7 DIY speaker build thread

[crackyflipside]

L/C/R :

D.A. Khanspire - An RS150/225 WMTMW
http://htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=26309

I was originally going to with the WWMT design that has been built plenty of times already, but the reason I chose the khanspires were most importantly the placement of the tweeter since the screen is AT, placement plays a big issue since the speaker will now be elevated a few feet, I wouldn't want the tweeter to be 3 feet above ear level. I was also thinking about building identical MTM's and then just adding bass bins and bi-amp the speakers. Then K and CJD started work on the WMTMW and decided it was the right speaker for my situation.

I already bought all the stuff to start on the Khanspires and just wait for it all to show up so I can start building.



Surround Speakers:

The RS22528A - An RS225 based MT
http://www.audioheuristics.org/proje...ence_rs225.htm

I was going to go with the Modula MT design but decided to go with these since they have a bit more output capability and power handling.

[kgveteran]

I use the RS28a in my three mains and the off axis response is great. I've got an AT screen and the speakers are at least three feet above ear level. I can tilt them down a bit, but nevertheless they sound great. You should be fine.

The two RS150's will fill in the midrange real well. Thats a real balanced design, power handling wise.

Cool. Kg

[crackyflipside]

Originally Posted by kgveteran

I use the RS28a in my three mains and the off axis response is great. I've got an AT screen and the speakers are at least three feet above ear level. I can tilt them down a bit, but nevertheless they sound great. You should be fine.

The two RS150's will fill in the midrange real well. Thats a real balanced design, power handling wise.

Cool. Kg

Yeah, you went with the sideways WTMW speakers, vertical placement is much easier to do than if you went with the tower versions. I've heard both versions (tower and center) as well as the seas version at Chuck's house, and was really impressed, so much so that I'm willing to build a speaker design I've never heard myself

[kgveteran]

Originally Posted by crackyflipside

Yeah, you went with the sideways WTMW speakers, vertical placement is much easier to do than if you went with the tower versions. I've heard both versions (tower and center) as well as the seas version at Chuck's house, and was really impressed, so much so that I'm willing to build a speaker design I've never heard myself

Yup. I built the WTMW centers with never hearing them. A leap of faith. Best damn move I could have made.

Kg

[crackyflipside]

Well the Khanspire electronics should show up on Friday so expect plenty of pics.

Still verifying the right x-ver parts for the surround speakers, then I'll order.

[kgveteran]

Originally Posted by crackyflipside

Well the Khanspire electronics should show up on Friday so expect plenty of pics.

Still verifying the right x-ver parts for the surround speakers, then I'll order.

What surrounds will you use ?

[crackyflipside]

Originally Posted by kgveteran

What surrounds will you use ?

Modula MT, the version without BSC since they will be very close to walls. I listened to them before and liked the sound. Just having some issues since JonMarsh didn't really post a BOM so I'm waiting for them to confirm that list I posted there to make sure it's the right components.

[kgveteran]

Whats the cabinet depth on those MT's.

[crackyflipside]

Originally Posted by kgveteran

Whats the cabinet depth on those MT's.

It's not really specific, one of the guys there built it with about 4" of depth to fit it in the wall. The only consideration is that it has a boundary. I figured since I was gonna put it against the ceiling/wall boundary it would have plenty of bass even though it wasn't completely flush with a wall.

The link to the MT you sent me looks veeery interesting since I'm also a basshead and a MT with an 8" mid looks interesting to say the least. The 6dB of BSC he put on it makes me nervous for my situation though!

[crackyflipside]

Speaker and x-over component porn; click on thumbnail for larger image.

[crackyflipside]

Originally Posted by kgveteran

What surrounds will you use ?

You know what, I am giving those super-mt's a look (the one you linked me to with the 8" mid) I'll see if it's possible to persuade Mark to invent a non-BSC crossover!

So surround choice is still in the air.

[kgveteran]

Originally Posted by crackyflipside

You know what, I am giving those super-mt's a look (the one you linked me to with the 8" mid) I'll see if it's possible to persuade Mark to invent a non-BSC crossover!

So surround choice is still in the air.

Interesting to see how the two would differ, parts wise.

Whats real interesting is the way Audyssey made the response of all my speakers the same at the listening position. When I mean the same, I mean I over laped each response and they are identical. I'm not able to do phase responses with TrueRta, but dollars to doughnuts they're all the same too.

Kg

[crackyflipside]

Purchased some more amps. This is how the amplification will be:

Subs - EP2500 (bridged)

Left / Right - EP2500 (stereo)

Center - A500 (bridged)

Side Surround Left / Right - A500 (stereo)

Rear Surround Left / Right - A500 (stereo)

[tsloms]

That should be just about adequate amplification.

[kgveteran]

I use two of the A500's for my four surrounds also. You'll want to use the 1/4 inch input, not the RCA. I got a bad hum out of the RCA input. Rat Shack sells real nice one (1/4" TRS to RCA), unless your processor has balanced outputs.

Kg

[swatkins]

Do you have a total cost for all the parts yet?

[crackyflipside]

Originally Posted by swatkins

Do you have a total cost for all the parts yet?

I haven't bought the parts for the surrounds yet, but here is an estimate of L/C/R mains ~ $350 each speaker (just drivers and crossover)

Also bought an AVR to use as a pre/pro, Onkyo TX-SR805 for $470.

[kgveteran]

and......

[crackyflipside]

Ordered some tweeters to send to Mark K. He agreed to do some measurements and help come up with a surround design to suit on-wall placement. Awesome guy and some awesome speaker designs on his site:
http://audioheuristics.org/default.htm

The three Behringer A500's will be shipped soon.

Finally got the Onkyo 805:





Will begin the Khanspire crossovers when the speaker wire and electrical terminals show up sometime this week.

[crackyflipside]

Well started building the crossover.

These are for the tweeter. The tweeter is the easiest section to put together. The woofer is the second easiest section and the midwoofer is pure chaos compared to the other sections. They will be glued to small pieces of 1/4" plywood. This will be the last time I use hot glue, it's too easy to break off and 'fire burn' so all the others will be glued with silicone.

[crackyflipside]

The three woofer x-over boards were soldered together, I haven't picked up silicone to glue them to the wooden boards but will soon.

Here's a pic of one:



Almost done with the crossovers. The worst part is the midwoofer section, there is so much going on there...

[---k---]

Are you sure about the surrounds?

http://htguide.com/forum/showpost.ph...&postcount=618

I made that post just for you.

[---k---]

Man those woofer inductors are tiny!

The mid crossover isn't that bad once you understand it. I think my picture shows it pretty well. If you have any questions, let me know and I can attempt to walk you through it. Just go slow and you should be fine.

A tip though, don't solder everything together until you have listened to them. Just twisting everything together tightly should be enough. If there is a problem, it will make things much easier to fix. Mine traveled all the way to DIY Iowa 2007 without the crossovers being soldered.

[crackyflipside]

Originally Posted by ---k---

Are you sure about the surrounds?

http://htguide.com/forum/showpost.ph...&postcount=618

I made that post just for you.

I would but I'm already working with a guy on the surrounds!

[---k---]

Very cool.
MarkK's RS225 design would probably be more than adequate for me, maybe if you guys had that design done, I might not be going in this direction. I look forward to what you guys come up with. I think it will fit a good niche.

[kgveteran]

Originally Posted by ---k---

Very cool.
MarkK's RS225 design would probably be more than adequate for me, maybe if you guys had that design done, I might not be going in this direction. I look forward to what you guys come up with. I think it will fit a good niche.

My room is kinda small, but these really kick out some bass. I just lowered the XO to 80hz and they seem to have no problem along with the Behringer A500's.

I bet Mark could rework the XO's too.......Mark, are you out there

[crackyflipside]

Originally Posted by kgveteran

My room is kinda small, but these really kick out some bass. I just lowered the XO to 80hz and they seem to have no problem along with the Behringer A500's.

I bet Mark could rework the XO's too.......Mark, are you out there

Rest assured he is working on it KG!

[liuduidui]

learn much!!!!

[crackyflipside]

Ok Got this in an email from Mark K. It may be changed later but it will give you a basic idea on what the x-over will look like for the MT surrounds.

Originally Posted by Mark K

I've attached a preliminary xover and set of curves. I'm not sure if it's final or not. Give me a bit more time to play with it.


PS there is still about 3dB of bafflestep. I would still recommend this, even though it may be mounted on a wall. (Is it flush mounted?)

Sorry about the 80uF cap in the tweeter circuit. It just works out that way. You can use an electrolytic if you want to save some bucks in a surround application.

You can see the 3dB of bafflestep. It looks a little more abrupt than it actually is.

[---k---]

Hows progress on the mains coming? Up and running yet?