right here we go (again)
i want to build some full range speakers ,i'm a total novice to speaker building ,now i have a stack of birch ply and the tools/skills to build the cabinets.
i thought i'd found the ones i wanted to build (half changs)but have been told the drivers are no longer.
so i'm after some plans for something similar in size.
my budget for the drivers is upto £100 for the pair new or secondhand i'm based in the uk which seems to limit the available drivers.
please help before the wife changes her mind on diy speakers
i want to build some full range speakers ,i'm a total novice to speaker building ,now i have a stack of birch ply and the tools/skills to build the cabinets.
i thought i'd found the ones i wanted to build (half changs)but have been told the drivers are no longer.
so i'm after some plans for something similar in size.
my budget for the drivers is upto £100 for the pair new or secondhand i'm based in the uk which seems to limit the available drivers.
please help before the wife changes her mind on diy speakers
If there's WAF to consider, perhaps looking towards the Alpair range would be better. They seem to like smaller cabinets than some of the Fostex line (some of which need large horns to be heard at their best).
If you'd like to hear Fostex speakers, try to find something from the FE**7 line, they take ported boxes (I'm assuming a smaller cabinet would be preferable), though they're discontinued (you might find some second hand, but they do seem sought-after). You might have to be prepared to back them up with a subwoofer..
So, the usual questions:
How loud?
What will you drive them with?
What sort of music?
How big can they be?
How big is the room?
If you'll be using solid state, the Alpair range from Mark Audio would likely be better, as Fostex speakers tend not to mate well with SS amps (though mine seem okay on a switching amplifier). For use with a low power valve amp, the higher sensitivity Fostexes would be worth consideration, but that'll depend on how loud you want it to go.
Chris
If you'd like to hear Fostex speakers, try to find something from the FE**7 line, they take ported boxes (I'm assuming a smaller cabinet would be preferable), though they're discontinued (you might find some second hand, but they do seem sought-after). You might have to be prepared to back them up with a subwoofer..
So, the usual questions:
How loud?
What will you drive them with?
What sort of music?
How big can they be?
How big is the room?
If you'll be using solid state, the Alpair range from Mark Audio would likely be better, as Fostex speakers tend not to mate well with SS amps (though mine seem okay on a switching amplifier). For use with a low power valve amp, the higher sensitivity Fostexes would be worth consideration, but that'll depend on how loud you want it to go.
Chris
cabinets can be upto say 5 foot high
decent listening levels no rave levels though
puresound 6550 valve amp
music varies from female vocal to led zep , floyd
the room is an awkward one as its open nplan with stairs aswell but the main part lounge area is about 12ft x 18ft
decent listening levels no rave levels though
puresound 6550 valve amp
music varies from female vocal to led zep , floyd
the room is an awkward one as its open nplan with stairs aswell but the main part lounge area is about 12ft x 18ft
well, since your post in another thread indicated you'd been thinking about Half Changs, the question as to "how big can they be?" could probably be revised to "can you use a pair of corners?"
if so the FH3 with Fostex FE126En or Mark Audio CHP70 would be near the top of my list
if not, then I'd consider the Pensil with CHP70 - or if your budget can stretch to 2 pairs of this budget driver, the "Castle" micro-tower
All listed are relatively straight forward constructions, with the caveat that damping/fill quantities are often tuned by ear - so fabricate with one panel / side removable until that is settled.
edit: seeing your comment regarding room dimensions post while I typed the above, another stellar performer to consider would the Woden design
Valiant/Maeshowe (depending on selected driver)
if so the FH3 with Fostex FE126En or Mark Audio CHP70 would be near the top of my list
if not, then I'd consider the Pensil with CHP70 - or if your budget can stretch to 2 pairs of this budget driver, the "Castle" micro-tower
All listed are relatively straight forward constructions, with the caveat that damping/fill quantities are often tuned by ear - so fabricate with one panel / side removable until that is settled.
edit: seeing your comment regarding room dimensions post while I typed the above, another stellar performer to consider would the Woden design
Valiant/Maeshowe (depending on selected driver)
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maybe i'm after the impossible , as this is going tobe my 1st speaker build i was hoping someone would point me to some plans and tell me what drivers to use .
Maybe i'll build another t/t instead
Maybe i'll build another t/t instead
Right now I'm listening to Mussorgsky's "Boris Godunov" on my Audio Nirvana dual 8 inch speakers. Goto to Commonsenseaudio.com and take a look at the Ambiance 2.8 design with the cast frame 8 inch and stamped frame 8 inch speakers. Mine has the extra speaker on the rear of the cabinet as opposed to the top of the cabinet. All I can say is amazing. From classical to classic rock to alternative...they do everything really well. No boomy bass, no shrill highs, no beaming.
How do you feel about designing your own cabinets?
Download HornResp
and WinISD
HornResp is good for horns and transmission lines, while WinISD is good for sealed, vented and bandpass designs. WinISD is more intuitive, but HornResp is easy once you've read the manual.
One idea if size is an important factor is one of the MarkAudio drivers in a transmission line or vented alignment. Just running some quick simulations, a CHR-70 loaded in a 1m transmission line (200cm^2 throat, 20cm^2 mouth) provides extension to about 50hz. At 36USD a pop, they won't break the bank, either. I'm not sure where to buy them from in the UK, but a quick search proves that it is feasible.
Download HornResp
and WinISD
HornResp is good for horns and transmission lines, while WinISD is good for sealed, vented and bandpass designs. WinISD is more intuitive, but HornResp is easy once you've read the manual.
One idea if size is an important factor is one of the MarkAudio drivers in a transmission line or vented alignment. Just running some quick simulations, a CHR-70 loaded in a 1m transmission line (200cm^2 throat, 20cm^2 mouth) provides extension to about 50hz. At 36USD a pop, they won't break the bank, either. I'm not sure where to buy them from in the UK, but a quick search proves that it is feasible.
The CHP-70 are very good, but if you insist on buying from the UK you will pay a lot more than if you use, say, Blue Planet or Spectrum.
Here is a thread very specific to this driver & the UK.
Frugal Horn Mk3 build for CHP70 and FE126En
dave
WOW thanks for all the great advice
i'm 99.9% sure i'll be building the frugal mk3 i'm thinking the chr-70 from blue planet although i notice theres a chp aswell same price what driver would u choose ?
i'll do some pics of the build if u like ??
thanks again for the advice
i'm 99.9% sure i'll be building the frugal mk3 i'm thinking the chr-70 from blue planet although i notice theres a chp aswell same price what driver would u choose ?
i'll do some pics of the build if u like ??
thanks again for the advice
Tried the idea of the taller cab's past the wife ,lets just say frudal horns it will be lol,
slighty off topic for the frugal but has anyone tried these 8" full range drivers 4 open baffle + Lowther speakers on eBay (end time 25-Feb-11 12:58:34 GMT)
anyideas as to what cabs you could use them in
slighty off topic for the frugal but has anyone tried these 8" full range drivers 4 open baffle + Lowther speakers on eBay (end time 25-Feb-11 12:58:34 GMT)
anyideas as to what cabs you could use them in
FWIW, the e-bay drivers look like a total joke to me - I'd avoid anything promoted like that
Be advised that the Woden plans are a paid design, while those for the FrugalHorn are free. There's probably been a dozen or more pairs built already - and by all accounts to happy homes.
yeap frugals it is for me then will try and start the cabs at the weekend, i may have some more questions once i start
thanks agian for thr advice so far
oscar
thanks agian for thr advice so far
oscar
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