.........what others would do in my situation. I am looking to build a pair of 3-way (or more?) speakers for mostly rock and a bit of jazz. Fed up with bookshelf sized ones that sound fine and accurate but just can't move enough air to knock me out of my seat when I crank 'em up. Wife has no objection to what they look like or how big they are. The listening room is about 50 sq. metres and just under three metres high. Are there any proven designs out there that might fulfill this dream without breaking the bank. That is the real challenge. Doing this without spending more than the house is worth.
If I would be in your place (room🙂, I would use speakers with at least one 15" or two 12", relative high efficiency woofer, the rest is aligned to the woofer(s) with their efficiency and maximum SPL.
In a mid sized room too much woofer is just wasted, not enough won't move good air. So I'd say to stay off the extremes.
Maybe a mid-tower with 2 X 6.5 or an 8 inch woofer, perhaps a 3.5 inch mid (if 3 way) and a nice fabric dome tweeter.
If you don't want to break the bank or wreck the spousal acceptance factor (SAF), I'd suggest you stay with modest design, mid-priced components and concentrate on a nice cabinet and finish.
The Tarkus may do the job.
I'm with YSDR though - The bigger the better IMO. Next build for me is a 15" 2-way.
I haven't looked at these properly, but one of these kits may do - DIY SOUND GROUP
I'm with YSDR though - The bigger the better IMO. Next build for me is a 15" 2-way.
I haven't looked at these properly, but one of these kits may do - DIY SOUND GROUP
The man wants some horsepower Douglas!
I’m in the process of building some 10” mtm with pro drivers that will sit on top of 15” Bass modules (so it’s basically a three way)
Here are links to a similar kit......they ship internationally.
Denovo Audio Cinema-10
Denovo Audio MBM-15lx midbass module
Edit.....well that’s two votes for diysg!
I’m in the process of building some 10” mtm with pro drivers that will sit on top of 15” Bass modules (so it’s basically a three way)
Here are links to a similar kit......they ship internationally.
Denovo Audio Cinema-10
Denovo Audio MBM-15lx midbass module
Edit.....well that’s two votes for diysg!
What was the smaller speaker you built?
Personally I like big woofers in 3-Way speakers but using an 8" plus a smaller powered subwoofer to cover below 80Hz might be better and cheaper in the long run.
Or get a cheap XO such as the Behringer CX from a professional music store and Bi-Amp or Tri-Amp.
Do you have a spare amplifier or even a couple of spares? With Tri-Amping the mid + tweeter only need 20 to 30 watts. This way you could use the existing 2-Ways and just build some modular boxes to suit an 8" [ or 2 * 8"] and a small subwoofer.
Another alternative is a small DSP unit and multiple amplifiers again crossing to your existing small speaker at around 250 to 400Hz
Personally I like big woofers in 3-Way speakers but using an 8" plus a smaller powered subwoofer to cover below 80Hz might be better and cheaper in the long run.
Or get a cheap XO such as the Behringer CX from a professional music store and Bi-Amp or Tri-Amp.
Do you have a spare amplifier or even a couple of spares? With Tri-Amping the mid + tweeter only need 20 to 30 watts. This way you could use the existing 2-Ways and just build some modular boxes to suit an 8" [ or 2 * 8"] and a small subwoofer.
Another alternative is a small DSP unit and multiple amplifiers again crossing to your existing small speaker at around 250 to 400Hz
Given you music tastes, this opens up options. If you were into electronica, I'd say (without a subwoofer) you really need a design that goes into the 20s, heaps of power handling (read xmax) to handle the peaks when you crank it.
With jazz and rock - you're looking at ~41 Hz double bass and ~32 Hz bass guitar low notes. Many dual 8" woofer designs will handle this fine (allowing for room gain).
I'd err on the side of dual 8" or dual 10" drivers at a minimum with an MTM 4" or 5" midrange (dual to sensitivity and power handling match with the dual woofers).
The other option is a conventional single driver per passband 3 way - driver sizes 15/6/1.
your room is large enough to take a large speaker without dominating it.
With jazz and rock - you're looking at ~41 Hz double bass and ~32 Hz bass guitar low notes. Many dual 8" woofer designs will handle this fine (allowing for room gain).
I'd err on the side of dual 8" or dual 10" drivers at a minimum with an MTM 4" or 5" midrange (dual to sensitivity and power handling match with the dual woofers).
The other option is a conventional single driver per passband 3 way - driver sizes 15/6/1.
your room is large enough to take a large speaker without dominating it.
Is maximum output capability the only area in which the current bookshelves do not satisfy you?
Could you put a number on the budget?
Could you put a number on the budget?
There's always Troels' The Loudspeaker or(a wee bit smaller) Faital 3-way.
Just reading how they've spoiled him makes me jealous.
Just reading how they've spoiled him makes me jealous.
Not sure what are your present speakers but I had Curt Campbell's 2.5way MLTL Uluwatu in my 70sqm living room and it has a distinctively punchy midbass that's great for rock AND GOES LOUD.
In fact this kicks harder than any of higher end speakers i've tried from scanspeak to SB satori to acoustic elegance drivers which are all relatively high end. These are more transparent, hifi sure but not as fun.
Doesn't hurt at all it can be driven by a 1.5w SET 2A3 amp being 8ohm and ~92db and can be up against the wall.
No complaints for other genres as well. Check it out.
Speaker Design Works
In fact this kicks harder than any of higher end speakers i've tried from scanspeak to SB satori to acoustic elegance drivers which are all relatively high end. These are more transparent, hifi sure but not as fun.
Doesn't hurt at all it can be driven by a 1.5w SET 2A3 amp being 8ohm and ~92db and can be up against the wall.
No complaints for other genres as well. Check it out.
Speaker Design Works
Thankyou gentlemen, for your opinions and input. I have a confession to make. I have already decided on my choice and bought all the components. My opening post was to see if anyone else would come to the same conclusion if given the same requirements and limited funds. fatmarley gets the cigar. I went for the Tarkus based on reputation and low price levels of the drivers. I am stuck in lockdown so can't get out to buy the ply etc. for the boxes so going out of my head. YSDR gets a thumbs up on "size matters". mountainman bob's Cinema-10 gets another "thumbs up". boswald's mention of Troels' The Loudspeaker had me thinking until I saw it was a bit to demanding of power for my simple integrated amp. fishball79's Uluwatu would do the job very nicely but the cost of drivers would cripple me for a couple of years. To be fair, I didn't state my budget requirements so you were working blind. Finally, adason's suggested Zaph Audio 12.3 was on my shortlist. Big, bold, and bangin' but would have been a little more challenging in the wallet than the Tarkus I went for.
Thanks again to all who responded.
Thanks again to all who responded.
I do now remember your original post, but only after the event as they say.
Naturally we want a build thread and your listening comments
Naturally we want a build thread and your listening comments
Original build thread? I haven't built anything yet. Some time ago I was trying to duplicate the old Wharfedale E70 giant killers and failed miserably. Box dimensions and crossovers were easy enough to work out from published data but the big stumbling block was finding drivers close enough to the original spec. I tried some based on a bit of detective work and assumptions that I thought were being used by a specialist E-series rebuilder but the result was complete disaster. I had some helpful advice from a member in Oz that had worked for Wharfedale back in the day but meeting critical specs on a currently available mid driver proved impossible, and using something else would have meant a redesign of the crossovers........way beyond my skillset.
The project was binned and I took the advice of the oracles here and chose an existing tried and tested design that is reputed to deliver the punch I'm looking for, the Carmody Tarkus. Being on a tiny UK pension it took me almost a year to buy all the drivers and crossover components and more recently I was about to start buying in the ply to start on the boxes when the lockdown started here in France. We are expecting to be set free later this month but having to buy food at the nearest sources rather than the cheapest ones that are further away means I will struggle again and have to buy a sheet at a time during the build. I'll get there one day. I've been given a collection of over 400 LPs with a lot of rock from the 60s to the 80s and I need a set of decent speakers.
The project was binned and I took the advice of the oracles here and chose an existing tried and tested design that is reputed to deliver the punch I'm looking for, the Carmody Tarkus. Being on a tiny UK pension it took me almost a year to buy all the drivers and crossover components and more recently I was about to start buying in the ply to start on the boxes when the lockdown started here in France. We are expecting to be set free later this month but having to buy food at the nearest sources rather than the cheapest ones that are further away means I will struggle again and have to buy a sheet at a time during the build. I'll get there one day. I've been given a collection of over 400 LPs with a lot of rock from the 60s to the 80s and I need a set of decent speakers.
