Ok, this is my first post here but after looking around a good bit for information on speaker building I figured this would be a good place to start asking questions.
I just got a new 5.1 reciever and would like to flush it out with a new set of speakers. My current speakers are a large set of cheap 3-way Technics with 10" woofers, nice volume, decent sound but it could be much improved. I'm also using a small set of speakers that belong to my roommate, I believe he got them at Radio Shack, they appear to be good quality but provide virtually no bass. I have a feeling they would work well as rear surround speakers.
I'd like to build my own speakers to replace all of these eventually and also include a center and sub but there are a few catches. I did build a successful subwoofer in my car but it appears that some of the considerations are different for doing it in a room. I'm also a college student which means that I have a low budget and am also living in a pretty cramped dorm. Any speakers (aside from the sub) would have to be bookshelf sized, no tall towers. As for use I'd like to be able to listen to both music and use it for HT applications.
To make a long story short I'd basically like to know where to start as far as shopping for drivers and what sort of enclosure designs I should look towards. Also if anyone has some suggestions on the order in which I should make new components that would also be appreciated. I am semi-confident in my carpentry abilities and know that I can assemble at least basic designs out of wood/MDF/etc. More complex designs involving lots of angles and other unusual elements may be beyond my reach.
Any help anyone can give here is much appreciated.
I just got a new 5.1 reciever and would like to flush it out with a new set of speakers. My current speakers are a large set of cheap 3-way Technics with 10" woofers, nice volume, decent sound but it could be much improved. I'm also using a small set of speakers that belong to my roommate, I believe he got them at Radio Shack, they appear to be good quality but provide virtually no bass. I have a feeling they would work well as rear surround speakers.
I'd like to build my own speakers to replace all of these eventually and also include a center and sub but there are a few catches. I did build a successful subwoofer in my car but it appears that some of the considerations are different for doing it in a room. I'm also a college student which means that I have a low budget and am also living in a pretty cramped dorm. Any speakers (aside from the sub) would have to be bookshelf sized, no tall towers. As for use I'd like to be able to listen to both music and use it for HT applications.
To make a long story short I'd basically like to know where to start as far as shopping for drivers and what sort of enclosure designs I should look towards. Also if anyone has some suggestions on the order in which I should make new components that would also be appreciated. I am semi-confident in my carpentry abilities and know that I can assemble at least basic designs out of wood/MDF/etc. More complex designs involving lots of angles and other unusual elements may be beyond my reach.
Any help anyone can give here is much appreciated.
Since you have no previous experience actually building speakers and no testing equipment for drivers and such, you should definitely stick to building designs that are already around. There are projects in every price range and a lot of good folks who are willing to help you out. I would suggest looking into the Dayton Loudspeaker BR-1 kit at Parts Express. In that case, you don't even need to build and finish any enclosures, but the speakers give good bass even down to, like, between 35 and 40 Hz, which is great for a 6.5". Its drivers represent great value, and the BR-1s have been quite popular. The tweeter is capable of delivering the kind of better detail that you are looking for.
If you're just looking for deeper bass, then what you are really looking for is not bigger speakers but the addition of a powered subwoofer. This is somewhat different from designing and building a full-range loudspeaker because it is simply a matter of matching up a good woofer with a good amplifier and designing and building the proper enclosure, and then you are on your way.
Send me an email if you are interested in a design that will give you great bass. It is based on the 10" Dayton Titanic MkII subwoofer, and a 250-watt amplifier module, and it will go low and loud, with actually fairly decent transient response for a sub of this type. It is in a bass-reflex box ported to the houtside via a 4"-diameter reflex port that is flared at each end for fast air movement without port noise. Email me and I will send you the full design documentation.
If you're just looking for deeper bass, then what you are really looking for is not bigger speakers but the addition of a powered subwoofer. This is somewhat different from designing and building a full-range loudspeaker because it is simply a matter of matching up a good woofer with a good amplifier and designing and building the proper enclosure, and then you are on your way.
Send me an email if you are interested in a design that will give you great bass. It is based on the 10" Dayton Titanic MkII subwoofer, and a 250-watt amplifier module, and it will go low and loud, with actually fairly decent transient response for a sub of this type. It is in a bass-reflex box ported to the houtside via a 4"-diameter reflex port that is flared at each end for fast air movement without port noise. Email me and I will send you the full design documentation.
Careful what you wish for, you might get more, but better might be hard to come by.
Specific questions will get you more detailed replies.🙂
Specific questions will get you more detailed replies.🙂
One thing I have since realized is that I should be able to get access to wood working tools and though I have little experience, I do tend to be pretty handy with that sort of stuff. So I still am interested in building my own cabinet, as long as it remains a simpler design.
As for more specific questions here they are:
1) None of my 4 speakers are very good. I would like to replace them all at some point, but my money is too limited to do this all at once. With this in mind should I first get a sub, get a center, or replace the mains?
2) After answering question 1 what sort of drivers, box designs, and crossovers would you recommend for this?
As for more specific questions here they are:
1) None of my 4 speakers are very good. I would like to replace them all at some point, but my money is too limited to do this all at once. With this in mind should I first get a sub, get a center, or replace the mains?
2) After answering question 1 what sort of drivers, box designs, and crossovers would you recommend for this?
I dont mean to put a dampener on your spirits but even if you are handy with tools etc buiding even a simlpe box can be quite tough with no prior experience. Although not impossible it could prove quite frustrating, especially if you have spent money on some drivers firstly. It depends what tools you have access too tho, a CNC router would made litework of 6 panels for an enclosure 🙂.
Having said all that I agree that I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do.
Ok now as to drivers etc, what price do you have in mind. Do you want a sub..... regardless id look around for some designs already out there that you can copy. the LDSG (??) that right??) web site has lots of kits listed that you shold be able to hunt down with google.
Matt
Having said all that I agree that I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do.
Ok now as to drivers etc, what price do you have in mind. Do you want a sub..... regardless id look around for some designs already out there that you can copy. the LDSG (??) that right??) web site has lots of kits listed that you shold be able to hunt down with google.
Matt
Oops having re read your post DOH. I would say that a good set of fronts would be my first choice to change, then centre to match. Then its up to you for the sub or rears, I would say lotsa bass is more important then excellent rears, but what would I know I dont have HT so thats just a guess. But if ure an action man mega explosions dont sound anywhere near as good without rumble! BOOOM!
Thanks 5th Element, just the sort of answers I was looking for. Though I'd love to hear more opinions on the matter.
Subwoofers are a good place to start on a HT setup. Unfortunately even the lower priced ones can run you a couple of bills. The upside is that it's hard to get it wrong since there is so much info available on them and it gets you some quick experience on building enclosures. I'd check out the Parts Express and Adire Audio websites for kits and designs. Once you have a decent sub the choice of mains is more diverse.
My stuff.
(My in-laws are watching Star Wars II, so here I am)
My stuff.
(My in-laws are watching Star Wars II, so here I am)
Be sure and check out apexjr.com . You might want to consider building a good sub first, because in the future no matter how you upgrade youre system, you can still use the sub. I used the 400 watt amp and SAE 1205 12" driver and they were both excellet, but if you wanted to build a cheaper sub, the smaller amps and drivers still look good. I know little about them, but apex jr. also has little powered speaker units for only $50, they might make great bookshelf speakers if you got decent drivers.
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