Hi All,
I'm planning to build a set of desktop speakers for listening to music at my PC. Currently I only use headphones (AKG Q701). I'm not looking to replace my headphones, but I would also like to also be able to listen with speakers.
So, my budget is pretty tight, around $300 (preferably less) for the speakers + sub + amps. I know I'm not going to get SQ as good as headphones with this budget.
This is my first speaker build so I want to go with a known plan. I also want to have a sub, so I was thinking sealed speakers and a sealed sub (with EQ or linkwitz transform) would be the right way to go. From what I understand, sealed will give me better overall quality. Is this correct? The speakers will probably be at least 1m from my head, and they don't need to play very loud.
The Overnight Sensations, Swope MT, Hitmakers, and TriTrix MT all fit my budget and size requirements quite well. But I'm not sure how well these will perform sealed, with a sub, and in the nearfield. Any suggestions?
I'll work out the sub once I've decided on the main speakers.
Thanks
I'm planning to build a set of desktop speakers for listening to music at my PC. Currently I only use headphones (AKG Q701). I'm not looking to replace my headphones, but I would also like to also be able to listen with speakers.
So, my budget is pretty tight, around $300 (preferably less) for the speakers + sub + amps. I know I'm not going to get SQ as good as headphones with this budget.
This is my first speaker build so I want to go with a known plan. I also want to have a sub, so I was thinking sealed speakers and a sealed sub (with EQ or linkwitz transform) would be the right way to go. From what I understand, sealed will give me better overall quality. Is this correct? The speakers will probably be at least 1m from my head, and they don't need to play very loud.
The Overnight Sensations, Swope MT, Hitmakers, and TriTrix MT all fit my budget and size requirements quite well. But I'm not sure how well these will perform sealed, with a sub, and in the nearfield. Any suggestions?
I'll work out the sub once I've decided on the main speakers.
Thanks
zaph|audio - 4" bargain mini there is a sealed version and the designer does give input on desktop placement
Thanks for that link. Looks good but how does is compare to slightly more expensive plans? What about the Zaph ZA5 MT sealed? The Zaph website says it can be used as a nearfield monitor. It's a bit more expensive but I'm happy to pay more if there is a significant difference in quality. How do the bargain mini and the ZA5 compare to the other plans I listed?
Should I be worrying about being sealed at all? Will it actually make a big difference in quality (when paired with a sub)? If not, I might go for something like the Hitmakers.
Sorry for so many questions.
Thanks
Should I be worrying about being sealed at all? Will it actually make a big difference in quality (when paired with a sub)? If not, I might go for something like the Hitmakers.
Sorry for so many questions.
Thanks
I recommend 9laeh.
They are build around Visaton al130 and seas 22taf/g.
If they can be buildt within your budget you really should go for it!
They are great. And very well engineered/constructed.
If you think bassreflex is poor, you have probably just heard poor speakers or are used to sub 15-20hz reproduction. but for a budget build, bassreflex is a must.
BOM
https://translate.google.se/transla...3/viewtopic.php?p=1404496#p1404496&edit-text=
They are build around Visaton al130 and seas 22taf/g.
If they can be buildt within your budget you really should go for it!
They are great. And very well engineered/constructed.
If you think bassreflex is poor, you have probably just heard poor speakers or are used to sub 15-20hz reproduction. but for a budget build, bassreflex is a must.
BOM
https://translate.google.se/transla...3/viewtopic.php?p=1404496#p1404496&edit-text=
I have not heard any of the proposed speakers. Just thought the zaph speakers would be nice to check out since they seem to fit your description. The 9laeh is much acclaimed on a swedish forum.
If i should say sonething about them it is that they all seems well designed based on the information given. There is no off axis curves for the zaph speakers witch is not very reassuring. If you need them to play really loud i don't think any of them does that.
A bass reflex design could be harder to integrate with a sub but other than that i don't think it is anything bad about bass reflex
If i should say sonething about them it is that they all seems well designed based on the information given. There is no off axis curves for the zaph speakers witch is not very reassuring. If you need them to play really loud i don't think any of them does that.
A bass reflex design could be harder to integrate with a sub but other than that i don't think it is anything bad about bass reflex
Thanks, but the 9laeh is a little too far out of my budget. Also, I would like to use drivers available from the US (preferably parts express), as I know someone over there with extra baggage allowance who is happy to bring back parts for me (to AU).
Ok, so it looks like I will be going with a ported design. The hitmakers look like a good option, although I will probably need a more expensive amp to power them, and they are a little large. Another plus for the Hitmakers is that I can get the cut front baffle from diysoundgroup.com.
The Overnight Sensations seem to be very popular, how do they
perform in the nearfield (~1m)?
Ok, so it looks like I will be going with a ported design. The hitmakers look like a good option, although I will probably need a more expensive amp to power them, and they are a little large. Another plus for the Hitmakers is that I can get the cut front baffle from diysoundgroup.com.
The Overnight Sensations seem to be very popular, how do they
perform in the nearfield (~1m)?
I made some speakers out of 15 dollar B3N full range drivers, a $5 class d amp and PVC piping.
Being in Australia, you can get the same PVC as me, and the B3N fits perfectly (within 1 mm) inside it!
Being in Australia, you can get the same PVC as me, and the B3N fits perfectly (within 1 mm) inside it!
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Just a note about using parts express drivers: theloudspeakerkit.com stocks dayton drivers (infact, that's nearly all that they sell now). Prices are reasonable, except for very large or heavy drivers. So if you ever see a US design using dayton stuff, you can buy the parts here with about a 2 week lead time. Of course if your friend is willing to carry stuff back for you it would be cheaper just because parts express has all these awesome sales.
Looks pretty neat, although I can't imagine those sounding as good as a proper 2 way cabinet... Probably not bad for the price though. I know there is popular speaker design using PVC pipe called Totally Tubular, but they are 20" long and I don't have that much space between my monitor and the wall.
Thanks, I will probably use them if I build another pair of speakers. Parts Express will be cheaper this time though, and gives me more options.
Dollar for dollar, my recommendation is definitely to skip the sub / sub amp and just get the best 2-way speakers you can get. A pair of Dan Neubecker's Chameleons, for example, will fit well within your budget and get you great performance with extension down to 40hz.
not really. The excursion requirements for sealed + LT, even nearfield, are an easy way to overdrive a cheap speaker. Sealed is great when cost is not an object. When it is, sealed can be a mess.
Ok, so maybe I should build a set of 2 ways and see. I suppose I can always add a sub later if I want to.
I've had a quick look at the Chameleon plans, and they look quite complex to build. I can probably manage a plain square box with countersunk speaker holes, but a plan with a kit or a precut baffle would be even better. Thats why the Hitmakers and the Overnight Sensations seem like good options to me. I'm open to other options though.
Thanks for your help.
+1 for Overnight sensations, they're a zippy little speaker for the cost, and in the near field they have surprisingly decent bass. I had a pair on my computer desk for a quite a while and loved them.
When it comes time for a sub, a simple cube with an 8 or 10" and one of those 2.1 plate amps like the Dayton MCA 2250e would drive everything, and probably not be too costly depending on the woofer you choose.
When it comes time for a sub, a simple cube with an 8 or 10" and one of those 2.1 plate amps like the Dayton MCA 2250e would drive everything, and probably not be too costly depending on the woofer you choose.
Hmm... Would you recommend a sub with the OS? The main reason I would listen to speakers instead of my headphones would be to "feel" the bass. I would probably use a separate amp though, for flexibility of room placement and it would be easier to upgrade.
I can always add a sub after but it would be cheaper if I get all the parts at once to save shipping costs.
I didn't use one when I had them on my desk, and I didn't find myself missing one..mostly because there's three other rooms in the house that go down to ~20hz and I didn't feel the need to try and do that at my computer desk, and they'll do every bit of a 4 string bass guitar if you get the positioning right.
To save on shipping though, I'd probably order a decent little woofer to be used as a sub, just in case the stars don't line up with your desk/room placement. In the event that you decide you don't need it, a good quality woofer should be fairly easy to sell.
That's actually a pretty good idea, I'll probably do that. What are you thinking of when you say decent little woofer?
Dunno, depends on how much you're willing to spend..the Dayton HO drivers look decent, this one would probably be awesome:
Dayton Audio RSS210HO-4 8" Reference HO Subwoofer 4 Ohm
Edit: Shipping might kill you, but this one has a package deal with a knockdown cabinet, coupled with a good plate amp that has built in EQ, it'd be hard to beat for the money.
Or a little more conservative option:
Dayton Audio SD215A-88 8" DVC Subwoofer
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Good advice so far. If you have a courrier who will bring you drivers at no extra charge, may I suggest you buy the best quality (from USA) and find the wood closer to home? With your small budget, I think you'll not likely find a good sub driver + drivers for the mains. I would focus on the mains (full range perhaps?) and as the British would say, "bugger the subwoofer" 🙂 Let's see if that one slips by the auto-censor.
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