Tangband W3-871S - TABAQ or Cyburg's Needle?

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pkozul

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Joined 2011
#1
HI there,

I’ve got a pair of Tangband W3-871S drivers that have been sitting around for a while, waiting for me to get off my butt and build an enclosure for them.

I’ve come across the TABAQ and Cyburg’s Needle designs. Has anyone tried them both, and able to compare the two? Both look good to me, which leaves me with the dilemma of choosing which one will be my first speaker build.

Thanks!
Pete
 
#2
Hi Pete, i designed TABAQ after i did some simulations with the Needle. i wanted to make a simple design getting the best out of the nice 3 inch Tang Band Drivers.

I spent several hours and days with Marin J King´s simulations software to do this.

However, I have never built a Needle and do not know how they sound in real life. The knowledge i have is from simulation, which motivated me to design the TABAQ.

The draw-back of TABAQ is that the position of the driver is a little low, and depending on your personal taste and listening position you could wall mount them or use a floor stand. Please note by lifting up the cabinet, you will loose some bass - which is rather impressing in this design.

I do not know if this answer is helpfull in any way. There are DIYers out there that has tried both designs.
 
#4
I also built the Needles and found it pretty amazing! Any speaker that disappears is my idea of awesome. Can't beat it for the cost.

PS. I'm bias because I have the Needles. I might have said the same thing if I built the TABAQ...

Both could be good. Build both and report back!
 
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#6
To paraphrase BJohannesen, the TABAQ is designed more methodically I believe. (Although I don't know exactly how the Needle came about.) I don't remember the exact numbers, but roughly the Needle goes to 50Hz and the TABAQ to 55Hz; The TABAQ is designed to go a littttttle less lower, but to play more 'cleanly'. However, Needle bass is still very clean, beautiful and engaging, so it's all good ...

I guess it comes down to which philosophy you like, which costs less in materials, which look you prefer, and how and where you'd like your speaker to be mounted. You can't lose.

Most important of all is perhaps to "build it wrong, but build it".

Also note that these speakers really start shining in smallish rooms. At least that's true of the Needle, and most probably also the TABAQ.
 
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#7
kristleifur said:
To paraphrase BJohannesen, the TABAQ is designed more methodically I believe. (Although I don't know exactly how the Needle came about.) I don't remember the exact numbers, but roughly the Needle goes to 50Hz and the TABAQ to 55Hz; The TABAQ is designed to go a littttttle less lower, but to play more 'cleanly'. However, Needle bass is still very clean, beautiful and engaging, so it's all good ...

I guess it comes down to which philosophy you like, which costs less in materials, which look you prefer, and how and where you'd like your speaker to be mounted. You can't lose.

Most important of all is perhaps to "build it wrong, but build it".

Also note that these speakers really start shining in smallish rooms. At least that's true of the Needle, and most probably also the TABAQ.
Click to expand...

Chances are they compare pretty well. Personally I prefer the look of the needles and the driver placement is better.
 
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#8
Hi all,

Thanks for your replies. It's hard to choose, but for my tastes, the Needle has the slight edge aesthetically, so I think I'll go for that design. Really look forward to my first build.

I like that: Build it wrong, but build it... I've got nothing to lose. Paid $20 for the drivers (they were taken out of the Logitech Z550 satellites). Just gotta get some MDF and start working on it...

Thanks again.
Pete
 
#9
pkozul said:
I like that: Build it wrong, but build it... I've got nothing to lose. Paid $20 for the drivers (they were taken out of the Logitech Z550 satellites). Just gotta get some MDF and start working on it...
Click to expand...

That's such a great quote, and it has had sustained inspiring effect in my life. I wish I could source it. I do remember it's from a respected engineering text!

Keep us posted.
 
#10
kristleifur said:
That's such a great quote, and it has had sustained inspiring effect in my life. I wish I could source it. I do remember it's from a respected engineering text!

Keep us posted.
Click to expand...

I used the same "build it wrong (perhaps), but just build it" principle when I couldn't decide between the Needle and the TABAQ. The TABAQ really interested me, but even the driver placement of the Needle was too low for my specific needs, so this really ruled out the TABAQ. Instead, I decided to model and build my own "bass reflex w/ accidental TL" (which I loosely refer to as the "nanoTower"). I used the W3-881SI ($10 each) and $17 worth of wood. It was a roll of the dice building something that had never been built. As luck would have it, they suit my needs perfectly and they dig very low; lower than Needle or TABAQ it seems (but perhaps without the finesse, which was not necessary for this application).

See here for more details/videos, etc. http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/full-range/200912-nanotower-tang-band-w3-881si.html

The second video, posted on page 4 of the thread, showcases the performance really well, I think (as long as your computer sound system can reproduce it).

[obvious]
P.S. This "just f#^*$ing built it!" approach is much less risky when you can keep costs low 🙂
[/obvious]
 
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#12
Sorry to bring that back from the dead, but any progress on here?

I have the same dilema at the moment. Have a set of W3-71 + filters, can't make my mind wich would be better for my type of music /hard rock, heavy metal/.
Any sugestion are welcome.
Also, is the filters are must or not? Read few defferent opinions, some say its good to put them, some oposite.
 
#13
I'm still playing around with these 🙂

I've slapped together some very basic bipoles with 90mm pvc tubing and also have an accidental mass loaded transmission line (MLTL) castle style (driver on top and on front) speaker in the works but this time made with actual chipboard!
Oh how I've come up in the world 😛

The bipole sounded surprisingly dynamic in my smallish room at the lowish levels I listen to.

The filters depend on personal taste. If you're running the speakers from a pc you can digitally eq them instead, some would consider that a better option.

I ran the bipole for a few days without any filter, no bass but then again I hadn't tuned them for any.

I think the general consensus would be that small full rangers are not the best choice for for heavy complex music but if you look at some of the FAST (full range and subwoofer technology) designs on the forum I think that could be a better solution? Greater power handling, less distortion, etc etc. A lot of this depends on how loud you like to listen/how big your room is and so forth.
 
#19
Bjohannesen said:
For your taste of music I would go for a 4" driver in TABAQ. Use the same cabinet but reduce the stuffing to 70 gram. In my TABAQ I use Tang Band 4" bamboo. With no baffle step correction filter.

Anyway TABAQ is very easy to buid so why not just try with your current driver.

Have fun!

Bjørn
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. 🙂

The stuffing is the area, where I'm not 100% sure, what and how to use, but I guess is I have to experiment, to find the sound for my ears.
 
#20
Joro Irl said:
Thanks for the advice. 🙂

The stuffing is the area, where I'm not 100% sure, what and how to use, but I guess is I have to experiment, to find the sound for my ears.
Click to expand...

I've seen some people test their stuffing levels by just clamping the speaker together temporarily for easy adjustment. Some weather strip would be handy for this.

Good to have another Irishman on board 😛
 
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