I'm planning to build a retro high-fi cabinet, and I'm looking for candidate speaker designs. I was thinking of building space on each side of the cabinet to house a speaker, instead of permanently building the speaker into the cabinet, but that's just an idea. I understand there are several reasons why this isn't a recipe for hi-fidelity, but I'm willing to live with the compromises. I have an SHD Studio on-hand that hopefully I can use to smooth out the gross issues.
Anyways, do you have any suggested designs to use? The ideal candidate would be compact, to keep the furniture size reasonable. I'm kicking around the idea of running a small sub too (separate enclosure). The intended use is for casual listening and TV.
Anyways, do you have any suggested designs to use? The ideal candidate would be compact, to keep the furniture size reasonable. I'm kicking around the idea of running a small sub too (separate enclosure). The intended use is for casual listening and TV.
do a google (image) search for modern hifi console, lots of ideas....often done with full range drivers a large thick shelf (6x18x48?) has room for a pair of horns or ported etc...
Ah, good point. Everything is flexible, but the inside volume of each side will ideally be max. 16.5"H, 20"W, and 14"D. That will leave me enough space for some compact components in between (about 16"W).
That's a reasonable size for a nice speaker; I think you'll want a proved design, but with less than full 'Baffle Step Compensation' so that it won't sound muddy.
For appearance' sake, will you want a design that pretty much fills that space?
I don't have a particular project in mind, unfortunately, but my questions/comments are so other people can help you. What's your budget, please?
Re listening to the TV, I've tried to connect our Samsung 'Smart TV' to a our stereo amp and it refuses to recognise anything other than 5.1 set up.
Geoff
For appearance' sake, will you want a design that pretty much fills that space?
I don't have a particular project in mind, unfortunately, but my questions/comments are so other people can help you. What's your budget, please?
Re listening to the TV, I've tried to connect our Samsung 'Smart TV' to a our stereo amp and it refuses to recognise anything other than 5.1 set up.
Geoff
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Dig through the TV menu as may need to make changes such as digital out to PCM. What output? HDMI, analogue, optical?
I'll probably put grill cloth on the front of the cabinet, so it doesn't need to fill the space, no.
Well, ideally zero, but price isn't a big deal. Let's say $1K is my limit.
I built the Troels 3WC bookshelf. It took me a long time to build due to procrastination and lack of proper woodworking tools. Then I finally had a cabinet maker build the boxes and I did the crossovers and such.
Anyway long story short, they’re around your budget and they are quite good sounding. Bookshelf but don’t have that bookshelf-y hardened sound. Probably due to the 8” woofer and the mid range driver sounds excellent to me.
I added an old REW subwoofer I had available, then took some measurements and knocked down a few room nodes with a laptop running EQ APO. I find it to be a very well balanced and enjoyable system. Subwoofer totally not necessary btw but adds a little extra depth that I like.
I have CAD drawings of the boxes I can share if you’re interested.
Anyway long story short, they’re around your budget and they are quite good sounding. Bookshelf but don’t have that bookshelf-y hardened sound. Probably due to the 8” woofer and the mid range driver sounds excellent to me.
I added an old REW subwoofer I had available, then took some measurements and knocked down a few room nodes with a laptop running EQ APO. I find it to be a very well balanced and enjoyable system. Subwoofer totally not necessary btw but adds a little extra depth that I like.
I have CAD drawings of the boxes I can share if you’re interested.
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Yeah I think they’re overlooked a bit- not so many builders responses.
They’re also supposed to sit horizontal which may not appeal to the non-bookshelf bookshelvers.
I’ve got a non-Dirac minidsp so just manual PEQ. Since you have the SHD it would be interesting to hear what additional finesse it may or may not add. I’ve toyed with the idea of upgrading my minidsp to add Dirac or buy the newer Flex just to try it out. I’m pretty sure it would help that extra mile. But like I said, I’m pretty happy with what I have at the moment.
I’m a huge believer in room correction below 300 hz or so. Once I went down that road there’s really no going back (for me at least)
They’re also supposed to sit horizontal which may not appeal to the non-bookshelf bookshelvers.
I’ve got a non-Dirac minidsp so just manual PEQ. Since you have the SHD it would be interesting to hear what additional finesse it may or may not add. I’ve toyed with the idea of upgrading my minidsp to add Dirac or buy the newer Flex just to try it out. I’m pretty sure it would help that extra mile. But like I said, I’m pretty happy with what I have at the moment.
I’m a huge believer in room correction below 300 hz or so. Once I went down that road there’s really no going back (for me at least)
Thanks, I'll try that - I was trying to use the RCA sound output from the TV into the receiver, which is an old Yamaha RX-596 so doesn't have anything digital etc.
To the OP: perhaps have an optic at Michael Chua's designs (ampslab), mostly affordable drivers, cabinet sizes would fit OK. I really like his "Lark SM". Also look at Paul Carmody (Classix II or Hitmakers) , Curt Campbell's Speaker Design Works, Wolf on this Forum (e.g. his Zingers) and there are many others.
Lots of (hopefully) interesting research is required!
Geoff
