I have a pair of Behringer Truth 3020a's. They have a horrible dip in the midrange, between 2 and 6kHz (probably due to crossover issues + tweeter and woofer misalignment). Modifying them is out of the question (I wouldn't know where to start), right now I'm mitigating the issue with a parametric EQ but that isn't ideal, of course. Since I'm about to buy woodworking tools to build a bass guitar speaker and a guitar speaker, I might as well attempt building a pair of monitor speakers.
I would do this especially because in the price range I'm looking at (around €600 max for the pair) there are no sealed options that seem worth the expense, except for the Kef Q150 or Q350 (which I've read mixed reviews about, basically being fine for the price point but with lots of room for improvement). I'd like a sealed cabinet for the more precise transient response and easier positioning within a haphazardly treated room. Low frequency excursion isn't of the utmost importance, also because I might pair them with a subwoofer.
Jeff Bagby's Continuums seem like a good option, although they seem to be suited to quieter music? Or their inspiration seemed to be? (I've read a review of the original BBC units that were characterised as "unsuitable for even jazz"). Otherwise, there is an Italian designer, Mike Borghese (https://www.mikeborgheseaudio.com/shop/diffusori) with a few options, most of which are reflex to be honest, but they have been mentioned to me as very good for their size and price of build.
Any recommendations?
I would do this especially because in the price range I'm looking at (around €600 max for the pair) there are no sealed options that seem worth the expense, except for the Kef Q150 or Q350 (which I've read mixed reviews about, basically being fine for the price point but with lots of room for improvement). I'd like a sealed cabinet for the more precise transient response and easier positioning within a haphazardly treated room. Low frequency excursion isn't of the utmost importance, also because I might pair them with a subwoofer.
Jeff Bagby's Continuums seem like a good option, although they seem to be suited to quieter music? Or their inspiration seemed to be? (I've read a review of the original BBC units that were characterised as "unsuitable for even jazz"). Otherwise, there is an Italian designer, Mike Borghese (https://www.mikeborgheseaudio.com/shop/diffusori) with a few options, most of which are reflex to be honest, but they have been mentioned to me as very good for their size and price of build.
Any recommendations?
Paul Carmody's "Hitmakers'? Two way with Vifa BC5TG tweeter and DA175 woofer.
Vented, but could be what you're looking for if you get get the Dayton DA175 woofer.
Geoff
Vented, but could be what you're looking for if you get get the Dayton DA175 woofer.
Geoff
What would your opinion be regarding these vs my original choices? I'm asking this since, being a vented speaker, there are several options in the price range and below (and these are well below, also considering the amplifier, a 100WRMSx2 should suffice).
I haven't heard them but built Paul's Classix II and love them; the fact that the Hitmakers and the Classix II are sold as commercial kits, and are widely and well reviewed, is a good indication of their quality. Paul's a musician, too.
https://www.parts-express.com/Hitmaker-MT-Bookshelf-Speaker-Kit-with-Knock-Down-Cabinet-300-7116
https://meniscusaudio.com/product/hitmakers-loudspeaker-kit/
I don't have any experience of the speakers you've mentioned; I'm a long time music lover and enjoy DIY speaker building.
Geoff
https://www.parts-express.com/Hitmaker-MT-Bookshelf-Speaker-Kit-with-Knock-Down-Cabinet-300-7116
https://meniscusaudio.com/product/hitmakers-loudspeaker-kit/
I don't have any experience of the speakers you've mentioned; I'm a long time music lover and enjoy DIY speaker building.
Geoff
It's not clear from your post, but are you an experienced recording engineer? Or are you just starting out with this?
I'm in between. I've mixed four or five albums, my stuff and other people's stuff. Plus the odd track here and there. I'm not a professional recording engineer (I'm an English teacher) but I'd say I know my stuff. I saw that you posted something about the NS10s. Yep, they were very popular despite not being hifi much, and a lot of it was sort of a meme/"gotta do it because that's what the cool guys are doing" and to be honest, they weren't as ubiquitous as their fame would let you believe (the top studios might have had them somewhere in the mixing room, but together with much fancier speakers...), but on the other hand, they have very good response from a time perspective, with few resonances and essentially a flat waterfall plot in the midrange. The Continuums have or should have a similar, but better response (much flatter response, similarly tight reproduction, more extension in the low frequencies) which is why I took them into consideration.
The translation thingy is sort of overblown. Yes, you should certainly also verify how your mix sounds on other equipment (and other environments, such as the car, headphones), but to ensure good reproduction across systems is sort of more of the mastering engineer's duty, and I never master my own stuff (unless it's a quick and dirty master for SoundCloud or the like) because it's good practice not to. Nearfield reference monitors should essentially show you what's wrong in your mix, and if something sounds good on good nearfield monitors (which do not have resonance masking possible issues in the mix, or gaping holes in the frequency response) chances are that it will be much easier for the mastering engineer to do their job, obviously if the mixing engineer is any good (and this is not necessarily my case!).
Whatever you'll pick, be sure to check for solid measurements available. The on-axis response is important and more so is the polar response. Myself, I check waterfalls, nowadays a lot of us know how to produce them reasonably well. And: most ported systems can be turned into closed systems quite easily.
Borghese's designs don't really appeal to me, by the way. Had to dig deep to find any measurement and what I found didn't impress me a bit. Enclosed the response of his Sorriso.
Borghese's designs don't really appeal to me, by the way. Had to dig deep to find any measurement and what I found didn't impress me a bit. Enclosed the response of his Sorriso.
Attachments
I don't think you can diy a studio monitor without years of experience and so i would rather suggest to buy something ready made like the JBL 308P that is within budget and fairly neutral as tested by Audio Science Review: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ds/jbl-308p-mkii-studio-monitor-review.17338/
These are a lot better than your Behringers i think, and i don't know a kit that does better than this for a studio monitor within your budget.
These are a lot better than your Behringers i think, and i don't know a kit that does better than this for a studio monitor within your budget.
The JBLs are a very good choice too, and what I would probably buy ready made (either these or the Kefs), but as I said, once you go with reflex enclosures, there are plenty of options in the market. Sealed enclosures are much harder to come by (and easy enough to build yourself, comparatively), which is why I was considering making a pair. Also because, honestly, it's a whim of mine.
Agree. If you have 600 to spend on the pair, I would look at the used market rather than try to engineer your own.
There are probably several good kits available that would fit your needs and be within your budget. The downside is that it is difficult to arrange an audition before you commit to building.
I wouldn't engineer my own, I frankly don't have the experience to do so. Kits, on the other hand, or readily available plans would be far more approachable. I may have access to a CNC machine, so I would be able to do stuff like round off the baffle's edges to minimise diffraction, countersink braces, etc. Looks aren't important, I could leave the cabinets plain (maybe just some light coating for durability).
You cross that tweeter way to low, it needs a crossover above 2.5kHz at least to avoid heavy distortions on it. you can see that in the measurments: https://hificompass.com/en/speakers/measurements/peerless/peerless-bc25tg15-04
If you can stretch your budget a bit, the Kairos by Bagby are very well thought of.
I realize this is a vented box design, but if you should try listening to them as both vented and with the port stuffed with a foam plug. I have found I often prefer the sound of small vented 2-ways with the port stuffed. If you are going to add a sub or subs, you will certainly want to stuff the vent tube, which forces the bass to roll off at 12 dB/octave.
I realize this is a vented box design, but if you should try listening to them as both vented and with the port stuffed with a foam plug. I have found I often prefer the sound of small vented 2-ways with the port stuffed. If you are going to add a sub or subs, you will certainly want to stuff the vent tube, which forces the bass to roll off at 12 dB/octave.
Needing a crossover above 2.5kHz is nonsense. Below is the distortion plot at 2.2kHz. Do you see any distortion rising?
My crossover frequency may seem low but this is for nearfield use. At normal listening levels, the crossover is perfectly fine.
If you want to go deaf playing at disco level, may I humbly suggest you use a PA driver instead.
At the price point for pre owned monitors, given a value placed on your time, tools and supplies……a set of used monitors is going to be a faaaar better value.
Presonus Sceptre S6 or S8 are just incredible for nearfields and user reviews reflect…….most can’t get past the visual design……they have no idea what they’re missing…..the midrange clarity essential for accurate mixing is simply stunning
Presonus Sceptre S6 or S8 are just incredible for nearfields and user reviews reflect…….most can’t get past the visual design……they have no idea what they’re missing…..the midrange clarity essential for accurate mixing is simply stunning
Wow, someone on ASR took a really deep dive into a pair of Sceptre S8 he bought used.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...s8-optimized-compared-to-neumann-kh120.18666/
I don't know if that will help, but hey, it's information. I hope it helps.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...s8-optimized-compared-to-neumann-kh120.18666/
I don't know if that will help, but hey, it's information. I hope it helps.
I realise this is true of any DIY venture. Still, it is a pastime I want to take up. I'm not going to stop at one project, but I'd actually like to build quite a few cabinets. It's more of a want than a need.
