters, Vifa D19TD-05, from the last project look to be perfect. They are twenty years old though. Are they still good, or would it be foolish to put them in a new build?
I plan on making a set of bookshelf speakers, the Classix II, https://sites.google.com/site/undefinition/bookshelf-speakers/classix-ii with the Dayton DC160 and the above mentioned Vifa tweeters. The last project involved floor standing speakers but the consensus was that the whole configuration would work better in a smaller cabinet which is why I want to make bookshelf speakers this time.
Is MDF the best material to use? What about solid hardwood like oak or beech?
If it's MDF do you use veneered MDF or do you apply veneer to the finished product?
Can I use the same crossover I used in the last project?
Regards
Talksome
i recently refurbished a pair of Revolver Purdey speakers for someone else. I replaced everything as they were twenty years old and the woofers were visibly cracked and worn. Having completed this project and getting a lot of satisfaction from it I am tempted to take on a new challenge; build a set of speakers from scratch. ( I am good at woodwork and there was very little woodwork in the last project). The tweeters, Vifa D19TD-05, from the last project look to be perfect. They are twenty years old though. Are they still good, or would it be foolish to put them in a new build?
I plan on making a set of bookshelf speakers, the Classix II, https://sites.google.com/site/undefinition/bookshelf-speakers/classix-ii with the Dayton DC160 and the above mentioned Vifa tweeters. The last project involved floor standing speakers but the consensus was that the whole configuration would work better in a smaller cabinet which is why I want to make bookshelf speakers this time.
Is MDF the best material to use? What about solid hardwood like oak or beech?
If it's MDF do you use veneered MDF or do you apply veneer to the finished product?
Can I use the same crossover I used in the last project?
Regards
Talksome
MDF is a great material for speakers. Wether you use pre-veneered or add it later is really more about your woodworking skills than if there is a 'better' way to do it.
Solid wood is also completely fine to use, and in a smaller cabinet where the materials cost is reasonable, would be a great way to do it.
Of course, you could make it both... it's not uncommon to see an MDF box with a hardwood front baffle.
As for the speaker design itself, I'd strongly suggest build it as-designed with the parts specified.
Solid wood is also completely fine to use, and in a smaller cabinet where the materials cost is reasonable, would be a great way to do it.
Of course, you could make it both... it's not uncommon to see an MDF box with a hardwood front baffle.
As for the speaker design itself, I'd strongly suggest build it as-designed with the parts specified.
Looks like a KEF-B110-look alike + the famous 19mm VIFA tweeter in an ML-TL.
AFAIC MDF is one of the least suitable materials for building loudspeakers. It has risen to “most common” because it is cheap.
Solid is possible, i have some literal works of art here, but the fellow making them has to deal with how the wood will move.
Quality plywood should be your first choice,
dave
It can be done. Ideally a 6.5" is most comfortable crossing to a dome near 2kHz. It might be stretched to 3, and many take it even further... but the thing is the D19 doesn't give you the option as it doesn't like being taken low.
I would build the Classic II exactly as specified, they’re great speakers. The DC 160 doesn’t like being crossed much above 2,000 Hz and Paul Carmody put a lot of work into the crossover, anything else won’t work properly.
I would sell the old Vifas, as I’m sure someone will want them. I have them in a pair of 4” monitors, crossed at about 3,500 Hz (I think).
The Classix II have great bass for a 6” woofer and as Paul says in his write up, have a ‘laid back’ sound you can listen to all day.
I’ve had mine for about four years.
However, the DC160 isn’t the most attractive driver and you might want to use grilles to hide them.
Compared to what you just made for your friend, they will sound warmer but perhaps not quite as ‘clean’, IMHO.
Geoff
I would sell the old Vifas, as I’m sure someone will want them. I have them in a pair of 4” monitors, crossed at about 3,500 Hz (I think).
The Classix II have great bass for a 6” woofer and as Paul says in his write up, have a ‘laid back’ sound you can listen to all day.
I’ve had mine for about four years.
However, the DC160 isn’t the most attractive driver and you might want to use grilles to hide them.
Compared to what you just made for your friend, they will sound warmer but perhaps not quite as ‘clean’, IMHO.
Geoff
A thought on the Dayton DC160: I assume you'll have to source them from the US, will they be good value after shipping, exchange rates etc? For example, when I built my pair of Classix, the $A was about 85 cents to the US, it's now around 60 cents, plus shipping as doubled so there are better woofers around for the price. $A40 to $A60 each is quite a bit if your budget is limited.
Before you take the plunge, you might want to have an optic at other 6" two way projects with drivers available in Europe, such as SB Acoustics or Peerless.
I did a quick search on the D19s: no DIY projects, but they were used in many commercial speakers; judging by what's on EBay etc they're still in demand and seem to sell for more than you'll pay for the BC25TGs, plus the BCs sound better, at least to my ears.
Geoff
Before you take the plunge, you might want to have an optic at other 6" two way projects with drivers available in Europe, such as SB Acoustics or Peerless.
I did a quick search on the D19s: no DIY projects, but they were used in many commercial speakers; judging by what's on EBay etc they're still in demand and seem to sell for more than you'll pay for the BC25TGs, plus the BCs sound better, at least to my ears.
Geoff