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Best DIY Setup?

post #1 of 33
3/18/12 at 2:42pm
Thread Starter 
Ive looked at a bunch of the diy setups through the gallery and it peaked my interest. So my question is: in your opinion what is the best diy build? Semi-assembled, schematics, kits, 2 drives or 100... whatever. Home theater in mind of course, subs could be included as well if you want.

For cost conscious, 3k for components and electronics.
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post #2 of 33
3/18/12 at 3:10pm
Notnyt.
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post #3 of 33
3/18/12 at 3:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iccy View Post

Ive looked at a bunch of the diy setups through the gallery and it peaked my interest. So my question is: in your opinion what is the best diy build? Semi-assembled, schematics, kits, 2 drives or 100... whatever. Home theater in mind of course, subs could be included as well if you want.

The best setup is one that fits your room, your needs, and your budget. Everyone's answer to those questions is different.
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post #4 of 33
3/18/12 at 3:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wisounds View Post

notnyt.

+1

To be fair - let's add bosso to this list too.

I'm sure there are other systems with sufficient displacement and headroom to handle the lows properly, as well as mains that can keep up.
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post #5 of 33
3/18/12 at 3:40pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay1 View Post

The best setup is one that fits your room, your needs, and your budget. Everyone's answer to those questions is different.

I figured someone would say this, so I added in your opinion. You have different views than I would, as I would say unlimited but you may not. I asked to see what people consider the best because Im curious.

Holy crap notnyt. Thats gotta be some heavy bass.
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post #6 of 33
3/18/12 at 3:53pm
Healthnut had a pretty awesome setup. And I really like Paul Spencer's DIY Unity Horn.
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post #7 of 33
3/18/12 at 4:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lilmike View Post


+1

+2. Depending on your requirements off course, for ht, a pair of lms 5400 would be a stellar foundation. These will reach single digits with uncompromising amounts of overhead. If you want to follow an interesting project do a search for the SEOS waveguides, this is a diy project created by forum members here on avs and organized by Erich of diy sound group, there you will find the beginnings of something to suit your budgetary tastes whatever they may be. It's an exciting project for sure.

You're in the right place if returns on investment and performance are paramount, once I built my dual flanking subs (overstock drivers built by Eminence for the mfw-15 project) I will never go any other way than diy. Those drivers are all dried up, but look around here and see, there is something for everyone and whatever you're after your performance needs will most certainly be met.
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post #8 of 33
3/18/12 at 4:18pm
pnw's Octagon is pretty nice.

JSS
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post #9 of 33
3/18/12 at 4:28pm
The best DIY setup would be something like

Screen - Acoustically transparent
Fronts - 3X AE TD15M / SEOS-18 build with Hypex Ncore on the tweeter and Crown XLS1500s on the woofers
Surrounds - 4X Audio Artistry CBT36
Subs - 8X TC LMS-5400 with tons of power on tap
Room Treatments - mostly live room with flexible walls to act as bass traps, and absorption behind the speakers and behind the listener, and lots of diffusion as well.
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post #10 of 33
3/18/12 at 4:49pm
It's 100% budget dependent or you may as well be touching yourself.
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post #11 of 33
3/18/12 at 4:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcsoul View Post

It's 100% budget dependent or you may as well be touching yourself.

Fine... 3k for components and electronics for a 7.x setup.
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post #12 of 33
3/18/12 at 5:07pm
Now I feel tingly.

Tell me more, room size? Dimensions including ceiling height.

two 18" TC 5400 LMS ultras are doable for that budget, and should pack a heck
of a punch in under 3500 cubic feet. If multiples are more your style you could go
with many Dayton HF 15's (I would do this unless I have WAF issues), I like lower
power per driver and multiple driver solutions.
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post #13 of 33
3/18/12 at 5:16pm
for 3k, you might want to start with a good pair of mains and some good subs.

the seos kit erich has almost complete is probably the best you can do for high performance budget mains.

for the subwoofer, perhaps a couple of dayton rss390hf subwoofers and a behringer inuke amp with dsp.

perhaps, get something like that setup and then decide where to spend the remaining money.

also at a minimum get an spl meter so that you can see if you have peaks/nulls once your system is setup.
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post #14 of 33
3/18/12 at 5:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcsoul View Post

Now I feel tingly.

Tell me more, room size? Dimensions including ceiling height.

two 18" TC 5400 LMS ultras are doable for that budget, and should pack a heck
of a punch in under 3500 cubic feet. If multiples are more your style you could go
with many Dayton HF 15's (I would do this unless I have WAF issues), I like lower
power per driver and multiple driver solutions.

Probably shouldnt spend the entire system budget on subs, however awesome that would be.
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post #15 of 33
3/18/12 at 5:21pm
Seems like 3k is going to limit the conversation quite a bit? No?
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post #16 of 33
3/18/12 at 5:32pm
Thread Starter 
fyi I never said I was building anything, I was just curious to see what you guys believe to be the best diy project. As per the amount, I just picked a random number.
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post #17 of 33
3/18/12 at 5:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iccy View Post

Probably shouldnt spend the entire system budget on subs, however awesome that would be.

oops I read to fast

I thought I had a sub only budget.

You could do something really nice for that budget. In fact it is similar to my HT setup final budget (had I bought new).

I would diy the 2 subs probably exactly like the ones I did myself.
Sub budget $1000-ish
2 Dayton HF 15's $350
2 oadio 500w plate amps $500
misc materials $100

or buy 1 HSU VTF15 for $900-$1000
or buy 1 Rythmic FV15HP for $1200
or two rytmic 15" kits or $1400 or so : http://www.rythmikaudio.com/DS1500ci.html


Receiver $400-$750
Onkyo TX-NR809 for $699-ish
Pioneer VSX-1121k $399-ish (value leader IMO)
Denon AVR-3312 $750-ish (I hear they can be had in this range)

Speakers: $1250-$1750

I went used. I purchased two full sets of Atlantic Technology System 350. You may not have that type of purchase as an option or desire.


You could also do something like HSU package and receiver only:
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/ultra1.html
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post #18 of 33
3/18/12 at 5:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iccy View Post

Fine... 3k for components and electronics for a 7.x setup.

Subwoofer: (Subtotal $849)
one IXL-18 = $229
one EP4000 = $370
100ft 14 AWG OFC Wire Dayton = $50
MiniDSP = $100
Wood+misc = $100

Electronics: (Subtotal $1150)
Emotiva XPA-3 200w 3ch = $700
Yamaha RX-V571BL 7.1 = $450

Speakers: (Subtotal $1066)
Dayton Neo Tweeters x7 = $110
Dayton Mids RS100 4" x28 = $756
Wood+misc $200

Total: ~$3065, plus one hell of a grin

Damn that was hard!!!
You'd still need a source and a TV; another words... you need to think about spending more money.
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post #19 of 33
3/18/12 at 6:18pm
Thread Starter 
I guess I could go with a story, longer version is in the other speaker forum. Basically was buying a psb setup but the rep never came through so I went with paradigm studio speakers instead but have yet to arrive 2 weeks later (supposedly here next week) and if they dont Ill pull my money. Already have a hsu 3.4 from a previous system I have and a 4311 sitting around. Room size is 13x19 with a sloped ceiling of 8ft-12ft along the 13ft wide with open stairs going to other rooms, I know not idea. If I were to build a system I would spend 3k for the mains plus whatever surrounds are at a decent budget, however I did get my rebate this week so more money is available however Id rather buy another couple u3011. Could have added that before but I havent decided on what I will do yet.

Thanks for the hard work though. I was more looking at what can be done without a budget to get ideas and work from there to whats in my budget.
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post #20 of 33
3/18/12 at 7:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iccy View Post

I guess I could go with a story, longer version is in the other speaker forum. Basically was buying a psb setup but the rep never came through so I went with paradigm studio speakers instead but have yet to arrive 2 weeks later (supposedly here next week) and if they dont Ill pull my money. Already have a hsu 3.4 from a previous system I have and a 4311 sitting around. Room size is 13x19 with a sloped ceiling of 8ft-12ft along the 13ft wide with open stairs going to other rooms, I know not idea. If I were to build a system I would spend 3k for the mains plus whatever surrounds are at a decent budget, however I did get my rebate this week so more money is available however Id rather buy another couple u3011. Could have added that before but I havent decided on what I will do yet.

Thanks for the hard work though. I was more looking at what can be done without a budget to get ideas and work from there to whats in my budget.

If you're after a traditional hi-fi style speaker something like the Zaph ZRT 2.5 way would be hard to beat compared to commercial offerings featuring a similar level of driver quality. Madisound has a convenient kit available. Build an enclosure that matches the top of the line Scan Speak drivers, and thoroughly designed crossover, and you'd be set.
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post #21 of 33
3/18/12 at 7:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iccy View Post

So my question is: in your opinion what is the best diy build?

Quote:
Originally Posted by WiSounds View Post

Notnyt.

Challenge accepted.
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post #22 of 33
3/18/12 at 8:14pm
I don't think it is a contest, Not's room is big and needs all that excursion to get low. Other can do it with much less. Best DIY depends on ones room and goals. I have owned the JBL speakers and I like mine better for my own reasons.
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post #23 of 33
3/19/12 at 4:07am
Notnyt's I would say too,but for $3000 limit you would only get 3 of his subs.


Notnyts does have an impressive system but just his sub set up looks to be around close to $12,000.
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post #24 of 33
3/19/12 at 5:01am
Pffffft, mine ! Ha ! Really, the best system is the one that fits your room, and budget.

With DIY, its like being a kid in a candy store. Limited budgets are what we all struggle with.

What do you have now as far as equipment ?
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post #25 of 33
3/19/12 at 5:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MKtheater View Post

I don't think it is a contest, Not's room is big and needs all that excursion to get low. Other can do it with much less. Best DIY depends on ones room and goals. I have owned the JBL speakers and I like mine better for my own reasons.

That's a great point. You can't just look at an impressive photo of a wall of cabinets and assume it's better sound. I know my room has fit that description in the past. Not that any of those rooms aren't very impressive. But there's more to it than physical presence or money spent or name brand. And, that's one of the driving forces behind DIY...isn't it?
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post #26 of 33
3/19/12 at 6:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tony123 View Post

That's a great point. You can't just look at an impressive photo of a wall of cabinets and assume it's better sound. I know my room has fit that description in the past. Not that any of those rooms aren't very impressive. But there's more to it than physical presence or money spent or name brand. And, that's one of the driving forces behind DIY...isn't it?

I agree but Not's room will sound amazing as I know what those speakers can do and I know what 130 dBs of bass feels like. DIY setup can mean speakers too and his are not DIY but the subs are. Even Bosso does not use that driver for his own reasons so there are other ways to get what is needed. They are awesome though but with a $3000 budget he could only build 1 of his cabs with amp. You can get more displacement than that. Will it sound better? I don't know.
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post #27 of 33
3/19/12 at 8:22am
I don't question Not's room.
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post #28 of 33
3/19/12 at 8:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tony123 View Post

I don't question Not's room.

I know, I just want others to know what I mean, not really directed at you. You are right though, there are people who would not like his sound, my sound, or your sound. This is why it is subjective and many different options.
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post #29 of 33
3/19/12 at 8:49am
I'm glad we're all so smart! What would the forum do without us? LOL.
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post #30 of 33
3/19/12 at 9:17am
$3000 is rather slim for a 7.x setup.

Here's what I'd do.

Electronics:
Marantz SR5006 Receiver $560

Subwoofers:
2 Dayton DVC 15s $320
1 Crown Drivecore 1000 $300
Enclosures?

Speakers:
Not sure what specifically but in this scenario you have about $1500 left for speakers. Of these the CC is the most critical and a 3-way design avoids the critical pitfalls of a horizontal MTM.
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