I have come to a conclusion it’s not worth looking for the ‘best in the world’…. Why? Because the target’s always moving! Look at the new Fostex 206 special edition driver or how swapping out the 108Z for the newer 126e in the Horn Shoppes design makes things better. Not that these are the ‘best in the world’ designs. The point is, things always change… oftentimes for the better.
Chasing after multi driver designs from Wilson, Dynaudio, JM Lab, etc is pointless. One year their speakers are winning accolades as the ‘best of the best’ the following year they are using newer drivers and modified designs with supposedly superior results.
As speaker builders we know the advantages of tweaking drivers, working with the latest computer programs and using better quality crossover parts, wires, etc. These last couple years have produced special software to help modern speaker builders get to another level of sophistication. MathCad worksheets, WinISD, etc. provide an amazing starting point to build on. Builders around the world are experimenting with different designs and tweaking along the way to make things even better (measurements be damned). Tube amps are everywhere as is a cute little digital amp that also sounds amazing. Parts Express, Madisound, etc. are offering strong products and even tho some manufacturers are discontinuing their product lines to hobbyists. We still have great selection to satisfy our needs.
With all the hi tech advantages we have today, many of us, myself included, still choose to build what we want despite what the computer says is more accurate or better. We have the luxury of seeing what’s theoretically correct and then choosing to change things as we desire. This is a great time of experimentation for speaker builders and the limits have only been drawn out in the sand… soon to change again and again.
I used to want to build the best in world… using Eton, Scan Speak, Accuton, Dynaudio, etc. components…. I will never forget when MDF became readily available at Home Depot, building several speaker cabinets with it and deciding the sound was worse, regardless of how solid the cabinet felt against my knuckles.
Since most all of us have our sensibilities, I think, we know building the best is really not attainable. The amazing speakers I see on this site and others is a testament to the dedicated and creative minds of us all and the great lengths we are willing to go to recreate great sound in our homes by building it ourselves. We all have different ideas, views and price points… and we all are capable of creating excellent speakers with the tools and the experiences we are willing to share. I believe there are many ‘best designs’ and we are all fortunate to have built many of them together over the years.
Peace and happy holidays to all!
Godzilla
www.ZillaSpeak.com
Chasing after multi driver designs from Wilson, Dynaudio, JM Lab, etc is pointless. One year their speakers are winning accolades as the ‘best of the best’ the following year they are using newer drivers and modified designs with supposedly superior results.
As speaker builders we know the advantages of tweaking drivers, working with the latest computer programs and using better quality crossover parts, wires, etc. These last couple years have produced special software to help modern speaker builders get to another level of sophistication. MathCad worksheets, WinISD, etc. provide an amazing starting point to build on. Builders around the world are experimenting with different designs and tweaking along the way to make things even better (measurements be damned). Tube amps are everywhere as is a cute little digital amp that also sounds amazing. Parts Express, Madisound, etc. are offering strong products and even tho some manufacturers are discontinuing their product lines to hobbyists. We still have great selection to satisfy our needs.
With all the hi tech advantages we have today, many of us, myself included, still choose to build what we want despite what the computer says is more accurate or better. We have the luxury of seeing what’s theoretically correct and then choosing to change things as we desire. This is a great time of experimentation for speaker builders and the limits have only been drawn out in the sand… soon to change again and again.
I used to want to build the best in world… using Eton, Scan Speak, Accuton, Dynaudio, etc. components…. I will never forget when MDF became readily available at Home Depot, building several speaker cabinets with it and deciding the sound was worse, regardless of how solid the cabinet felt against my knuckles.
Since most all of us have our sensibilities, I think, we know building the best is really not attainable. The amazing speakers I see on this site and others is a testament to the dedicated and creative minds of us all and the great lengths we are willing to go to recreate great sound in our homes by building it ourselves. We all have different ideas, views and price points… and we all are capable of creating excellent speakers with the tools and the experiences we are willing to share. I believe there are many ‘best designs’ and we are all fortunate to have built many of them together over the years.
Peace and happy holidays to all!
Godzilla
www.ZillaSpeak.com
So last night I decided to take out my headphones for a change....
Hmmm I thought, strange it seems louder on one side, so I turned the headset around.... hah was still less loud on the same side.... So officialy my youth has come to an end and from now on, I will feel totaly justified using balance controls.... Get the best speakers in the world... well now that would be pointess.
Hmmm I thought, strange it seems louder on one side, so I turned the headset around.... hah was still less loud on the same side.... So officialy my youth has come to an end and from now on, I will feel totaly justified using balance controls.... Get the best speakers in the world... well now that would be pointess.
Godzilla,
Points well made. (measurements be damned) No one can build speakers as well as I do.
For my ears.
Not being silly here but have you had your ears cleaned recently? Not the cotton swab poking the ear treatment but the hot liquid injection from the doctor kind of cleaning.
Points well made. (measurements be damned) No one can build speakers as well as I do.
For my ears.
Nordic said:
Not being silly here but have you had your ears cleaned recently? Not the cotton swab poking the ear treatment but the hot liquid injection from the doctor kind of cleaning.
'Zilla makes important points, and I for one couldn't agree with him more. Besides, we all hear differently, and generic systems bought might be convinient, but they certainly aren't optimal.
It's relatively rare for the hearing to let go on one side only. If you haven't already, try pouring a capful of Hydrogen Peroxide (3%, available for the local dispensing chemists for laughably little money) down the offending lughole. Leave for a few minutes and drain onto a piece of tissue. It'll bubble quite a bit in the ear, and it stings mildly, but panic ye not -it won't do any harm. Then repeat after a couple of hours. That clears out the cavities a heck of a lot better than any fancy, over priced ear-drops, and is perfectly safe -also less hassle than getting them syringed. Works for me.
Best
Scott
It's relatively rare for the hearing to let go on one side only. If you haven't already, try pouring a capful of Hydrogen Peroxide (3%, available for the local dispensing chemists for laughably little money) down the offending lughole. Leave for a few minutes and drain onto a piece of tissue. It'll bubble quite a bit in the ear, and it stings mildly, but panic ye not -it won't do any harm. Then repeat after a couple of hours. That clears out the cavities a heck of a lot better than any fancy, over priced ear-drops, and is perfectly safe -also less hassle than getting them syringed. Works for me.
Best
Scott
Don't forget the price (usually less but sometimes more!Godzilla said:
) and fun factor 
of DIY.Building the best is certainly not attainable on a frugal/modest DIY budget. Building your best... now that's something we all try to do and continue to succeed at - at any price level 😎Godzilla said:
Hi Scott,
The HP treatment works, provided you don't have troubles with your eustachian tubes as I do. I would recommend the syringe via a doctor rather than the "alka seltzer" to the ears.
Just my pennies worth.
The HP treatment works, provided you don't have troubles with your eustachian tubes as I do. I would recommend the syringe via a doctor rather than the "alka seltzer" to the ears.
Just my pennies worth.
Ultimatly this is about the enjoyment of creating something - at least for me. Since we live in a consumer society of 'disposable' everything, it feels damn good to piece together a speaker (or two), and to throw on a Charles Mingus record and sit back and revel in the music. If the speaker is beautiful, so much the better.
As for what's 'the best', it is probably a matter of taste and it's a dangerous road to be stuck on. (At least if you've got a financial budget - as well as a time budget). This past year I've shaken my head at how many manufacturers who have previously declaired their equipment (speaker, amp, etc...) 'unparalleled', yet have come up with new equipment (which is a significant improvement upon the previous model). That's life I guess. But then again, switching out a capacitor, a volume pot, or a pair of drivers and hearing the difference with your own ears is very satisfying. And the quest for improvement gives us an excuse to build more speakers, amplifiers, diy cables, etc...and the cycle repeates itself. Anyway, I have to get back to scratching my head and figure out what kind of speaker cabinet I need to build for my 108 drivers, which were replaced with the 126es, because, for some odd reason, I need more speakers than I have amplifiers.
Happy New Year.
Scott.
As for what's 'the best', it is probably a matter of taste and it's a dangerous road to be stuck on. (At least if you've got a financial budget - as well as a time budget). This past year I've shaken my head at how many manufacturers who have previously declaired their equipment (speaker, amp, etc...) 'unparalleled', yet have come up with new equipment (which is a significant improvement upon the previous model). That's life I guess. But then again, switching out a capacitor, a volume pot, or a pair of drivers and hearing the difference with your own ears is very satisfying. And the quest for improvement gives us an excuse to build more speakers, amplifiers, diy cables, etc...and the cycle repeates itself. Anyway, I have to get back to scratching my head and figure out what kind of speaker cabinet I need to build for my 108 drivers, which were replaced with the 126es, because, for some odd reason, I need more speakers than I have amplifiers.
Happy New Year.
Scott.
todays best is all about bass and others but nobody is thinking about natural sound, the best vintage drivers is far superior than todays high end.They sounds natural and I think this is the point to reach...look ant focal grand utopia, krell,mark levinson. In the comparision side by side they will allways loose then compared with vintage like klangfilm or telefunken.it's strange beceouse now the companies have almost perfect tools, computers, programs .... but they can;t produce such drivers or the others audio equipment like 50-30 years ago.you can buy a high end turntable but it will not sound as natural as garrard 301, or thorens 124. strange...
You guys are trying too hard. Use HO only if you are getting sick and need to fight off the infection... for daily care, if you think you are getting waxy yellow buildup (old US television commercial joke) then rinse it in a hot shower for a minute when you do your daily toilette. Not very comforatble but it works ok for me.
Nope sadly my eardrums are between 40 and 60% scarred according to my GP... I used to slep infront of my dad's bassdrum, but I also had grommets about 3 times... so its not all his fault.
Ouch. That's seriously unfortunate. Oh well, as you say, that's why God invented the ballance control!
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