Reco for HT/Music Tower Porject for Beginner

[wotan2525]

I'm brand new to the world of DIY and I thought I would get started with a project....

I was planning on building the Adire Audio 281s because they fit all of my requirments, but I thought I would ask here first. Here are my requirements:

- Tower Design
- HT At Moderate Levels
- Occasionally Music at High Levels, I tend to listen to my music loud, mostly rock and jazz.
- Shielded, I don't have much room on either side of the TV -- Maybe 3 Feet on each side. I had my really old Sansuis next to it and they made the picture go bad, so shielded is a must.
- Fairly Easy Construction -- I'm new to this and I have a woodworking friend to help with. It doesn't have to be elementary, but I'd like to keep the electronics either easy or well documented.


So after I get these built, what is a good amp project to start on? (Right now I plan on powering these speakers with either an Onkyo HT Receiver or a Tehnics (yuck... I know)... a new receiver is in the near future hopefully.) I like the gainclone designs I've seen on here, but I haven't found a really well documented design or guide to follow, and I don't understand the electronics behind it well enough to design/modify my own. Any help you guys can provide would be wonderful.

Thanks,

Rob.

 

[wotan2525]

forgot one thing.... the 281s are $369, so my budget is in that range. The $369 is the high end of what I wanted to spend, I think as always less is more!

Thanks,

Rob.

 

[planet10]

The 281s are not a bad place to start at all... someone else on the Forum has some pics of theirs up.

dave

 

[wotan2525]

thanks. i've spent all day reading through these forums looking for ideas. i've definetely found the pair that I want to build, but I think at this moment they are out of my price range. The Seas Thor plans look beautiful, and everything I've read indicates they are one of the best sounding kits around. Doh! I don't have the money for what I really want, which has led me to a new idea. Maybe I should start by building a set of bookshelf type speakers and a sub, and when I can afford the Thor I can use these speakers as my rear channel, and still have the sub. Any recos as far as this goes?

Something that would match the thor would be ideal, again something on the inexpensive side and as far as a sub goes something small. I really like the baby sunfire, and this is a very small sub. Any plans out there for similar sizes?

Regards,

Rob.

 

[planet10]

The Seas Thor plans look beautiful, and everything I've read indicates they are one of the best sounding kits around.

The Excel drivers can certainly Excel 🙂, but i still think that Joe made some compromises in the design that don't allow the Thor's to reach their potential.

After touting Augspurger's work, and coming up with a design using that, he waved his hand and threw away 30% of the box volume, which in a TL has a tendency to kill the bass.

dave

 

[wotan2525]

Ok.... so what if I wanted to build a Thor cabinet and use the drivers used in the 281s (2xshielded av8 woofers and 1x audax tm025f1). Obviously I would have to modify the TL design and the crossovers, but how could I ever learn how to do this?

I've been reading all, all, all day and still don't feel like I know anything about crossovers or the mechanics behind a TL design.

rob

 

[planet10]

so what if I wanted to build a Thor cabinet and use the drivers used in the 281s (2xshielded av8 woofers and 1x audax tm025f1).

Why don't you just use Adire's TL design for the 281?

To learn about TLs, visit my site,

Martin King's and Bob Brine's

dave

 

[wotan2525]

adire doesn't have the 281TL online anymore, so I assume it was flawed or somehow otherwise bad.

that is unless im missing it....


rob

 

[planet10]

adire doesn't have the 281TL online anymore, so I assume it was flawed or somehow otherwise bad.

I have heard a few comments from people that built it -- it isn't bad. Probably designed using classic methodology, i wouldn't be surprised if more could be had out of the drivers. You would need to run some simulations using Martin's software.

I have a copy of the plans if you want to email me i can send you the pdf.

dave

 

[haffe]

I don't really know if you want sattelites or towers. But what about all the projects using tangband w3 and w4. Combined with a w8-740c using linkwitz-transform I think they would really fill your needs.

 

[wotan2525]

I'm all ears... got any links to projects that were/are setup like that?

Also.... I emailed you dave. If you didn't get it you can just send those pdfs to xxxx. I think I would modify the design in your picture a little bit, but they look nice.

rob

 

[planet10]

I emailed you dave. If you didn't get it you can just send those pdfs to xxxx.

Got it, haven't had a chance to follow it up yet... removed your email from the post. We are discouraging posting emails as a measure to help fight SPAM.

dave