Wall-mount near-field foam-core designs?

[drneilmb]

After my first speaker build (http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/325334-timer-select-low-budget-bookshelf-design.html) those are headed out to the living room and I need something new for when I'm at the computer in the office. It's a desk very full of monitors, so I am hoping for something that can be wall-mounted and will end up only 4 feet in front of my head.



I've blown all of my budget for the year on the Pluvias and parts for a chip amp to go with them, so I'd like to keep this whole build around $40. I'm very interested in the crazy things coming out of the foam-core thread. I've read as much of the thread as I can, but so many things have happened there that it's hard to keep track.


Can anyone suggest a foam-core design that can be hung on a wall and used near-field? I'm way too new to understand the small, cheap full-range driver offerings, so suggestions there are welcome or else I'll just default to TC9FDs.



Here are some of the designs that I'm considering so far:


- Karlsonator 0.40x: rave reviews, but I haven't seen anyone hanging them up on the wall.


- Cornu spiral horn 20": Perfect for wall-hanging but said to sound better in the far-field. I could also scavenge some boom-box speakers and go for the 14" micro.



- xrk971's wall-mount stereo MLTL: Perfect form-factor for the space, but experimentation with these things have come a long way since 2015. Is there something better now?


- A bunch of adaptation possibilities: the Woden Poplar could be replicated in foam-core, but I doubt that they are optimal for cheap little drivers. Upside-down TABAQs? Tiny BIBs hung on the wall?


Thanks in advance for any suggestions or pointers you can offer.


-Neil N0FN

 

[outfoxhyperion]

My desk setup is a pair of .53x K'Nators with FaitalPRO 3fe25s in it. In many cases the K designs rely on floor gain to augment the bass, but even without floor gain (I've tried them on stands) they're far from disappointing. That little Faital is a very high value driver, but if you're trying to keep the whole build (including amplification, I'm assuming) under $40 the pair you may want to go with the TC9 as you mentioned. Alternately, you could do what I frequently do and scavenge your local thrift store for discarded full-range drivers in the form of surround sound centers, PC speakers, etc. Often an unknown value, but that's generally okay if you're just starting out and want to experiment.

 

[GM]

Also, pretty much any mobile audio in-door/panel speaker is a prime candidate for 'el cheapo' apps. Box design need be no more complex than a thin wood back plate [pegboard/whatever] as wide/tall as practical to [hot melt glue/double stick tape/whatever] mount the drivers to it and 'suspend'/'float' the foam core/whatever baffle over it and add some foam insulation 'dots' on the back to isolate it from the wall. Some wall hanging hooks/screws/whatever and you're done, though of course best to pre-wire everything before mounting the baffle unless you want to make it easily removable.

Note that ideally the baffle shouldn't actually touch the drivers unless an isolation foam/slick material gasket is used.

GM

 

[xrk971]

Full range on wall for home theater?

Beautiful example by bentspoon1:

Super example by theaspin:

My foamcore example:

Super setup by IanLenco:

So you could say it’s a pretty well tested and liked design.

However, the Cornu spiral is also very impressive sounding and quite fun to make.