Hello,
I’m on a lookout for speakers for DIY project, and i wanted to ask for recommendations - what companies produce high end speaker elements?
Not looking for specific models of speakers, just companies overall - since i have no idea really. I only somewhat familiar with Celestion and Dynaudio.
Basically aiming to build 3 way floor standing speakers, preferably with 15’’ woofer, 12’’ will do also, but not less. No compression drivers - just dome speakers.
Thank you
I’m on a lookout for speakers for DIY project, and i wanted to ask for recommendations - what companies produce high end speaker elements?
Not looking for specific models of speakers, just companies overall - since i have no idea really. I only somewhat familiar with Celestion and Dynaudio.
Basically aiming to build 3 way floor standing speakers, preferably with 15’’ woofer, 12’’ will do also, but not less. No compression drivers - just dome speakers.
Thank you
Sorry for being a bit pedantic, but the correct terminology is essential. Speaker elements means basically all what is inside in a speaker, from wire to crossover components to terminals to drivers. If you mean only the things that produce sound, those are called drivers.
For drivers, you will probably receive a lot of different names, I will only name Scan-Speak (from tweeters to 12" Hi-Fi woofers). If you need PA drivers that's another story.
IMHO, your question poses me the doubt that you don't have knowledge and experience in designing a speaker. Using expensive high end drivers with a poor crossover will lead to an under-performing speaker. Great outcome can be had also from carefully chosen inexpensive drivers used well. See an example here: Tarkus - undefinition
Ralf
For drivers, you will probably receive a lot of different names, I will only name Scan-Speak (from tweeters to 12" Hi-Fi woofers). If you need PA drivers that's another story.
IMHO, your question poses me the doubt that you don't have knowledge and experience in designing a speaker. Using expensive high end drivers with a poor crossover will lead to an under-performing speaker. Great outcome can be had also from carefully chosen inexpensive drivers used well. See an example here: Tarkus - undefinition
Ralf
Thank you for your reply
You are right, i have no experience in building speakers.
Perhaps its better if i explain the whole story.
Basically, a friend of mine, big into hi-fi, can’t seem to find a satisfying speaker for his bedroom. He really wants 15’’ woofers because he likes how they sound. Even 12’’ is becoming a rare thing on new speakers, not to mention 15’’. Anyway, the minimum he is ready to compromise is 12’’ woofer.
He does not like horns, so as i mentioned just dome drivers (well if tweeter is ribbon, that’s fine too).
We do have an experienced speaker builder who knows how to build speakers and crossovers, the only problem is that my friend does not like the drivers he is using (mainly morel, focal).
I, was tasked with finding out what companies are regarded as high end, so here i’am.
Btw, a company that can provide a kit - x-overs + drivers + box schematics will be an ideal option actually. Just build the box right.
On a philosophical note - I personally agree with you - proper design with inexpensive components could give great result. But, as i mentioned my friend wants the drivers (and x-over) to be from ‘company that is regarded as high-end’.
Btw, you mentioned Scan-Speak - we looked at troelsgravesen.dk speakers, he used some drivers from Scan-Speak (only tweeter and mid). He provides almost all components needed as a kit, and schematics for the enclosure. Thought of ordering from him, but my friend has negative feeling about using PA driver for mid...so...
You are right, i have no experience in building speakers.
Perhaps its better if i explain the whole story.
Basically, a friend of mine, big into hi-fi, can’t seem to find a satisfying speaker for his bedroom. He really wants 15’’ woofers because he likes how they sound. Even 12’’ is becoming a rare thing on new speakers, not to mention 15’’. Anyway, the minimum he is ready to compromise is 12’’ woofer.
He does not like horns, so as i mentioned just dome drivers (well if tweeter is ribbon, that’s fine too).
We do have an experienced speaker builder who knows how to build speakers and crossovers, the only problem is that my friend does not like the drivers he is using (mainly morel, focal).
I, was tasked with finding out what companies are regarded as high end, so here i’am.
Btw, a company that can provide a kit - x-overs + drivers + box schematics will be an ideal option actually. Just build the box right.
On a philosophical note - I personally agree with you - proper design with inexpensive components could give great result. But, as i mentioned my friend wants the drivers (and x-over) to be from ‘company that is regarded as high-end’.
Btw, you mentioned Scan-Speak - we looked at troelsgravesen.dk speakers, he used some drivers from Scan-Speak (only tweeter and mid). He provides almost all components needed as a kit, and schematics for the enclosure. Thought of ordering from him, but my friend has negative feeling about using PA driver for mid...so...
Instead of reading a very long thread with a gazillion of posts, this might be useful: osmcdoc/osmc_paper.pdf at master * mbrennwa/osmcdoc * GitHub
Just a side comment:
1) your friend must have a LARGE bedroom. Serious.
2) he claims he likes 15".
To like something usually implies he listened to them before.
I am curious about what he listened to, and when, since 15" Hi Fi woofers have been all but extinct for over 60 years 😕
Leaving aside those Japanese monstrosities from the 70´s with a 15" speaker inside a shoebox, and with a carved wooden grill in front of the speakers 🙄
3) he must have listened to lots of *PA* cabinets with 15" speakers in them, find weird he insists on no "PA" components now.
@Baron Harkonnen:
Your friend and his views seem to be the weak link here, I am afraid. ScanSpeak, Morel, Focal... they are indeed producers of high end drivers. For your information, PA drivers tend to have high sensitivity, low distortion and high power handling. This is why you will find recognised designers like Troels Gravesen using them. Not every PA driver is suitable for home use, though. Also know that - associated with PA drivers - is a range of very good horn-type drivers and drivers employing waveguides.
I don't envy you taking on this project. I recommend that you turn your attention to the room that the speaker will be placed in for a start. 12 inch woofer in a bedroom? Interrogate whether his choice of speaker will complement the room for its size and acoustics. Also see if you can borrow different types of speakers for audition in the listening space, so that you can get to understand which attributes correlate with his tastes.
Good luck!
Your friend and his views seem to be the weak link here, I am afraid. ScanSpeak, Morel, Focal... they are indeed producers of high end drivers. For your information, PA drivers tend to have high sensitivity, low distortion and high power handling. This is why you will find recognised designers like Troels Gravesen using them. Not every PA driver is suitable for home use, though. Also know that - associated with PA drivers - is a range of very good horn-type drivers and drivers employing waveguides.
I don't envy you taking on this project. I recommend that you turn your attention to the room that the speaker will be placed in for a start. 12 inch woofer in a bedroom? Interrogate whether his choice of speaker will complement the room for its size and acoustics. Also see if you can borrow different types of speakers for audition in the listening space, so that you can get to understand which attributes correlate with his tastes.
Good luck!
1) he does not 🙂 but that won’t stop him
2) he very well may have, he is in his late 60s. And loves vintage stuff.
3) Maybe he was not aware those were PA. I bet if he could just hear a speaker that he liked - it won’t matter to him whether that’s PA or not. But when the decision is based purely on stats - preconceived notions creep in.
Thanks for all replies btw! Im sure I’ll find something he likes there.
Focal and Morel are high end. And so are a lot of horns. I'm in my 60s, love vintage Hi-Fi and 15" woofers and even I know that. 😛 Many of the best drivers are actually for PA
I fully agree with Shaun - you are going to have your work cut out for you, as your friend's choices seem a bit odd. He'll be difficult to satisfy.
I fully agree with Shaun - you are going to have your work cut out for you, as your friend's choices seem a bit odd. He'll be difficult to satisfy.
Hi Baron Harkonnen.
Some brands of Hi-end speakers are:
Scan Speak, SB acoustics, Seas, Morel, Purify, Acoustic Technology, Raal, Accuton, Supravox, ....
PA brands also have some models with high quality, like Beyma´s AMT tweeter TPL 150 or TPL 200
If you are going to start building a multivia system, I would forget about passive filters and build an active system. It is much easier to configure and the result is much better
Regards
Some brands of Hi-end speakers are:
Scan Speak, SB acoustics, Seas, Morel, Purify, Acoustic Technology, Raal, Accuton, Supravox, ....
PA brands also have some models with high quality, like Beyma´s AMT tweeter TPL 150 or TPL 200
If you are going to start building a multivia system, I would forget about passive filters and build an active system. It is much easier to configure and the result is much better
Regards
Nice suggestion given that it uses a 15", though it does use pro drivers (I hope we can put that deal breaker to rest).
But we all know that real men use 4 15"drivers per side 😉 This is a semi-DIY open baffle speaker from an Israeli company:
Quintet15, Wall of Sound Modular Open Baffle Speakers for Large Rooms - PureAudioProject
The open source monkey box is probably about as good as you will get, it uses very good drivers and is well designed but needs reasonably deep pockets for just the components.
Here’s a couple more to look into which use a similar dome mid to the monkey box.
15” transmission line - complete kit available with cabinet or not.
WA TL15
12” bass reflex.
PRESTIGE
15” midfield monitor, flat response
SM115 Mid Field Monitor
Here’s a couple more to look into which use a similar dome mid to the monkey box.
15” transmission line - complete kit available with cabinet or not.
WA TL15
12” bass reflex.
PRESTIGE
15” midfield monitor, flat response
SM115 Mid Field Monitor
High end is an ambiguous term but often means something like high status among audiophile subjectivists. Audiophile subjectivists vary significantly among themselves in what they consider high and low end because it is not based on something independent like technical performance but what they feel about the brand and/or hardware configuration.
Scan-Speak, Focal and Morel manufacture good quality drivers in a technical sense. One could reasonably describe them as high fidelity but not necessarily high end because this relies on what high end means to the person using the term. I avoid using it because of this ambiguity. My guess is your friend is an audiophile subjectivist and you probably have little option but to extract from him what types of drivers and brands he values highly before seeking a kit that fits his view.
If he likes old 15" vintage speakers what does he think of, say, old 15" Tannoys or some of the American equivalents. These are considered high end by a fair number of audiophile subjectivists even though their technical performance is somewhat below better modern equivalents.
Attachments
Wow! Pure audio project is crazy - We will certainly contact him!
Thanks!
In the end my friend agreed with me (and with all of you by proxy 🙂 ).
We will check either complete speakers that are available locally, the Israeli guy, also apparently Manley (I think it was Manley) made speakers long time ago with Savoy drivers.
Thank you all for helping!