Bookshelf Suggestions

[Roo2]

Hello there,
I'd like to build a pair of 2-way bass reflex bookshelf speakers and I'm looking for your driver suggestions.
I've a little bit of experience designing and building with the "Loudspeaker Cookbook".
I'm particularly seeking your low-medium cost woofer make/model suggestions. I'm thinking 6.5"-7" diameter to keep the enclosure size reasonable and still give me some bass.
I have a pair of unused Vifa D25AG-35-6ohm tweeters left over from an old project. It would be good to use them but if you can suggest some modern low cost alternative that will outperform them then please do so.
Fire away!
Thanks,
Andrew.

 

[bbe22]

this should work nicely with your Vifa tweet...
DSA175-8 61/2" Designer Series Woofer Speaker - Dayton Audio | Wagner Online Store

 

[Lojzek]

This is probably the best buy at the moment.
Peerless PPB 830874 - 6.5" Poly Cone Woofer


edit: I have built one. Post #2568.
System Pictures & Description

 

[globalplayer]

Peerless by Tymphany 830875 6-1/2" Nomex Cone HDS Woofer

 

[bbe22]

probably the best buy

Shipping from US to OZZ might be costly

 

[globalplayer]

Maybe there is a local dealer somewhere.

 

[PeteMcK]

Local Dealers - Wagner have SB, Peerless, Vifa, Scanspeak
Loudspeaker Kit have Dayton
Soundlabs have Visaton & some Wavecor

Best Value in Oz is probably this SB driver, $15 cheaper than the Peerless:
SB17NRXC35-8 Sb Acoustics 6.5” Mid-Woofer - Nrxc, Speaker Drivers | Wagner Online Store

 

[globalplayer]

This one is really good.

 

[eriksquires]

Um, not clear if you are desinging your own. Another good alternative to the Peerless is the Faital PRO. I like the Peerless, but the Faital's tend to have better top end extension. If you wanted to do a 5" woofer or so, I'd say the Faitals are a better choice for your tweets.

OPEN BOX FaitalPRO 5FE120 5" Professional Woofer 8 Ohm

 

[Roo2]

Wow. Thanks for all your great suggestions. Happy New Year too.
Yes, designing my own enclosures and crossovers.
Plenty to think about and analyse today!

 

[LineSource]

I'm thinking 6.5"-7" diameter to keep the enclosure size reasonable and still give me some bass.
I have a pair of unused Vifa D25AG-35-6ohm tweeters left over from an old project.

Local Dealers - Wagner have SB, Peerless, Vifa, Scanspeak. Best Value in Oz is probably this SBNRXC35-8 driver, $15 cheaper than the Peerless. [/url]

Should be a good marriage.
A ported cabinet of about 0.75cuft with dimensions around H17" W10" D12.5" will deliver -F3 ~42Hz. Position the port about 1" off-center for reduced baffle edge diffraction. The 3rd order Butterworth crossovers used offer even power output and enough phase shift to mask the physical offset of the tweet and mid on a flat baffle.

ALTERNATIVE: Stepped baffles which physically time align the tweeter have become popular, with the compromise of increase edge diffraction from the extra baffle board. Google and study. LR2 crossover circuits are used to phase align a stepped baffle design. Easy to design a LR2/LR2 crossover if you decide to build a stepped baffle.

 

[Roo2]

Thanks for that LineSource. I'm very keen to try the BW3 crossover.
I like the idea of that SB driver but it needs a bigger enclosure than I really have room for.. I realise they'll give good bass but my better half will not like the shelf getting crowded by them.. The Peerless 830875 may be good compromise. The FaitalPRO 5FE120 is also an interesting option to go smaller again. Do you think the 5" FaitalPRO will have significantly less bass than the 6.5" Peerless?

 

[keilau]

This is probably the best buy at the moment.
Peerless PPB 830874 - 6.5" Poly Cone Woofer


edit: I have built one. Post #2568.
System Pictures & Description

The driver from Madisound is a wonderful deal if the shipping to UK does not kill the deal.

Lojzek, your speaker built looks beautiful. Did you publish your LR4 acoustic crossover schematic?

 

[LineSource]

I like the idea of that SB driver but it needs a bigger enclosure than I really have room for..

The SB17NRXC35-8 produces under 50Hz bass even in a 0.5cuft cabinet, which is easy to achieve with a bottom slot port or rear port.

SB17NRXC35 has a 6.7" diameter frame, and the SB15NRXC30 has a 5.9" diameter frame.
Small difference in diameter. Small cabinet size difference when both crossover and port are included.

 

[Roo2]

Thanks Linesource. Looks like a good path.
I like the slot port concept to allow them to be placed closer to the wall.
Where can I find more info on calculating slot port dimensions?

 

[Ugg10]

here are a couple of slot calculators -

L slot - Enclosure Calculators Archives - DB DYNAMIX AUDIO
Simple slot - Port Length Calculator

 

[LineSource]

Will the 0.6 cuft cabinet in this article meet your size and style goals?
-Loudspeakermagazine 2012 > April 2012 > SB 18

SB 18 - April 2012 - Loudspeakermagazine 2012 | Loudspeakerbuilding

=========
If you decide to reduce the internal volume to 0.5cuft, keep the internal width = 19mm = 7.5" and modestly reduce the depth and height.
SLOT PORT for 0.5cuft internal volume. Width = 7.5" Height=0.5" Depth =9.7" (which include the thickness of the front baffle)

You can get reduced baffle diffraction if you mount the tweeter 1" off-center. This spreads the pressure wave energy over a wider variation of baffle lengths.

Mount the crossover behind the tweeter so it will not restrict woofer air flow.

 

[Roo2]

Thanks all.
Yes, that article with 0.6cuft enclosure looks very good. Just need to find decent 21mm plywood here in Aus..

 

[Roo2]

Hello again. The SB17 drivers are ordered! I’m looking for the BB3 crossover bits now. Can anyone recommend some capacitor make/models that are good and reasonable value?

 

[Xerxes75]

I wanted to build a two way with the SB Acoustic Satori but that did not fit the budget. So a few weeks ago I decided to build the SB18 which is more budget friendly.
I don't have the time yet, I am curious about the results!

R.