Sexy DIY Speakers

I know I am going against everyones better judgment and I am fully expecting to have to mess about with it a lot, but it is only a bit of fun really, I like the look of the monsters I have built, and I like the idea of simplicity, (having no crossover)
I have read a few blogs online about people preferring a sealed enclosure to a horn loaded one with the fostex, but they nearly all use a sub woofer and super tweeters, I have the latter, and I live in a flat, so bass is not really welcomed by the neighbors I just want it louder than it is now and better imaging, hence the massive baffle and the big box to hopefully get some spl.
so really there is some sense to the design, flawed on purpose if you like, I knew the bass would be poor (compared to most) but thats the way it has to be, there is more than enough for me now
with an AP 210 Z0 audax in there, (my amp hardly moves it at all) so with the fostex in there it should move around a bit more freely
and sound more natural, it sounds similar to my old esl 57's at the moment, if I close my eyes I can't hear where the sound is coming from directional wise, and the imaging is really good, also there is no boxiness at all due to the curves and sound deadening mat, I tried filling the box with mineral wool and it killed the sound, I think the box is pretty dead anyway due to it being nearly 40mm thick in most places, I made a box then made another one round it, all glued and screwed and pinned, I used a 4 ins paint brush for the litre of pva I slapped on it, so it should be sealed very well

cheers for everybody's advise, I will get back to you when the drivers arrive.

 

hope your right ...but sealed cabinets with the fostex would not be my first choice....

I would also take issue with the box or horn quote.....is that why there are many hi end horn designs ?

but as you say ..a bit of fun ....hope it works out !

 

a late contender just came up courtesy of Google .....

anybody tried Visaton B200's they would seem on paper to be exacly what I am looking for.

there are some phase plugs you can get for them too.
would these be a better option than the fostex?



http://www.visaton.com/en/chassis_zubehoer/breitband/b200_6.html

 

Never used them but I've heard that they can be made to sound pretty good considering the price of them.

I'm still waiting for someone to try these:

http://www.lautsprechershop.de/hifi/thiel_en.htm

Not exactly cheap at £1k a pair though.

Apparently its very good in these:

http://www.lautsprechershop.de/hifi/cumulus_horn_en.htm

 

I would consider them but they are not efficient enough for me.

how much are the b200's ? I can't seem to find anything on them price wise.

 

http://www.impactaudio.co.uk/product.asp?ref=521&session=aab0e3ca73ad2a3d34654763b8d2c911

 

You are in the same boat as me dean.I as i have looked at all the drivers and speakers you have mentioned. If i could listen to them all then great. There's so many designs and configerations its baffling, excuse the pun. Jim.

 

if you go b200.....look at the purpose designed cabinet

http://www.visaton.com/en/bauvorschlaege/breitband/solo100/index.html

this looks a winner .....

has a nice flat freq responce.

 

I think I will actually go for the b200 to start with as it looks more forgiving for box size etc which I worked out to actually be nearer 107 litres

what design of box are you using ?

I will hopefully be getting the drivers by the end of the week I will keep you all updated.

ps this is now a final decision, I think the fostex units have too many things that just don't fit, for what I am doing, which will ruin my original plan of keeping things simple.

 

they are really starting to look nice now, how long till completion?

have you heard them yet?

 

A couple of months to finish them, this one isn't far off but the other is in pretty early state.

Haven't heard them yet, well that's not strictly true. I've heard the drivers working in open baffles evaluating but not in the final configuration.

 

Dean, in the vein of keeping things simple, but less compromised you might like to consider the Jordan JXR6 nearly full range 2" driver pair to a nice woofer that suits your cabinet and then a 1st order crossover at something like 800Hz.

I'm just not a fan of most full range drivers due to their high distortion and complete lack of air.

 

I dont think all full-range drivers are as you say...

Not DIY, but easy to do something similar...

 

I like those

the baffle has given me an idea for mine, well i'm going to blatantly copy it

I have now ordered the b200's and some wooden phase plugs, has anybody got any idea how to fit them
I think they just have screws in them so they stick to the magnets, do you have to seal the vent or will removing the dust caps be ok ?

or is it better to just leave them in there? and not bother with the plugs?

apparently it helps with the distortion in the mids.

 

Have you tried the diy audio forums? A lot of knowledgable builders on there and will help with the phase plugs. Sorry if its mentioned in this thread i have not read it all. Jim.

 

Just saw this driver from Volt - http://www.sabre-international.com/03512

It should be very good, since Volt usually are. I have not looked at the T/S parameters though.

 

Looks interesting. Is that each or the pair? All thats needed now is a cab design, and i take it no cross-over needed. Is this Volts first fullrange or have they done them before?

 

Better price here, including vat and free delivery.

http://www.ebdj.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?product_id=12956&showas=title4

 

Price will be each driver. It has a built-in Xover so you just need a cabinet. Volt have made coaxial PA drivers before but usually with a compression driver for tweeter.