AVS › AVS Forum › Audio › DIY Speakers and Subs › 5 DIY Bookshelf Speakers for HT setup (approx .5cuft) recommendations ??
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

5 DIY Bookshelf Speakers for HT setup (approx .5cuft) recommendations ??

post #1 of 20
2/2/13 at 8:31pm
Thread Starter 
Looking to build 5 Bookshelf (aprox .5cuft) for HT setup to go along with Subs ,..any recommendations ??

Will be replacing Small Kef Sats
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #2 of 20
2/2/13 at 8:42pm
These look pretty good

http://www.diysoundgroup.com/waveguide-speaker-kits/alpha8-kit.html
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 20
2/2/13 at 9:18pm
What's the budget.

By bookshelf, how big do you mean?
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 20
2/4/13 at 10:22am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tuxedocivic View Post

What's the budget.

.5 cu ft ext size would be around 9x14x11
200.00 per speaker budget

By bookshelf, how big do you mean?
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 20
2/4/13 at 10:33am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay1 View Post

These look pretty good

http://www.diysoundgroup.com/waveguide-speaker-kits/alpha8-kit.html

Yes these do look like an interesting option !
Im not to familiar with thes kinds of speakers
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 20
2/4/13 at 10:46am
I'd second Jay1's suggestion. Those are really good.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 20
2/4/13 at 12:26pm
Thread Starter 
N
Quote:
Originally Posted by tuxedocivic View Post

I'd second Jay1's suggestion. Those are really good.

..What are the general differences of (waveguide) speakers over a high end sealed bookshelf ? And why is one better than another for SQ in HT ??
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 20
2/4/13 at 12:41pm
Well, the waveguide speaker can also be sealed. In fact, I usually do seal mine and run subs.

The rest of your question is very broad. It comes down to off axis performance and SPL. The linked speaker can go way louder cleanly than most hifi speakers (assuming that's your comparison and what you mean be high end). It'll also have a very uniform off axis performance that matches the woofer. So reflected sound has a timbre match to the direct sound. These are all good things for music listening as well as HT.

I use dome tweeters also, because they measure really flat, easy to work with, cheap, and sound just fine when kept within their SPL limits and incorporated into the speaker properly. But at $200/speaker, that is a hard speaker to beat.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 20
2/4/13 at 6:59pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tuxedocivic View Post

Well, the waveguide speaker can also be sealed. In fact, I usually do seal mine and run subs.

The rest of your question is very broad. It comes down to off axis performance and SPL. The linked speaker can go way louder cleanly than most hifi speakers (assuming that's your comparison and what you mean be high end). It'll also have a very uniform off axis performance that matches the woofer. So reflected sound has a timbre match to the direct sound. These are all good things for music listening as well as HT.

I use dome tweeters also, because they measure really flat, easy to work with, cheap, and sound just fine when kept within their SPL limits and incorporated into the speaker properly. But at $200/speaker, that is a hard speaker to beat.[/quote



Thanks tuxedocivic,... can the model u mentioned be sealed ,? in what size ,and how would it affect performance ??

I've seen some of your designs from a link and really liked their size !
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 20
2/4/13 at 7:04pm
I'd ask Matt (mtg-90) about sealed and cab size. He would know that better than me.

Thanks for the compliment. I'm not sure any of my designs hit the small and high performance for $200 mark. I have a few in the sub-$150 range, and a few big ones. But nothing that meets your needs.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 20
2/4/13 at 7:19pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tuxedocivic View Post

I'd ask Matt (mtg-90) about sealed and cab size. He would know that better than me.

Thanks for the compliment. I'm not sure any of my designs hit the small and high performance for $200 mark. I have a few in the sub-$150 range, and a few big ones. But nothing that meets your needs.

I saw the youtube video on the model u suggested and cant believe how loud it,.one..was playing with 15w !! .. imagine L,C.R!!
Just cant understand all these waveguide models much bigger and more efficient,that people are building,.. how loud do people listen to music or movies ???

I was thinking of 5 sealed bookshelves ( approx .5 cuft ) with subs for HT , but now im curious about these waveguides??
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 20
2/4/13 at 7:50pm
Ya, I certainly don't listen nearly as loud as some around here. I do it for the directivity and off axis match. The clean dynamic headroom is a perk for me. There are some tweeter designs that are pretty good at dynamics and off axis control. But those usually take a bit more money and often need to be three way. Diysoundgroup just makes it so affordable.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 20
2/5/13 at 11:04am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tuxedocivic View Post

Ya, I certainly don't listen nearly as loud as some around here. I do it for the directivity and off axis match. The clean dynamic headroom is a perk for me. There are some tweeter designs that are pretty good at dynamics and off axis control. But those usually take a bit more money and often need to be three way. Diysoundgroup just makes it so affordable.
Ok tuxedocivic , so i guess the Alpha 8 are the best Small Bookshelf option for HT

Thanks again !
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 20
2/5/13 at 12:34pm
At that price point and size constraint, I'm thinking it's about the best. If you're not sold on the waveguide and compression driver thing, well, there's other options. But I think you'd be pretty pleased. Before spening the bucks though, maybe ping MTG-90 and ask him to shed some light on your question. It's good to get a variety of opinions.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 20
2/5/13 at 4:23pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tuxedocivic View Post

At that price point and size constraint, I'm thinking it's about the best. If you're not sold on the waveguide and compression driver thing, well, there's other options. But I think you'd be pretty pleased. Before spening the bucks though, maybe ping MTG-90 and ask him to shed some light on your question. It's good to get a variety of opinions.


Well i did follow your advise and ask MTG-90, and he explained how it was designed and said i would be very pleased !

Have'nt made my choice yet , but are certainly on my list !

Thanks !!
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 20
2/7/13 at 11:12am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tuxedocivic View Post

At that price point and size constraint, I'm thinking it's about the best. If you're not sold on the waveguide and compression driver thing, well, there's other options. But I think you'd be pretty pleased. Before spening the bucks though, maybe ping MTG-90 and ask him to shed some light on your question. It's good to get a variety of opinions.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tuxedocivic View Post

At that price point and size constraint, I'm thinking it's about the best. If you're not sold on the waveguide and compression driver thing, well, there's other options. But I think you'd be pretty pleased. Before spening the bucks though, maybe ping MTG-90 and ask him to shed some light on your question. It's good to get a variety of opinions.

How much better of a speaker at Approx the same size (.5cuft net)can i make if i had a 500.00 per speaker budget ?
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 20
2/7/13 at 1:39pm
Yikes, that's a lot of money for such a small speaker biggrin.gif

If it were me, I'd use the new SB satori ring radiator tweeter in a custom milled maple burl waveguide from TN Allen over on techtalk. Then I'd cross over around 900hz to an 8" scan revelator or something like that in a sealed 0.5 cu ft box. Cross it to your subs around 60 to 80hz. But that design doesn't exist frown.gif

As a kit or something with a design, I'm not sure what's out there. Most high end designs like that use a 7" woofer and flush mounted dome crossed around 2khz. Not a good idea imo. If flush mounting a dome, it's gotta be a 2khz cross over with a 5" woofer. Maybe there's a high end MTM that does this. Even, so, I think I'd spend less and get the alpha 8 before doing that. Check out the Aurora by Pete Schumacher over on tech talk. Not sure I spelled his name right. He's pretty fond of that design. It's a high end bookshelf and design well I think. He doesn't have much data on it other than a few FR measurements.
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 20
2/8/13 at 8:02am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tuxedocivic View Post

Yikes, that's a lot of money for such a small speaker biggrin.gif

If it were me, I'd use the new SB satori ring radiator tweeter in a custom milled maple burl waveguide from TN Allen over on techtalk. Then I'd cross over around 900hz to an 8" scan revelator or something like that in a sealed 0.5 cu ft box. Cross it to your subs around 60 to 80hz. But that design doesn't exist frown.gif

As a kit or something with a design, I'm not sure what's out there. Most high end designs like that use a 7" woofer and flush mounted dome crossed around 2khz. Not a good idea imo. If flush mounting a dome, it's gotta be a 2khz cross over with a 5" woofer. Maybe there's a high end MTM that does this. Even, so, I think I'd spend less and get the alpha 8 before doing that. Check out the Aurora by Pete Schumacher over on tech talk. Not sure I spelled his name right. He's pretty fond of that design. It's a high end bookshelf and design well I think. He doesn't have much data on it other than a few FR measurements.


Hi tuxedocivic !

I stumbled on a thread talking about a 8" COAXIAL Driver , same one used in the Alpha8 ,but Coaxial ! ( same as Mark Seaton"s SPARK Speaker)

To bad no one has designed a DIY speaker around this driver . Enclosure size,..shape could be very versatile !! also could be used horizontally for Center channel !
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 20
2/8/13 at 8:18am
I agree, that would make for something really great. I personally would love to find a coax that works well, I believe in close driver spacing and point source sound. A coax is the pinnacle of that. Unfortunately I've never seen one that measures well. The Kef ones are ok. I'll look into Mark's SPARK speaker.

Just thought of a better $500 bookshelf. Creative Sound Solutions Planer 2 for $229. Over a scan revelator or something.
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 20
2/8/13 at 9:41am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tuxedocivic View Post

I agree, that would make for something really great. I personally would love to find a coax that works well, I believe in close driver spacing and point source sound. A coax is the pinnacle of that. Unfortunately I've never seen one that measures well. The Kef ones are ok. I'll look into Mark's SPARK speaker.

Just thought of a better $500 bookshelf. Creative Sound Solutions Planer 2 for $229. Over a scan revelator or something.

Im using small Kef Coaxial speakers right now.


Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: DIY Speakers and Subs

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › Audio › DIY Speakers and Subs › 5 DIY Bookshelf Speakers for HT setup (approx .5cuft) recommendations ??