Fullrange questions!

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Ppasco1018

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Joined 2009
#1
Hi everyone I am new to the forum and am glad to be here!

Me and a good friend of mine are throwing around building a set of full-range speakers. I am a little lost on how I should go about this. I have been reading up and down that a 12v battery powered t-amp and a set of full-range speakers will blow away most speakers/systems in a sub thousands range. Now is this true? I sure don't know.

I want to know the advantage and disadvantage of small to larger size drivers. What models of what brands to look into.

I plan to use in a ported bookshelf type enclosure. Whats a good t-amp to use?

I would like to not spend more then $200pr for the drivers.

Sorry for all the noob questions!
 
#3
Howdy. This weekend, I'm building these which can be built for under $200: http://www.wildburroaudio.com/projects.php

I went to the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest and heard speakers in the $1k, $2k, $20k and even $100k range. I wasn't all that impressed with the big-buck systems.

To my ears, acoustic and jazz sound fantastic on a decent fullrange system. I'm not sure they would be my first choice for the style of music mentioned in your sig unless you also mix in a woofer (or at least a sub).

For T-amps, I got the Super T-amp at Parts Express. I am happier with a little tube amp, but the Super T-amp has a lot of fans.
 
#4
HI PASCO,
I too love OB fullranges, they are best sound than a Magnepan 1.6QR, but may be more expensive too.
Unhappily OB requires a BIG cone, the bigger the better, under 12inches the bass is too small due front/back self cancelation of the OB panel.
Today 2009 there is only one big cone Iam aware, the Nirvana Super15CF(398 US dollars per pair) at http://www.commonsenseaudio.com/an15cfspecs.jpg and seems it is very good sound by the price.

But if you want stay away of OB panels, there is a lot of FR options for BR and sealed boxes.
My personal preference is the MarkAudio Alpair10(6 inches, 135 dollars each) this Alpair10 is a beautiful driver, a real Hi-End FR, stellar sound quality in a suited BR box(13 liters) and they are hand made in HongKong, the build quality is first class, no cheap parts!! http://www.markaudio.com/alpair/10/fullrange

If you have some money to spend, maybe you could want the sweet sound of a Alnico magnet(Alnico is the best sound magnet for any speaker, but is expensive) and try the Fostex F200A(8inches) around 380 dollars at http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=131&products_id=265
OOPS the price rise to 440 dollars!!!, since the last time I see this beauty...
Please Note: A FR is expensive to made and design, a low price FR always is a bad sound FR.
Good Luck!!
 
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#5
Welcome.

For your first foray into full range or wide band speakers I'd recommend the Pioneer 8",
Parts-Express.com:*Pioneer B20FU20-51FW 8" Full Range Driver | woofer 10" woofer full range speaker pa woofer pioneer ,
paired with a PE Neo Tweeter
Parts-Express.com:*Dayton ND16FA-6 5/8" Neodymium Dome Tweeter | tweeter nd16fa-6 soft dome tweeter dome tweeter neodynium dayton audio dayton loudspeaker dayton.

Current pricing puts you at @$80 for all drivers. This combo is fairly well documented on this forum and is a great "gateway" set up.

Mine are in 2cuft sealed enclosures and powered by a Sonic Impact Gen 1 T-amp. I know, not quite bookshelf enclosures.
What I'm driving at is that these are easy to listen to drivers that, in an enclosure this size, might leave you 'wanting' a subwoofer but definately not 'needing' one.

R/

Jim
 
#7
I was thinking about the audio nirvana drivers. They seem cheap and well made. As I said before, I cant spend more then $200 for the pair, not $200 per driver.

I was also thinking the Aurasound NS3-194-4B at madisound for $11 each. I figure I would keep my costs down low to even see if I find them interesting before throwing away!
 
#8
rjbond3rd said:
Howdy. This weekend, I'm building these which can be built for under $200: Wild Burro Audio Labs - Fullrange Speaker Projects - Basic Open Baffle Design

I went to the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest and heard speakers in the $1k, $2k, $20k and even $100k range. I wasn't all that impressed with the big-buck systems.

To my ears, acoustic and jazz sound fantastic on a decent fullrange system. I'm not sure they would be my first choice for the style of music mentioned in your sig unless you also mix in a woofer (or at least a sub).

For T-amps, I got the Super T-amp at Parts Express. I am happier with a little tube amp, but the Super T-amp has a lot of fans.
Click to expand...

Did it cost you $200 to build just the cabs or was that including drivers?

Those look freaking awsome! Thats what I was thinking about doing pretty much. I was thinking the audio nirvana super 8's for something like that! I have a nice 25wpc int. amp that I have laying around that I do belive is just perfect for a 8".

Would It be overkill in a apartment? I have a 600sf place. Am not quite sure what size my living room is. I know it's quite small.
 
#10
Ppasco1018 said:
Did it cost you $200 to build just the cabs or was that including drivers?

Those look freaking awsome! Thats what I was thinking about doing pretty much. I was thinking the audio nirvana super 8's for something like that! I have a nice 25wpc int. amp that I have laying around that I do belive is just perfect for a 8".

Would It be overkill in a apartment? ...
Click to expand...

Hi Ppasco, the plywood was $65, $10 to have it cut, drivers were $100. I bought expensive 48" hinges but that was overkill. So the project can be built for under $200 especially if you go for cheaper plywood.

But be careful -- the Betsy driver is _especially_ for OB, and the Audio Nirvana drivers would almost certainly need a woofer to make enough bass. Some people feel that the woofer is always necessary, but I'm finding I can get by with the Besty. It also depends on the music.

If you intend on using just one fullrange -- no woofer -- try to get a driver with a Qts of around .7 or even higher. That rules out using an Audio Nirvana by itself, I think. If the driver has a Q much lower than that, a woofer seems necessary. If you're feeling up to it, simulate first in MJK or the EDGE.

Overkill for small spaces? I don't think so, if you really love listening to music (and I'm sure you do). They fold up nicely. I'm starting a thread for these later today ("Dark Stars"). But be warned -- these produce bass of a nice quality, but a limited quantity.

planet10 said:
He is going to have to slurge a bit to get the cost of the entire project up to $200... maybe some nice veneer?
Click to expand...

Ha ha ha! You overestimate my skills, sir. 🙂
 
#13
I too am a fan of the Betsy in an OB. Mine are in a low and wide baffle. High sensitivety and very pleasing sound. Like any number of other fullrangers in an OB, I find them limited at both ends, and so therefore suited much better to certain types of music. From one metalhead to another, do the Pioneer 8" coupled with the Dayton tweeter. The Half Chang will put you right where you need to be for metal. I love numerous different fullrangers in all sorts of different enclosures from simple to over-the-top, but this one is by far the heavy hitter in this price range. You'll come in well under $200 for a set of two with no need for a sub in the future. If the Changs don't turn your crank for some reason, consider one of the small, cheap guys such as the Aurasounds you suggested or even one of the many Tang Bands, coupled with as large of a high Q woffer that your space allows for, mounted up OB. Use this as a sort of template and substitute the Eminence woofer with something cheaper to control cost. Adequate for metal at reasonable volumes and it's upgradeable, not to mention addictive in it's simplicity and signature sound.
 
#16
I thought It would be cool to build one of those mini OB's and use the mini sonic for my laptop on my desk. Using those $10 3"ers. Just a small plank of MDF and a smaller piece at the bottom for stand. Line with foam or whatever. Would be less the $60 for it all. I am not not a bass addict. As for main system, I have a samsung 2.1 that I just bought for movies that sounds pretty darn good for the $140 I paid for it (Open box =] Orig $500) I want to build a full range for music, mostly for soft music and rock, but will be able to rock out at louder levels.

Now could I put like 2 or 3 of those little $10 ones in a OB with a large high Q full ranger? Like the AN 12"? And phase plug um!

I wanna run it off of Tripath T-Amp 2020 Chip Amplifier and maybe my 25wpc pioneer.

I am pretty stuck on that t-amp and the Emotiva CDP. Blue Jeans Cables.

Has anyone ever put more then then 1 or 2 FR in a OB?

Sorry about all the questions!
 
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