Help picking a design: <$200

[pypes]

Hey all, I recently met a guy through school that makes custom pool cues. He and I got to talking and we agreed to trade a set of speakers for a stick. I've been looking around and trying to find a design to build with speakers / crossover parts in the $200 or less range.

I've sourced about 40 board feet of four quarter birds eye maple from a friend who is willing to give it to me really cheap, so I would like it to be a size that I can try and get an enclosure out of that. I'm thinking MT or small MTM (I admit I'm not entirely sure how much 40 board feet is without seeing the pile of wood but I'm assuming I shouldn't have trouble getting two small enclosures out of it, I hope). Another friend of mine has a planar and jointer so I can finish the wood if it's rough cut.

The gentleman I'm trading with says he has an active home sub 10"; though, he wasn't sure what brand it was. He also said that these will be mostly for music in his living room with little or no home theatre usage.

I was looking at the Zaph kits at Madisound but the only one near the price range is the MT and I was curious how well that would blend with a sub for music use, if anyone knows something about them.

http://www.madisound.com/catalog/pro...oducts_id=8648

Oh, and I think he's powering these off a receiver, so avoiding tough loads and aiming for a decent overall sensitivity are points I need to consider as well.

Any ideas, information, criticisms are welcome.

[jettore]

You could also do this.
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=300-700

Here's crossover design and box designs. You can do sealed or ported.
http://speakerdesignworks.com/Tritrix_pg_1.html

[arlis_1957@yahoo.com]

the maple will be great for the baffle, but i think you'd be smart to use mdf for the rest.

[Pete Schumacher ®]

Hey all, I recently met a guy through school that makes custom pool cues. He and I got to talking and we agreed to trade a set of speakers for a stick. I've been looking around and trying to find a design to build with speakers / crossover parts in the $200 or less range.

I've sourced about 40 board feet of four quarter birds eye maple from a friend who is willing to give it to me really cheap, so I would like it to be a size that I can try and get an enclosure out of that. I'm thinking MT or small MTM (I admit I'm not entirely sure how much 40 board feet is without seeing the pile of wood but I'm assuming I shouldn't have trouble getting two small enclosures out of it, I hope). Another friend of mine has a planar and jointer so I can finish the wood if it's rough cut.

The gentleman I'm trading with says he has an active home sub 10"; though, he wasn't sure what brand it was. He also said that these will be mostly for music in his living room with little or no home theatre usage.

I was looking at the Zaph kits at Madisound but the only one near the price range is the MT and I was curious how well that would blend with a sub for music use, if anyone knows something about them.

http://www.madisound.com/catalog/pro...oducts_id=8648

Oh, and I think he's powering these off a receiver, so avoiding tough loads and aiming for a decent overall sensitivity are points I need to consider as well.

Any ideas, information, criticisms are welcome.

The Moser MT was a well received 2-way at the Iowa DIY in 2006.

It'll have a little more bass capacity than the Madisound Kit since the woofer has more area as well as slightly more throw. The drivers in the Mad kit are excellent and will have lower distortion as long as they're not pushed to the limits, which will happen a bit sooner than the larger 2-way.

Woofer is the DA175, tweeter the Hi Vi K1 from Madisound.

[LouC]

The C-Killas would also meet your budget.

[Wolf]

You have lots of options...
Is that for materials and all? Or just the drivers/xovers?

If it's just the drivers/xovers, then you have a lot of options...
I have a good few in this price-range:

2i:
http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...th_speaker/2i/


The "3CR-Ti" in the project showcase here at PE.

Antigens:
http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...aker/Antigens/

Canvas:
http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...peaker/Canvas/


Mn-14, apparently the TB 25-1719 is a *virtual* drop-in:
http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...speaker/Mn-14/


Sophomores:
http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...er/Sophomores/


There are many more like Roman's "Microbes", etc...
Happy hunting!
Wolf

[evilskillit]

Roman's Microbe is a great design, you can easily build a pair for under $200. They sound great, and the pair I have blends flawlessly with my sub so they're a good candidate.

http://www.rjbaudio.com/Microbe/microbe.html

I would also bet Zaph's MT sounds great too and probably blends with a sub just as well considering the mid drivers are the same size and similar in nature.

[rogoll]

You have lots of options...
Is that for materials and all? Or just the drivers/xovers?

If it's just the drivers/xovers, then you have a lot of options...
I have a good few in this price-range:

2i:
http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...th_speaker/2i/


The "3CR-Ti" in the project showcase here at PE.

Antigens:
http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...aker/Antigens/

Canvas:
http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...peaker/Canvas/


Mn-14, apparently the TB 25-1719 is a *virtual* drop-in:
http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...speaker/Mn-14/


Sophomores:
http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...er/Sophomores/


There are many more like Roman's "Microbes", etc...
Happy hunting!
Wolf

Wolf,

Where/how did you get the logo/sticker for your Sophomores? Is it something you can produce "at home", or did some shop make them for you? I have a friend that used to own a trophy shop and they used to make things like that for me, but they sold the business. Now I'm looking for a way to make my own logos/stickers/emblems, etc.

[Wolf]

It's made by the local trophy-shop place. Laser-printed on plastic-base, or they can make metal ones.

Are there any other businesses in your locale? If not, you might be able to mail-order them from the place I frequent. I can look into it for you...
Later,
Wolf

[pypes]

thank you all for the replys and suggestions... I've been out of town the past few days which is why I haven't gotten back toany of these ideas... soon as I get home ill look through the designs more closely.

the budget is ball park.. if it takes that for the drivers and crossover parts I won't lose sleep over the extra towards building materials but if it comes in for less then all the better

[tpremo55]

Well, I you wanted to go just a little more money, I think the Cryolites by LouC are an outstanding speaker and will run you about $240 in drivers and crossover. I shaved a little off the original design by using Erse components (saved about $30 on the pair IIRC).

Maybe you could negotiate a slightly nicer cue!

[learn2turn]

Well, I you wanted to go just a little more money, I think the Cryolites by LouC are an outstanding speaker ...

I noticed the neo3pdr is discontinued and there is now a neo3pdrw.

Anyone know if that's a drop-in substitute? There aren't many specs on the new3pdrw posted yet on PE?

[pypes]

I noticed the neo3pdr is discontinued and there is now a neo3pdrw.

Anyone know if that's a drop-in substitute? There aren't many specs on the new3pdrw posted yet on PE?

Good question, one that I'd very much like to hear the answer to. I'm thinking of either the cryolites, or the 2i's from Wolf, and it seems both tweeters aren't available..

It looks like for the 2i Wolf used a planar called the PT2A and all I see on PE is the PT2C-8

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=275-085

[LouC]

I've not done a head to head test, but the NEO3PDRW measures close enough to the original. With the flat impedance profile, I doubt there would be much difference.

[learn2turn]

Good question, one that I'd very much like to hear the answer to. I'm thinking of either the cryolites, or the 2i's from Wolf, and it seems both tweeters aren't available..

It looks like for the 2i Wolf used a planar called the PT2A and all I see on PE is the PT2C-8

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=275-085

BTW, I priced out the Cryolites on PE and the parts would be up in the $250-275 range today. I'm still thinking of building a pair if I can figure out my enclosure tooling and material details.

[Thezeek]

How about Lou's Zircon towers. http://www.lonesaguaro.com/speakers/zircon/zircon.htm

I bet those would sound great and should fit your budget. The Vifa MG woofers are out of production but I just happen to have a pair for sale for $25.00 and shipping.

Sorry about the shameless plug, but a cool build by Lou should sound great.

[Zilch]

Indignia.

Karma Indignia:

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/sh...d.php?t=213469

[upsman]

Does anyone have or know if there is a build thread of Wolf's "Sophmores" or maybe to be more specific box dimensions and port size. I love the size of this system and the drivers are very reasonable. The woofer is on sale at Madisound. Thnx

[Wolf]

Does anyone have or know if there is a build thread of Wolf's "Sophmores" or maybe to be more specific box dimensions and port size. I love the size of this system and the drivers are very reasonable. The woofer is on sale at Madisound. Thnx

Just check my blog here at PE (link below)...

and for more pictures of assembly, etc, check my photobucket (link also below)

Let me know if you have any Questions, and please post your pictures and thoughts when complete.
Later,
Wolf

[upsman]

Just check my blog here at PE (link below)...

and for more pictures of assembly, etc, check my photobucket (link also below)

Let me know if you have any Questions, and please post your pictures and thoughts when complete.
Later,
Wolf

Thanks.........ordered the parts today upsman