I’m looking for a 2 way kit with drivers and crossover only (no cabinets) and would like to spend no more than $1000-1100. I have a complete wood shop so cabinets are no problem. I would like to do a stand mount type rather than floor. They will be for music only and driven by a Yamaha RN602 (80 watts/ch). I know I could use more power but that’s what I have at this point.
The room size is 14’x20’ with 8 ft ceiling. Placement position is open to experimenting. I have looked at the Helios CM from Meniscus and the Criton 1TD-X from CSS. Has anyone heard both of these speakers and have any insight to differences? There are a number of YouTube’s on the CSS but other than the Facebook group not much on the Helios CM that I’ve seen. Thanks for any suggestions.
The room size is 14’x20’ with 8 ft ceiling. Placement position is open to experimenting. I have looked at the Helios CM from Meniscus and the Criton 1TD-X from CSS. Has anyone heard both of these speakers and have any insight to differences? There are a number of YouTube’s on the CSS but other than the Facebook group not much on the Helios CM that I’ve seen. Thanks for any suggestions.
I honestly did not like the Helios CM, but the original Helios were great!
The Criton is also very good.
If you're just in for an 8" 2-way, I think my Zingers could also be quite fun and much less expensive. I prefer the bass tuning and alignment in the Zinger to the CM. The original Helios bass was easy, extended, and very clean.
Could you give more background to your prospective choices, or why or what it is you want them to do?
Wolf
The Criton is also very good.
If you're just in for an 8" 2-way, I think my Zingers could also be quite fun and much less expensive. I prefer the bass tuning and alignment in the Zinger to the CM. The original Helios bass was easy, extended, and very clean.
Could you give more background to your prospective choices, or why or what it is you want them to do?
Wolf
Something with the new Purifi PTT6.5
There are some designs here on diyaudio or at Troels and Hificompass
There are some designs here on diyaudio or at Troels and Hificompass
I was leaning toward the criton but now it looks like the kits are on back order due to woofer supply. With the way things are now who’s when?
I would like to build something that will not necessarily require a sub to get some decent bass for my room size.
I did consider those. I actually remember listening to the old A25’s back in the 70s and how pleasant they were.
Music preferences, listening levels? All useful stuff to think about.
Don't discount designs which aren't available as "kits"; most designers will include the BoM in their write ups, so as long as you can source the parts, it's almost the same thing.
Geoff
Don't discount designs which aren't available as "kits"; most designers will include the BoM in their write ups, so as long as you can source the parts, it's almost the same thing.
Geoff
There is this good measuring, controlled directivity bookshelf speakers I will try some day. Have not heard them: Cinetor-Evo, Monitor | Heimkinolautsprecher
Scan-Speak Discovery D2604/833000: ~ 50EUR x2
+ Waveguide PCT-300/WG-300: ~ 10EUR x2
+ Adapter: 12,5EUR x2
Scan-Speak Discovery 18W/4434G00: ~60EUR x2
Plans: 60EUR
Crossover parts: ??? (not more than 150EUR for both I presume)
Wood: ~200 with everything in?
total: 675EUR
Scan-Speak Discovery D2604/833000: ~ 50EUR x2
+ Waveguide PCT-300/WG-300: ~ 10EUR x2
+ Adapter: 12,5EUR x2
Scan-Speak Discovery 18W/4434G00: ~60EUR x2
Plans: 60EUR
Crossover parts: ??? (not more than 150EUR for both I presume)
Wood: ~200 with everything in?
total: 675EUR
Why is that? Assuming you put them on stands, they don't take up less space. I'm curious your thought process. And do you have some dimensional restrictions? I think your 80W should be fine if you make a senstive build. I'd be thinking 8" + waveguided tweeter (maybe round like the Buchardt etc, not necessarily full-on horn). The waveguide would allow a lower crossover to match the directivity of the larger woofer. Sorry I don't have a particular kit like that in mind. DIY SOUND GROUP
has had some interesting stuff but a lot of it out of stock, presumably COVID.
In that price range, or even a little less, you might consider these from Meniscus Audio:
- Dennis Murphy's Philharmonic BMR (actually a 3-way with a BMR mid, RAAL ribbon tweeter, and Scan-Speak mid woofer)
- Jeff Bagby's Kairos or Adelphos (uses high-end SB Satori drivers)
- Paul Carmody's Carrera (Hiquphon OWI tweeter with Scan-Speak mid woofer)
The Philharmonic BMR is very tempting although it is slightly taller than the others.
Also at Madisound there is the ARA design also using SB Satori drivers similar to the Kairos
All of these kits are under $1000 if you don't add any crossover component upgrades.
I don't think you can wrong with any of them. I'm having a tough time making up my mind although I'm leaning towards the Carrera mainly because it is slightly smaller than the others and I have a fairly small listening room. If size was not an issue the Philharmonic BMR would be very tempting.
Really the only reason for preferring the stand mount is the look. I don’t have any dimension restrictions and figured anything that would stand mount wouldn’t be too large. The waveguide with larger woofer is what attracted me to the Helios cm.
I have read through mainframe99’s thread on the purifi ptt6.5 and find that build very interesting and well documented. It looks like the WG300 waveguide might not be available right now?
Asathor goes to 50 hz with a 15" woofer. https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/367215-asathor-jbl-4367-clone.html?highlight=asathor
not a kit, a bill of materials plus plans, but OP Rese66 said it cost him ~E500 for two.
not a kit, a bill of materials plus plans, but OP Rese66 said it cost him ~E500 for two.
I suspect that Troels Gravesen would not like being referred to as a "troll". Nor calling his "ATiRi" speaker an "Atari".
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I've been building and refining the SEAS A26 kit.
I've modified the original design, physically the speaker cabinet: I've cloned the A35 cabinet.
It works well, but the bass was lacking. That said, the cabinet is solid; made of birch.
I'm a bit of a hack at this and decided to modify the original cabinet by adding a second aperiodic vent
at the rear of the speaker. This improved the lower end while maintaining control over the woofer.
I'm now working on placement options and quite honestly, listening to Dave Brubeck's Take Five the speakers, as they sit, outperforms my Dynaudio Special 40's; more dynamic and the instruments are more vivid, particularly the wind instruments.
That said, overall the Dyn's do better with a variety of material, so if I had to choose one, it would be the Special 40.
I'm not done tweaking!
My questions to the community at large: Next steps: would a bigger cabinet help? Would a better quality capacitor help? Would a crossover help, like P. Comeau's design and the W25DT design I've read earlier.
Thanks for your feedback. Pictures available if anyone is following this post.
Thank you.
I've modified the original design, physically the speaker cabinet: I've cloned the A35 cabinet.
It works well, but the bass was lacking. That said, the cabinet is solid; made of birch.
I'm a bit of a hack at this and decided to modify the original cabinet by adding a second aperiodic vent
at the rear of the speaker. This improved the lower end while maintaining control over the woofer.
I'm now working on placement options and quite honestly, listening to Dave Brubeck's Take Five the speakers, as they sit, outperforms my Dynaudio Special 40's; more dynamic and the instruments are more vivid, particularly the wind instruments.
That said, overall the Dyn's do better with a variety of material, so if I had to choose one, it would be the Special 40.
I'm not done tweaking!
My questions to the community at large: Next steps: would a bigger cabinet help? Would a better quality capacitor help? Would a crossover help, like P. Comeau's design and the W25DT design I've read earlier.
Thanks for your feedback. Pictures available if anyone is following this post.
Thank you.