Am looking to build a pair of reference quality main speakers for my 12 by 17 ft living room. 200 wpc Crown amp. The mains can be incorporated with a 12 inch sub. Listen to a wide variety of music + home theater use. Am considering the Jim Holtz/Curt Campbell Finalists which puts me in the $700-800 range per pair for components. Currently using a pair of Classic II's as mains and am looking for a substantial upgrade in midrange performance.
Speakers will also be listened to off axis frequently so am leaning toward a dome tweeter design.
Would like opinions on the Finalists or other 2 or 3 way designs I should be considering. Am confident of my cabinetmaking skills so this part should present no problem.
Thanks
Speakers will also be listened to off axis frequently so am leaning toward a dome tweeter design.
Would like opinions on the Finalists or other 2 or 3 way designs I should be considering. Am confident of my cabinetmaking skills so this part should present no problem.
Thanks
For $400 in parts you can build an SB_Acoustics TMWW topology using two 8" woofers for powerful bass on a 11” wide baffle with 3-4cuft internal volume. A truncated pyramid top baffle down to the 8" woofers can significantly reduce edge distortion and add style. A good wood craft challenge is copying the double-beveled top of the Avalon Compas’
two 8" SB23NRXS45-8 woofers @ $94
6.5" SB17NRXC35-4 midbass $54
1" SB29RDC-4 dome tweeter $53
Total $295 for drivers + $65 for crossover = $360 + misc
SB also offers a poly-plastic cone 6.5" midrange SB17MFXC35-4 which has reduced cone breakup. Some listeners favor this smooth sound over a hard paper cone.
SB Acoustics 3 ways
SB Acoustics 3 ways - diyAudio
two 8" SB23NRXS45-8 woofers @ $94
6.5" SB17NRXC35-4 midbass $54
1" SB29RDC-4 dome tweeter $53
Total $295 for drivers + $65 for crossover = $360 + misc
SB also offers a poly-plastic cone 6.5" midrange SB17MFXC35-4 which has reduced cone breakup. Some listeners favor this smooth sound over a hard paper cone.
SB Acoustics 3 ways
SB Acoustics 3 ways - diyAudio
Attachments
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If you are going to use a sub, you may want to look at the SLAPSHOTS MTM by Curt Campbell.
Woofers: Dayton Rs180P-8
Tweeter: Morel CAT 378
Easy build and big bang for the buck!
Woofers: Dayton Rs180P-8
Tweeter: Morel CAT 378
Easy build and big bang for the buck!
Thanks to all
I should add that I am 63 years old so am partial to the idea of a dedicated midrange if necessary to get properly defined vocals. Not much of a bass head but like it present and blended.
Looked at the Slapshots at one point but info on these seems to have dried up. (website does not work FYI)
The SB design is interesting, had not seen this before. Have heard good things about SB drivers.
Thanks, any and all suggestions are appreciated.
I should add that I am 63 years old so am partial to the idea of a dedicated midrange if necessary to get properly defined vocals. Not much of a bass head but like it present and blended.
Looked at the Slapshots at one point but info on these seems to have dried up. (website does not work FYI)
The SB design is interesting, had not seen this before. Have heard good things about SB drivers.
Thanks, any and all suggestions are appreciated.
Chuck,
If you decide to build a TMWW similar to the thread "SB Acoustics 3 ways" you can remove the slanted bottom port, and build a vertical front baffle with a front port and still get good phase coherence because of the steep Xover slopes. You can always use front screw adjusting legs or a wooden front wedge to tilt the cabinet in order to experiment with a slanted baffle tweeter-mid time delay. You can put the woofer port on the front baffle if you plan to place these speaker against the rear wall, or on the rear panel if you plan to place these speakers a couple feet into the room and desire a clean looking baffle.
Sony used a TMWW topology on their $22K Sony SS-AR1 award winning speaker. rear port
If you decide to build a TMWW similar to the thread "SB Acoustics 3 ways" you can remove the slanted bottom port, and build a vertical front baffle with a front port and still get good phase coherence because of the steep Xover slopes. You can always use front screw adjusting legs or a wooden front wedge to tilt the cabinet in order to experiment with a slanted baffle tweeter-mid time delay. You can put the woofer port on the front baffle if you plan to place these speaker against the rear wall, or on the rear panel if you plan to place these speakers a couple feet into the room and desire a clean looking baffle.
Sony used a TMWW topology on their $22K Sony SS-AR1 award winning speaker. rear port
Attachments
SB 3-ways
Thanks for the additional details. Relevant info re the front porting as my listening area is compromised by one speaker having to back up into an alcove.
Wondering if you had heard these in person or were simply interested in building them at one point.
Thanks for the additional details. Relevant info re the front porting as my listening area is compromised by one speaker having to back up into an alcove.
Wondering if you had heard these in person or were simply interested in building them at one point.
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