Hi everyone, it's good to be here!
I'm planning to start my next speaker-building project. After building two pairs of full-range speakers (Dayton and Fostex), I would like to move on to a two-way bookshelf speaker.
I'm looking for recommendations on parts combinations for a two-way speaker with a budget of 650-800 euros for all parts (drivers and crossover).
It would be great if the recommendations are based on your experience and if you could suggest a ready-made or kit crossover.
I'll try to specify my requirements to help get accurate recommendations:
1. Room Size: I plan to build these speakers for a small room, around 25 m², so I guess they're near-field speakers.
2. Enclosure Size: I would like to limit the size of the speakers to 40x60 cm.
3. Materials: I think it will be easier with plywood, though I would like to try solid wood such as oak, ash, or walnut, and possibly 3D-printed parts if a horn or port is needed.
Thank you, and have a nice day!
Avi
I'm planning to start my next speaker-building project. After building two pairs of full-range speakers (Dayton and Fostex), I would like to move on to a two-way bookshelf speaker.
I'm looking for recommendations on parts combinations for a two-way speaker with a budget of 650-800 euros for all parts (drivers and crossover).
It would be great if the recommendations are based on your experience and if you could suggest a ready-made or kit crossover.
I'll try to specify my requirements to help get accurate recommendations:
1. Room Size: I plan to build these speakers for a small room, around 25 m², so I guess they're near-field speakers.
2. Enclosure Size: I would like to limit the size of the speakers to 40x60 cm.
3. Materials: I think it will be easier with plywood, though I would like to try solid wood such as oak, ash, or walnut, and possibly 3D-printed parts if a horn or port is needed.
Thank you, and have a nice day!
Avi
This might interest you...
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/tall-thin-2-way-for-workshop-pc.402268/post-7426447
I designed and built this for my brother's workshop. After it was done, it sounded so good that I thought it deserved a nicer finish than a matte paint job, so I veneered it.
It is a very nice sounding speaker, good detail, warm bass, and excellent presentation of 3D space.
This design is well documented, and I would answer any questions you have. The tapered bevels are the only challenging aspect of construction...
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/tall-thin-2-way-for-workshop-pc.402268/post-7426447
I designed and built this for my brother's workshop. After it was done, it sounded so good that I thought it deserved a nicer finish than a matte paint job, so I veneered it.
It is a very nice sounding speaker, good detail, warm bass, and excellent presentation of 3D space.
This design is well documented, and I would answer any questions you have. The tapered bevels are the only challenging aspect of construction...
You could also look at a smaller 2-way (17.5 cm W X 29 cm H) called Mechano23 by @XMechanik. You can read about them HERE and see the 3rd-party test results HERE. It really depends on your listening habits. I'm sure the speaker by @hifijim sounds very good too and has an advantage due to it's larger mid-woofer.
Thank you @hifiji and @ernperkins for your response. I would like to ask when you write listening habits what do you mean?
In addition I would like to add that the nominal impedance that im looking for is 6 or 8 ohm.
In addition I would like to add that the nominal impedance that im looking for is 6 or 8 ohm.
Good point.
I really enjoy listening to jazz; however, I also listen to shoegaze, electronic, and indie rock. I like it loud but balanced. If possible, I'm looking for something with character, not just a flat response.
I really enjoy listening to jazz; however, I also listen to shoegaze, electronic, and indie rock. I like it loud but balanced. If possible, I'm looking for something with character, not just a flat response.
That's a great budget, not a "low" budget!
Does that include making the cabinet or buying a flat pack?
Also, to which brands do you have access; Morel, Peerless, Dayton, SEAS, SB Acoustics etc? No use suggesting a project for which you can't buy the drivers at a reasonable price. For example, if I try to buy drivers from Parts Express, which look like good value, the cost of the shipping is two or three times more than the drivers. You don't want to spend most of your money on shipping or post.
Geoff
Does that include making the cabinet or buying a flat pack?
Also, to which brands do you have access; Morel, Peerless, Dayton, SEAS, SB Acoustics etc? No use suggesting a project for which you can't buy the drivers at a reasonable price. For example, if I try to buy drivers from Parts Express, which look like good value, the cost of the shipping is two or three times more than the drivers. You don't want to spend most of your money on shipping or post.
Geoff
The Zaph Audio SR-71 kit from Madisound is really nice and within your budget…..I build a pair for a friend around 7 years ago or so. Killer bass and upper mid clarity. Set on sand filled stands around 2.5 meters apart and a meter in to the room, they image like crazy.
Morel is one of the best brands there are, compare it to Seas, Scan Speak and the like.
What value you get for the same amount of money depends on what you can source locally.
If you have to get imported chassis, it may save you a lot of money to get the crossover parts from the domestic market.
A 1,2uH copper coild wound from 1.4sq mm wire is the same part, made in Germany, USA or Israel. The rest is marketing blurp to inflate prices a few hundred percent. Same for capacitors and resistors if you pick with care. You will not improve a cheap chassis with expensive crossover parts and it will not degrade good chassis if on the parts is not written Mundorf, Solen, Janzen or the like. You can still upgrade a crossover, just to learn how to hear no difference, but you can not upgrade a cheap chassis without buying new.
If you could point to the souces you can use, there will be nice kits hat fit the bill.
In general, a 60cm high speaker, maybe on a stand and tilted a bit, could give you nice output from a 6 1/2 driver with a 25-30mm tweeter.
For a 25sqm room and not too extreme volume, you can get away even without a subwoofer.
If a subwoofer is on a sooner or later upgrade list, you should think about a smaller speaker with some 5" woofer, but a little higher midrange quality.
There are so many options out there...
What value you get for the same amount of money depends on what you can source locally.
If you have to get imported chassis, it may save you a lot of money to get the crossover parts from the domestic market.
A 1,2uH copper coild wound from 1.4sq mm wire is the same part, made in Germany, USA or Israel. The rest is marketing blurp to inflate prices a few hundred percent. Same for capacitors and resistors if you pick with care. You will not improve a cheap chassis with expensive crossover parts and it will not degrade good chassis if on the parts is not written Mundorf, Solen, Janzen or the like. You can still upgrade a crossover, just to learn how to hear no difference, but you can not upgrade a cheap chassis without buying new.
If you could point to the souces you can use, there will be nice kits hat fit the bill.
In general, a 60cm high speaker, maybe on a stand and tilted a bit, could give you nice output from a 6 1/2 driver with a 25-30mm tweeter.
For a 25sqm room and not too extreme volume, you can get away even without a subwoofer.
If a subwoofer is on a sooner or later upgrade list, you should think about a smaller speaker with some 5" woofer, but a little higher midrange quality.
There are so many options out there...
Just as an example of what you could build just from Morel parts:
https://www.parts-express.com/MK-1-...t-with-Knock-Down-Cabinet-300-7144?quantity=1
The speaker is marked as 'discontinued' but the product page gives you the cabinet and crossover details, plus reviews.
Edit: I just read the fine print and it says the drivers were made especially for this kit, so they may not be commercially available, but no doubt Morel will have something very similar.
Geoff
https://www.parts-express.com/MK-1-...t-with-Knock-Down-Cabinet-300-7144?quantity=1
The speaker is marked as 'discontinued' but the product page gives you the cabinet and crossover details, plus reviews.
Edit: I just read the fine print and it says the drivers were made especially for this kit, so they may not be commercially available, but no doubt Morel will have something very similar.
Geoff
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The budget not include the cabinet, only drivers and crossovers. I do have access to Soundimports.eu, THLP shops and of course Morel which is local.
I just wanted to get a quote from Germany to Israel from HERMES, but they don't ship there because of the situation. Hermes has the best price in many cases.
DHL does take parcels, but can not tell how long it may take.
Looks like Morel is the best option right now.
DHL does take parcels, but can not tell how long it may take.
Looks like Morel is the best option right now.
I had a look at all-Morel projects and they can get expensive, way over your budget: Morel woofers are really costly.
I have the CAT378 in our reference 'Slapshot' speakers and it sounds great, matched with Dayton RS180Ps.
You could look at something like this, which has a Morel tweeter and SEAS woofer:
https://ampslab-spk.com/2020/12/05/myna/
If you can order from soundimports.eu, this is a well reviewed speaker which should come in under budget, including shipping. It has a knock down cabinet too:
https://www.soundimports.eu/en/css-torii-kit.html
490 euros, I think.
Geoff
I have the CAT378 in our reference 'Slapshot' speakers and it sounds great, matched with Dayton RS180Ps.
You could look at something like this, which has a Morel tweeter and SEAS woofer:
https://ampslab-spk.com/2020/12/05/myna/
If you can order from soundimports.eu, this is a well reviewed speaker which should come in under budget, including shipping. It has a knock down cabinet too:
https://www.soundimports.eu/en/css-torii-kit.html
490 euros, I think.
Geoff
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Seas is found in the best speakers money can buy. Well worth it's money. Sica is a European quality brand with very good price/performance ratio. Lavoce is a quite new brand, doing development in Italy and production in China. Very good for the money, but data sheets are sometimes a bit off.
Monacor is a very old import company in Germany, they buy Chassis all over the world. In most cases very consistant products, some more than 30 years old. My personal oppinion, they are like Visaton, some very good stuff, a lot of mediocre chassis and all products quite expensive for end user, in objective comparison.
Monacor is a very old import company in Germany, they buy Chassis all over the world. In most cases very consistant products, some more than 30 years old. My personal oppinion, they are like Visaton, some very good stuff, a lot of mediocre chassis and all products quite expensive for end user, in objective comparison.
https://en.toutlehautparleur.com/bo...ping-material-and-screws-without-cabinet.html
I'm curious about this kit. Might fit the bill - although it's a kit. Perhaps a bit pricy for what you get, but not rediculously so.
I'm curious about this kit. Might fit the bill - although it's a kit. Perhaps a bit pricy for what you get, but not rediculously so.
From my experience, anything by Paul Carmody is great. I've built a number of his designs and would highly recommend anything he designs. Soundimports.eu has his Classix II in kit form- Carmody Classix II, Amiga in kit form- Carmody Amiga, and his Overnight Sensations in kit form- Carmody Overnight Sensation.