Outside of the intro thread, this is my first post here. I'm an electrician and I run a small custom furniture design/fab shop in my detached garage.
My furniture commissions are growing and I am spending more and more time in my workshop. My current music setup, when I'm not using 3M Worktunes, is a little Ion Tailgater bluetooth boombox. I have drifted away from a lot of music I used to listen to, because I find it so much easier to concentrate while listening to doom metal (e.g. Sleep, Om, Monolord, Bell Witch). But it all sounds pretty crappy coming from this Ion unit.
I have the ability to upgrade. So I should upgrade.
My shop is 21'x22'. I have concrete floors, one wall is a 16' wide textured metal garage door and the remaining walls and 8' ceiling are OSB wood panels with about 12sqft of window on each wall. It's pretty full of equipment and machines, so I was hoping to mount or hang my speakers from the ceiling, ideally above where the garage door would retract.
So, I guess I'm coming here to see if anyone can recommend a setup that would envelop me in high SPL mid- to low frequency droning guitars and bass. I've looked at PE speaker kits, wacky line arrays, those BIC Eviction monkey coffins, consumer 2.1 packages, and even bose cubes, but I'm having a hard time pulling the trigger on anything without understanding how the ceiling/horizontal mount in that environment changes the sound when I'm reading reviews around the web. If I had to make a decision Right Now, I'd probably buy some BIC RTR-EV15s and a Behringer or Crown Amp, plug in a bluetooth adapter, and cross my fingers. I don't need high fidelity, I just need to *feel* my music.
I have about $750 budgeted for speaker components, sub driver (if needed), and an amp. MDF and other cabinet stuff is on hand and my CNC can handle any wacky cabinet designs you may find.
My furniture commissions are growing and I am spending more and more time in my workshop. My current music setup, when I'm not using 3M Worktunes, is a little Ion Tailgater bluetooth boombox. I have drifted away from a lot of music I used to listen to, because I find it so much easier to concentrate while listening to doom metal (e.g. Sleep, Om, Monolord, Bell Witch). But it all sounds pretty crappy coming from this Ion unit.
I have the ability to upgrade. So I should upgrade.
My shop is 21'x22'. I have concrete floors, one wall is a 16' wide textured metal garage door and the remaining walls and 8' ceiling are OSB wood panels with about 12sqft of window on each wall. It's pretty full of equipment and machines, so I was hoping to mount or hang my speakers from the ceiling, ideally above where the garage door would retract.
So, I guess I'm coming here to see if anyone can recommend a setup that would envelop me in high SPL mid- to low frequency droning guitars and bass. I've looked at PE speaker kits, wacky line arrays, those BIC Eviction monkey coffins, consumer 2.1 packages, and even bose cubes, but I'm having a hard time pulling the trigger on anything without understanding how the ceiling/horizontal mount in that environment changes the sound when I'm reading reviews around the web. If I had to make a decision Right Now, I'd probably buy some BIC RTR-EV15s and a Behringer or Crown Amp, plug in a bluetooth adapter, and cross my fingers. I don't need high fidelity, I just need to *feel* my music.
I have about $750 budgeted for speaker components, sub driver (if needed), and an amp. MDF and other cabinet stuff is on hand and my CNC can handle any wacky cabinet designs you may find.
Maybe just get a pair of big second hand 'party speakers', Cervin Vega or similar, maybe some PA speakers? Should give you a lot of 'bang for the buck'. Maybe you could do some improvements like stiffening the cabinets and some damping etc too for the DIY pleasure.
I have ob speakers with 18" bass, 12" mid and vintage silk dome tweeters from Seas. Super cheap basses with fs 26Hz. 12" Yamaha electric organ drivers. When cranking up Conan - Grim tormentor, my chest rumbles! Cover them with a blanket or similar to avoid dust etc from your work. Like your choise of music🙂
You won't necessarily get what you're looking for by focussing on bass, and things like how low you can get it. Good bass is about finding the right balance with the harmonics.
Interesting inquiry (for which I have no answers). Interested to see responses. One consideration is how good your dust-collection is vs. openness of your speakers. A layer of sawdust on power resistors and heatsinks or crap entrained into voice-coil gaps is worth some protection maybe.
Not a speaker recommendation, but if you haven't already heard Ataraxie, give em a listen, especially their album Slow Transcending Agony.
I love that those BIC speakers are from the "Eviction" series 😀
I love that those BIC speakers are from the "Eviction" series 😀
I've had about eight different speakers in my living room over the last ten years.
To me, the ones that fit the bill, are the Yamaha DXR 12s.
My hunch on why they accomplish this trick so well is because:
1) They have tons and tons of headroom. Each speaker has a 1000 watt amplifier and the midbass is 12"
2) I haven't measured the distortion, but I think it's not as "clean" as some other designs.
I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think that a moderate amount of distortion (probably second order) helps with what you are looking for.
Conversely, I've noticed that when you have midbasses that are exceptionally clean, they don't have that 'punch.'
A lot of HiFi speakers have low distortion and when I've played "grungey" music over them, the music sounds "sterile."
TLDR: Yamaha DXR 12s are nice. You might also like the comparable speakers that are sold by QSC.
To me, the ones that fit the bill, are the Yamaha DXR 12s.
My hunch on why they accomplish this trick so well is because:
1) They have tons and tons of headroom. Each speaker has a 1000 watt amplifier and the midbass is 12"
2) I haven't measured the distortion, but I think it's not as "clean" as some other designs.
I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think that a moderate amount of distortion (probably second order) helps with what you are looking for.
Conversely, I've noticed that when you have midbasses that are exceptionally clean, they don't have that 'punch.'
A lot of HiFi speakers have low distortion and when I've played "grungey" music over them, the music sounds "sterile."
TLDR: Yamaha DXR 12s are nice. You might also like the comparable speakers that are sold by QSC.
Look on Craigslist for some large Cambridge Soundworks towers. Some of theirs were designed by Henry Kloss.
I stepped away and comments piled up. Ill try to reply comprehensively.
@Rallyfinnen - I dig the "party speakers." Rather than vet each set of used monkey coffins, I thought I'd just stick with the BIC Eviction RTR-EV15's due to their acclaim, high sensitivity, and price point.
@Duke58 - I didn't know about Cornwalls. Ill keep an eye on Craigslist for a "well loved" pair.
@korpberget - I appreciate the rec on a new test track. I'm interested in OB designs, but I think it would be best for me to follow an existing design for a first project. I don't know the first thing about crossover design. Your setup sounds like it would kick though.
@MarcelvdG - I think I mentioned in the OP that I wear over-the-ear hearing protection. I am aware. Plus, one of the best parts of high SPL is that there is a tactile element to the music.
@AllenB - I hope I didn't lead anyone to think I was just a basshead chasin' a dream. Metal is usually in the 100-500Hz range, so focusing on mid-low range was the aim here.
@fatmarley - I agree that in any space where you are moving around a bunch, a wide dispersion angle is critical. I am taking note of this and its looking like PA speakers are the rabbit hole Ill dive down first.
@grindstone - good point. I have a large dust collector that works with all my machines as well as a nilfisk (festool level) extractor for modular work and sanding. Ill remember the issue if I head toward OB or another exposed-type design.
@DontHertzMe - Downloaded. Ill give it a listen.
@PatrickBateman - This is a solid rec. And I can really just get by with one, if I am selective with initial placement and expand or add bass as needed. I will be keeping my eyes open for this or the 15" version. The QSC option looks good, although lower SPL, but they seem a little more obscure. Plus -- garage karaoke!! Thank you.
@Andersonix - can you be specific with models? And Why Kloss-designed cabinets are superior? I really am on the newb end of this forum.
Pic of my workshop for the edification of any interested.
@Rallyfinnen - I dig the "party speakers." Rather than vet each set of used monkey coffins, I thought I'd just stick with the BIC Eviction RTR-EV15's due to their acclaim, high sensitivity, and price point.
@Duke58 - I didn't know about Cornwalls. Ill keep an eye on Craigslist for a "well loved" pair.
@korpberget - I appreciate the rec on a new test track. I'm interested in OB designs, but I think it would be best for me to follow an existing design for a first project. I don't know the first thing about crossover design. Your setup sounds like it would kick though.
@MarcelvdG - I think I mentioned in the OP that I wear over-the-ear hearing protection. I am aware. Plus, one of the best parts of high SPL is that there is a tactile element to the music.
@AllenB - I hope I didn't lead anyone to think I was just a basshead chasin' a dream. Metal is usually in the 100-500Hz range, so focusing on mid-low range was the aim here.
@fatmarley - I agree that in any space where you are moving around a bunch, a wide dispersion angle is critical. I am taking note of this and its looking like PA speakers are the rabbit hole Ill dive down first.
@grindstone - good point. I have a large dust collector that works with all my machines as well as a nilfisk (festool level) extractor for modular work and sanding. Ill remember the issue if I head toward OB or another exposed-type design.
@DontHertzMe - Downloaded. Ill give it a listen.
@PatrickBateman - This is a solid rec. And I can really just get by with one, if I am selective with initial placement and expand or add bass as needed. I will be keeping my eyes open for this or the 15" version. The QSC option looks good, although lower SPL, but they seem a little more obscure. Plus -- garage karaoke!! Thank you.
@Andersonix - can you be specific with models? And Why Kloss-designed cabinets are superior? I really am on the newb end of this forum.
Pic of my workshop for the edification of any interested.
I just picked up some JBL northridge E90s for this exact pupose. The tweeters were ear bleeding so the DIY part was installing an L-pad circuit to the tweeter and drop its level 3-4dB. Now it measures pretty good considering, and they have heaps of punch. Good party speakers if you dont wanna go the CerwinVega wide cabinet route
Maybe, I don't know.. but I've been there, and I've also seen the way others react to wanting the same thing. I know that you can spend years chasing the sound you want, but that the solution is sometimes more subtle than it appears. Sometimes you need to maintain some of the things in balance or you may miss out. 😉
I don't see it in the OP, but I'm glad you are careful with your ears. I haven't heard complete silence ever since a DJ started a specific house music record after a reggae concert in the 1990's.
Quite an interesting music genre for speakers to be optimized for!
I wonder if soffit mounting the main drivers might work? In-Wall Soffit Mounted ATC Speakers - YouTube
I wonder if soffit mounting the main drivers might work? In-Wall Soffit Mounted ATC Speakers - YouTube
In the same boat here. Will stay tuned.
To the OP, good luck and hope you find what you are looking for. 🙂
Forum member Rese66 published his Asathor design a while ago. Now I don’t have a clue about your SPL requirements, but this could fit the bill. Closed by design it probably works fine placed against a wall.
If looking for smaller speakers and less SPL, pick some on-wall design since you obviously will be putting it there. Any decent 6”-1” design could work.
[Edit]forgot to mention that the designer listens ‘a lot of metal’, in fact Asathor is a metal band 😉.
If looking for smaller speakers and less SPL, pick some on-wall design since you obviously will be putting it there. Any decent 6”-1” design could work.
[Edit]forgot to mention that the designer listens ‘a lot of metal’, in fact Asathor is a metal band 😉.
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