Hi All,
I'm a pretty competent woodworker, I own palm routers, router tables, tables, and track saws, also run a laser cutting business that I've used for Router templates in the past...And I have a tonne of 18m birch ply sitting around from an old project. So thought I'd have a go at a speaker build with the scrap
I was thinking for this project Id do something simple - a single driver in a simple cabinet, something in a smaller size (small bookcase) that can be used as the kitchen or a quality computer speaker. Building a speaker is something Ive always wanted to do, but I'm a little lost as regarding drivers and cabinet design.
So with that in mind is there a simple idiots guide to simple speaker builds, any videos of plans out there that I can look at?
I'm UK based, and given I have the wood already am looking to spend around £150-200 on drivers and parts.
Cheers, all!
I'm a pretty competent woodworker, I own palm routers, router tables, tables, and track saws, also run a laser cutting business that I've used for Router templates in the past...And I have a tonne of 18m birch ply sitting around from an old project. So thought I'd have a go at a speaker build with the scrap
I was thinking for this project Id do something simple - a single driver in a simple cabinet, something in a smaller size (small bookcase) that can be used as the kitchen or a quality computer speaker. Building a speaker is something Ive always wanted to do, but I'm a little lost as regarding drivers and cabinet design.
So with that in mind is there a simple idiots guide to simple speaker builds, any videos of plans out there that I can look at?
I'm UK based, and given I have the wood already am looking to spend around £150-200 on drivers and parts.
Cheers, all!
I vote for Alpair drivers..
Look at KJF and spend a minute there.
www.kjfaudio.com
Maybe A10.3 or A11ms should suit you.
Look at KJF and spend a minute there.
www.kjfaudio.com
Maybe A10.3 or A11ms should suit you.
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+1 Put the MA Alpair 10.3 in this box:
https://www.frugal-horn.com/FHXL.html
Oops, sorry - I see you are looking at something smaller. Dave (Planet 10) will soon post good options.
https://www.frugal-horn.com/FHXL.html
Oops, sorry - I see you are looking at something smaller. Dave (Planet 10) will soon post good options.
There are many you can choose from. I too like the Alpairs.
How small?
18mm is kinda overkill for these, but they are a (small) challenge to a skilled woodworker, make an excellent small loudspeaker. Later add some woofer help and they can become a really serious full range hifi.
These are small. The ame shape is also used for larger enclosures (so far up to 68x the volume of the pictured box, 2.5 litre > 135 litres). Same box (almost) different driver, Bernie has done some gourgeous solid wood versions (i like the look of the softened edges)
The “same” box comes in simplier to build more rectangular enclosures.
Once you start getting into the larger drivers the options get larger. Scott has done a binch of generic reflexes for a wide range of drivers.
Fully drawn plans (a lot of them) http://wodendesign.com/Free.html
Here you will find some of the above and a bunch of sketches (the ones i haven’t done drawings for) https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...-mark-audio-fostex-tb-dayton-seas-etc.323051/
I also keep finding new boxes from Scott on the MA site.
And there are other boxes scattered thru the forum.
dave
How small?
18mm is kinda overkill for these, but they are a (small) challenge to a skilled woodworker, make an excellent small loudspeaker. Later add some woofer help and they can become a really serious full range hifi.

These are small. The ame shape is also used for larger enclosures (so far up to 68x the volume of the pictured box, 2.5 litre > 135 litres). Same box (almost) different driver, Bernie has done some gourgeous solid wood versions (i like the look of the softened edges)

The “same” box comes in simplier to build more rectangular enclosures.
Once you start getting into the larger drivers the options get larger. Scott has done a binch of generic reflexes for a wide range of drivers.
Fully drawn plans (a lot of them) http://wodendesign.com/Free.html
Here you will find some of the above and a bunch of sketches (the ones i haven’t done drawings for) https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...-mark-audio-fostex-tb-dayton-seas-etc.323051/
I also keep finding new boxes from Scott on the MA site.
And there are other boxes scattered thru the forum.
dave
Pick one of miniOnken.
They are a superb choice.
Dave have them.
I have done a pair to Alpair 10Maop.
Sound is wonderful, but not a cheapy driver.
They are a superb choice.
Dave have them.
I have done a pair to Alpair 10Maop.
Sound is wonderful, but not a cheapy driver.
A speaker like that i'm very happy with is this own design with the Mark Audio Alpair 10.3. I use it as office speakers, and use them daily.
The cabinet is a 17.9L reflex tuned to the 45Hz. The wood is 18mm birch ply but teinted. plans are here:
The cabinet is a 17.9L reflex tuned to the 45Hz. The wood is 18mm birch ply but teinted. plans are here:
OP might consider building a "TLonken" for (a mouthful) extreme-space-efficient-bass-clarity-impact-depth.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...rkaudio-alpair-5-2-in-evansound-3-75l.393909/
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...rkaudio-alpair-5-2-in-evansound-3-75l.393909/
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those look amazing! Size wise they look pretty much spot on.A speaker like that i'm very happy with is this own design with the Mark Audio Alpair 10.3. I use it as office speakers, and use them daily.
View attachment 1151106
View attachment 1151107View attachment 1151109
The cabinet is a 17.9L reflex tuned to the 45Hz. The wood is 18mm birch ply but teinted. plans are here:
Hello, hopefully ok to jump into this thread since I am looking at a very similar project to above. Basically also doing my first speaker build but on a bit more of a budget. A fonken of some sort has been calling my name but the one thing is that I wanted to do it a bit cheaper than splashing on the Fostex driver just because I'm on a pretty tight budget... are any particular drivers available today which could just about be swapped out for a cheaper alternative? Obviously it probably wouldn't sound as good but student living calls for it . Also have MDF available to me but not any BB ply... how would this affect things? Please excuse my ignorance, doing my best to learn as much as can.
Basically looking for a solid set of speakers to play records through in my small living room - might be about 4.5m x 6m (room not the speakers). So if there are any alternatives which would suit better please point me in the right direction. Budget is probably £100-150 absolute tops for everything
Cheeeers!
Basically looking for a solid set of speakers to play records through in my small living room - might be about 4.5m x 6m (room not the speakers). So if there are any alternatives which would suit better please point me in the right direction. Budget is probably £100-150 absolute tops for everything
Cheeeers!
Large:
https://kjfaudio.com/product/chn-110/
Small (looks like Alpair 5 also would fit the budget):
https://kjfaudio.com/product/chn-50/
In-between:
https://kjfaudio.com/product/pluvia-7-2-hd/
There are miniOnken for all of them (CHN-110 planset might be a bit light, i am currently working on P7HD)
dave
https://kjfaudio.com/product/chn-110/

Small (looks like Alpair 5 also would fit the budget):
https://kjfaudio.com/product/chn-50/

In-between:
https://kjfaudio.com/product/pluvia-7-2-hd/

There are miniOnken for all of them (CHN-110 planset might be a bit light, i am currently working on P7HD)
dave
I lived with the alpair 10ps in a pair of the basic bass reflex boxes from Scottmoose for a while until I built Pensils for the drivers. They were really magnificent, and I could not bear to part with the boxes so I bought another set of alpair drivers for them when the others went into the Pensils. Highly recommended.
Plans here : http://wodendesign.com/downloads/simpleReflex-103-10p-plan-100214.pdf
Plans here : http://wodendesign.com/downloads/simpleReflex-103-10p-plan-100214.pdf
Thanks Dave and silasmellor. Suppose I can always experiment with cabinets down the line too. That bass reflex plan does look nice and simple.Large:
https://kjfaudio.com/product/chn-110/
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Small (looks like Alpair 5 also would fit the budget):
https://kjfaudio.com/product/chn-50/
![]()
In-between:
https://kjfaudio.com/product/pluvia-7-2-hd/
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There are miniOnken for all of them (CHN-110 planset might be a bit light, i am currently working on P7HD)
dave
What fonken would be best suited to the CHN-110? Looks like a nice driver for my budget
email me, i have not done many yet, need some beta testers. ie you can choose which one you would like me to do within the scope of the design arameters.
How are your capentry skills?
dave
How are your capentry skills?
dave
Unfortunately since last posting I didn't have the time to get a build underway due to a busy period, but now have some time and managed to get a good deal on a pair of MA Alpair 10p's. Looking at maybe doing the Classic GR Mar-ken or maybe the simple bass reflex from Woden. Just want to make some fairly compact speakers with a good bit of punch rather than going for a larger pencil cabinet or similar.
Keen to hear thoughts now that I have got drivers to work with...
Keen to hear thoughts now that I have got drivers to work with...
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