Recommendations and suppliers of a 2-way system

[ActualRoyo]

Hi guys,

first of all, I'm new here but if felt like this was the right forum to post things like this.

I'm a designer and lately I've been interested in audio. I have basic knowledge of building and the different elements to of the speaker Etc so I don't have to be too basic.

Anyways, I'm looking at constructing a 2-way system that I would design myself of course and the reason is that I find speakers often clunky or bulky. They often stand out a lot in a negative way. Personally I find that speakers has developed to a point where you can have a small speaker with a great sound for your normal home and I guess this is where I'm focusing my design.

So my question is; what do you recommend, what building stones would I need? I'm up for any thoughts about this subjects, whether it's active or passive, capacitors, terminals anything.

Also, where would U get the drivers...?
Have been looking around this morning on this forum but haven't found anything.
It's a project that is slightly price orientated so maybe suppliers from China?

Post your thoughts, comments Etc. Much appreciated!

PS. Live in Melbourne but most things are quite expensive here though...

I have a manufacturing thought behind it all depending on outcome.

 

[gvasale]

To me, bigger is always better. I can' say it any other way

 

[ActualRoyo]

Yeah, I understand the concept of size when it comes to speakers. A large speaker deliveres more, simply put but the need of a more compact speaker is greater and will appeal to a larger crowd etc. A lot of people live in apartments, or having a nice office where they want some speakers to fit in because they appreciate the looks and the sound of a bit more worked speakers. Size have to be compromised in those cases.

I'm focusing on maximum 8" but pref around 5.25"

 

[gvasale]

The speakers should always be bigger than the desk...

Seriously, once a co worker stop by the house on the way back from fishing and his eyes popped when he saw the speakers. They are large. Good luck with your quest

 

[PeteMcK]

Most guys here like big ugly macho designs, black cone speakers; For max SAF I'd go the opposite - slim, curvy design, light colours, white cone speakers... unfortunately white cone drivers are relatively rare, the most affordable are probably Fostex drivers, which would indicate a Full range + helper woofer design for best sound/$
(I have a design in mind which I may get around to once I've got my man-cave system finished ;-)

 

[ActualRoyo]

Most guys here like big ugly macho designs, black cone speakers; For max SAF I'd go the opposite - slim, curvy design, light colours, white cone speakers... unfortunately white cone drivers are relatively rare, the most affordable are probably Fostex drivers, which would indicate a Full range + helper woofer design for best sound/$
(I have a design in mind which I may get around to once I've got my man-cave system finished ;-)

Thx for the honesty

Yeah, often it's either one. You are a design follows function or the other way around but that's ok... I'm pretty much in the middle. I just want sound to look better than it does.

I'll have a look at Fostex drivers. I think full range + sub would be ok. It would create a different design but that's ok.

When you buy drivers like that, do you head to the mothership straight away or is there different retailers etc?

 

[KaffiMann]

What about this?
SEAS KingRO4Y

You could probably chop the design up in 2 pieces/channel if you want to.
I've seen them in real life, they are not huge, but not tiny either, very pretty for a traditional boxed design.

Edit:
There are plenty of coax/small fullrange drivers that can be built into small boxes or run OB. You can also make several miniature subs with drivers like Tang Band W6-1139SIF or equivalent, and just shove them into whatever small space you have, they can fit into many places if you're just creative.

 

[ActualRoyo]

Thank you for the suggestion! The data is quite good I must say but I couldn't find a price. They look like they're expensive

I'm not too focused here if the driver itself looks good or not, because it would probably be hidden anyways behind a mesh/net as they quite commonly are.

What about this?
SEAS KingRO4Y

You could probably chop the design up in 2 pieces/channel if you want to.
I've seen them in real life, they are not huge, but not tiny either, very pretty for a traditional boxed design.

Edit:
There are plenty of coax/small fullrange drivers that can be built into small boxes or run OB. You can also make several miniature subs with drivers like Tang Band W6-1139SIF or equivalent, and just shove them into whatever small space you have, they can fit into many places if you're just creative.

 

[PeteMcK]

No Seas distributor in Aus any more, you'd have to import them; equivalent quality available locally are SB drivers, distributor Wagner: Speaker Drivers, Audio Speakers & Pa | Wagner Electronics, wagneronline.com.au

Re:"do you head to the mothership straight away or is there different retailers etc" - for prototypes, get your drivers from the local distributor, it's a different game if you're buying commercial qtys though...

 

[ActualRoyo]

I'm originally Swedish and Seas looks like it's an .no company so that I could sort out... no drama

Wagner's seems like the site I'm after at the moment, just to browse a bit, getting back into the Audio parts (was a while ago I dealt with all the stuff if I didn't mention that in the first post). Thank you!

What do you mean "it's a different game"?

No Seas distributor in Aus any more, you'd have to import them; equivalent quality available locally are SB drivers, distributor Wagner: Speaker Drivers, Audio Speakers & Pa | Wagner Electronics, wagneronline.com.au

Re:"do you head to the mothership straight away or is there different retailers etc" - for prototypes, get your drivers from the local distributor, it's a different game if you're buying commercial qtys though...

 

[PeteMcK]

Re:""it's a different game" - if you're buying several hundred units at a time, you can bypass the distributor and buy direct from the manufacturer

P.S. if you've got an ABN you can buy from Wagner at trade prices

 

[h_a]

where you can have a small speaker with a great sound for your normal home

Well, nobody can change physics. Bass comes from volume; alternatively you can go active. But in terms of effort a very different ballgame.

 

[KaffiMann]

Thank you for the suggestion! The data is quite good I must say but I couldn't find a price. They look like they're expensive

I'm not too focused here if the driver itself looks good or not, because it would probably be hidden anyways behind a mesh/net as they quite commonly are.

Those white magnesium coax drivers from Seas are beautiful! Don't hide them away!
E0057-08/06 C18EN001/M

You can click the picture to see it a little bit better, but it looks very nice in real life! White matte smooth finish on the cone and dome.

You can also take a look at Gravesen's review here:
COAX-18

 

[ActualRoyo]

Awesome, do you know any price of them?

Those white magnesium coax drivers from Seas are beautiful! Don't hide them away!
E0057-08/06 C18EN001/M

You can click the picture to see it a little bit better, but it looks very nice in real life! White matte smooth finish on the cone and dome.

You can also take a look at Gravesen's review here:
COAX-18

Ah, yeah I got an ABN but I'm at the moment at the exploring stage... Good to know though, thank you!

Re:""it's a different game" - if you're buying several hundred units at a time, you can bypass the distributor and buy direct from the manufacturer

P.S. if you've got an ABN you can buy from Wagner at trade prices

Yepp, I know that but as I said in another reply, I'm willing to compromise a bit of sound for a bit of size. It might turn out I hate the sound and I have to add a sub etc. who knows, thanks for the input though

Well, nobody can change physics. Bass comes from volume; alternatively you can go active. But in terms of effort a very different ballgame.

 

[AJ Wykes]

G'day ActualRoyo,

If you're interested in Seas, last I checked these guys ship any sized order to Australia for 20 Euro: https://www.intertechnik.com/. I've never shopped with them but 20 Euro is bloody amazing compared to the US-based suppliers. I have no complaint with Madisound and Parts Express but the shipping costs are huge, so Intertechnik is definitely worth a look.

Cheers,
AJ