Hello! I'm looking to make some very small, budget speakers as part of a 2.1 system for use with the TV. I'm very limited on space and will likely need to angle the pair and house at least one near a wall due to the TV being in the corner between a window and a fireplace.
Something like the nScan-Ken would be perfect, though it wouldn't necessarily need to be quite that miniature, but the £100 per driver cost puts me off.
I recently (poorly) made a pair of µMar-KenPlus and these are likely a little too big (though objectively small) and normally live in the dining room anyway. Photo is attached, for reference. Previously made a 2-way set using SB drivers based on a Troels design (with adjustments) but they were comparatively enormous.
I've been looking at the CHN-50P as a potential cheap and cheerful driver, but most of the plans I've found are larger than I'd want and I'm not sure if I could just "make them smaller" and lose some bass (as a simplification).
Any sage advice? Am I overthinking this? Maybe underthinking (and not doing any heavy lifting in terms of modelling a cabinet myself)?
Something like the nScan-Ken would be perfect, though it wouldn't necessarily need to be quite that miniature, but the £100 per driver cost puts me off.
I recently (poorly) made a pair of µMar-KenPlus and these are likely a little too big (though objectively small) and normally live in the dining room anyway. Photo is attached, for reference. Previously made a 2-way set using SB drivers based on a Troels design (with adjustments) but they were comparatively enormous.
I've been looking at the CHN-50P as a potential cheap and cheerful driver, but most of the plans I've found are larger than I'd want and I'm not sure if I could just "make them smaller" and lose some bass (as a simplification).
Any sage advice? Am I overthinking this? Maybe underthinking (and not doing any heavy lifting in terms of modelling a cabinet myself)?
Attachments
I don't know how accessible Dayton Audio speakers are in your part of the world, but the PS95 in the Copperheads is a pretty small design.
https://www.parts-express.com/Copperhead-Desktop-Full-Range-Speaker-Kit-Pair-300-7180?quantity=1
https://www.parts-express.com/Copperhead-Desktop-Full-Range-Speaker-Kit-Pair-300-7180?quantity=1
How limited the space is? If you go very small, cheap and simple - TV speakers will be much much better in pretty much everything: bass, power, dynamics, quality etc.
You have to decide either go for very very cheap fullrange option or go 2-way. For second option go for cheap and tested drivers, like SBA PFC series as woofers: https://sbacoustics.com/product-category/drivers/midwoofers/pfc-midwoofers/ or Dayton RS125P-180P, depending which one you can source sheaper, and some cheap but still good tweeter. Search for final project or design your own one. Smth like Mechano23 with cheaper tweeter.
Forget PS95... they are VERY good, pleasant to listen, but not adequate improvement over TV speakers. They are for tabletop speakers. Closer to 2,5 inch.
Haven't heard for any of MarkAudio.
Another fullrange option which plays above its price: Faitalpro 3fe25 or its neodymium brother 3fe22. Or RS100. I have aluminum version - they are harsh, but play WAY more massive than PS95 and more or less you can call them fullrange.
Looks interesting. I can get the drivers imported from the EU (albeit with customs charges, presumably).
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Can compare them to many 3 inch speakers, and they are more or less on the better side of bang-for-buck. If comparing to PS95 - more bass, more everything, they are just bigger more powerful and are of another size level, but are inferior with timbre, smoothness and overall not as pleasant to listen. YMMV as this is subjective. I will go for PS95 on tabletop speakers, BR of ~80Hz tuning or closed boxes with subwoofers somewhere under table, but not for speakers dedicated to whole room. 3fe25 are just more powerfull.
Another options I have listened and they are worth attention:
Visaton FRS 8 - pretty capable and not bad sounding
Dayton RS 100 - metal, harsh, but very capable
Vifa tc9 - I did not liked them at all. They have almost cult-like following here, but this is more of a preference.
Another bigger options, which I did not listened, but they may be serious options for small money
Visaton BG 20
SB Acoustics SB20FRPC30
I would chose any often mentioned in forums driver which I can source cheap locally and call it a day.
Can compare them to many 3 inch speakers, and they are more or less on the better side of bang-for-buck. If comparing to PS95 - more bass, more everything, they are just bigger more powerful and are of another size level, but are inferior with timbre, smoothness and overall not as pleasant to listen. YMMV as this is subjective. I will go for PS95 on tabletop speakers, BR of ~80Hz tuning or closed boxes with subwoofers somewhere under table, but not for speakers dedicated to whole room. 3fe25 are just more powerfull.
Another options I have listened and they are worth attention:
Visaton FRS 8 - pretty capable and not bad sounding
Dayton RS 100 - metal, harsh, but very capable
Vifa tc9 - I did not liked them at all. They have almost cult-like following here, but this is more of a preference.
Another bigger options, which I did not listened, but they may be serious options for small money
Visaton BG 20
SB Acoustics SB20FRPC30
I would chose any often mentioned in forums driver which I can source cheap locally and call it a day.
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Friend has LG OLED 60(?) inch - it sounds VERY VERY well, not trash and not even mediocre! And yes, I will say that - will outperform most of the 3 inch fullranges and some of the "cheapest 2-way you can buy" boxes. It may lack somewhere, but overall experience is very positive. I have cheap LG 49' LCD - this one has bad sound. Most TVs have some EQ in sound options or smth like wall boost or similar.
I am being honest here.
Very few 3 drivers that fit a smaller box than the
µMar-Ken, it can be squeezed a bit smaller. Sealed won’t go as low but could be smaller.
With a small speaker these small, materil thickness is a significant contributor to gross volume. Using 3mm Al or similar is worth considering.
CHR-/CHP-50 are fantastic bargins, I’d choose them over the Scan any day
The Faital Pro can be sqeezed into a µMar-KenPlus size box but would prefer a larger box
dave
µMar-Ken, it can be squeezed a bit smaller. Sealed won’t go as low but could be smaller.
With a small speaker these small, materil thickness is a significant contributor to gross volume. Using 3mm Al or similar is worth considering.
CHR-/CHP-50 are fantastic bargins, I’d choose them over the Scan any day
The Faital Pro can be sqeezed into a µMar-KenPlus size box but would prefer a larger box
dave
How small are we talking? Sacrificing a little bass wouldn't be the worst thing if adding a sub of some kind.
Also, is there a reason you seem to avoid the CHN-50 in your plan sets? Or do they swap in/out in place of other units?
Also also, if the µMar-Ken are supposed to be paid plans and I've found them on the internet somehow let me know and I can buy them retrospectively.
VituixCAD box tool shows PS95 is ok from 2.5~3Liters and up closed box. F3 ~120 Hz, exactly for subwoofer.
The µMar-KenPlus is 2.5 litre, so that would need at least the same size box he alrerady has.
dave
dave
I suppose I was wondering if sealing the box would allow a reasonable reduction in external volume.
It would.
Can’t currently aces my sims, so i can’t say how much. 1.5 litres is probably a good guess.
Can’t currently aces my sims, so i can’t say how much. 1.5 litres is probably a good guess.
Hi hodephinitely,
CHN-50P is my favorite driver.
CHN-50P mica has good bass feeling even in a small box (W.110xH.220xD.150).
The vocals are especially great, and the treble is perfect.
CHN-50P is my favorite driver.
CHN-50P mica has good bass feeling even in a small box (W.110xH.220xD.150).
The vocals are especially great, and the treble is perfect.