Beginner: Suggestions for Budget Bookshelves + sub system.

[Mitch311]

Hey Guys and Girls,

Still very very very new to the whole DIY arena. I have been doing a fair bit of reading around. I don't know much about HiFi other than that my speakers aren't giving me what I want.

My Desires:

2 Bookshelf size speakers
1 Sub

1 Digital Decoder/Amp that runs off SPIDF from my computer.

Uses for system:

Listening to music, a bit of movies on computer but mostly music. I listen to D&B, Trip Hop, Electronic, Dance, R&B, Pop, Metal & other stuff in that order. I love big loud and clear bass.

Room: Small 3mx3mx2.8m Office with 2 computer desks. But I am aiming to be able to hear the music anywhere in the house by just turning up the volume. I won't have much room to keep speakers off walls etc so sealed units (by my limited understanding) would be more suiting for my conditions?

So what I am asking for is suggestions of tried and true plans for the bookshelves and sub that would compliment each other and fit my desires. I can throw maybe $300 at the drivers and x-overs. I have unlimited access to free hardwood and mdf and a carpentry workshop so that isn't a factor. I'd just have to find a cheap decoder/amp to power it all for hopefully around $100.

For instance Tritrix with a sub?

Just asking for these suggestions at this stage so that I can read more information focused on what I am looking for. Reading about $3000 speakers just isn't really useful for me in my limited knowledge.

Thanks for your time and suggestions, feel free to ask any questions.

Mitch

[kduggan]

You are on the right path with small sealed satellites and a sub, I would suggest a ported sub as placement of it shouldn't be difficult. Check out the Project Showcase for designs you like. I would consider using a plate amp on the sub and check out the Dayton amps for the satellites. Once you choose a pair of speakers I think more help will poor in.

[johnnyrichards]

The Dayton shielded DVC subwoofers are on sale for next to nothing right now, the 8" is a very popular choice mated with the 70 watt plate amp.

I did mine in 1.2 cubic feet tuned to the high 20 Hz range, but it ultimately did not please me - Chris Roemer did his in a bigger enclosure around 1.5 cubic feet, and it is probably a much better alignment.

You can build one for less than $100 including a flared Precision port right now.

As for satellites, the tweeters for the Tritrix are at giveaway pricing right now as well, so it is the best time ever to build a high quality budget 2.1 system. Sealed tritrix plus the Dayton subwoofer can be built for very little money right now.

Many of the smaller Dayton Reference design can be built cheap right now as well. Some of them use inexpensive tweeters and they all probably perform very well.

My advice for your first foray into DIY speaker building is to keep your first project affordable. If you don't like how they sound, you don't feel as bad.

[Mayhem13]

Hey Mitch, the only problem with your scenario is the 'one for all' amp with SPDIF input......that doesn't exist for $100. You'll need a digital audio converter or DAC to work with plate amps for DIY designs.There;s inexpensive USB/external units and cheap internal soundcards to choose from. Another alternative would be an inexpensive Receiver with sub outputs and an inexpensive subwoofer amp. That's going to almost double your budget on amplification though. There's 110W Foster plate amps available from an NHT closeout site that are excellent for $35 plus shipping. I've built quite a few subs with em and there's not a better value out there.

A third option would not be DIY at all, and may be the MOST economical which would be powered studio monitors that have SPDIF inputs. Look around at Sam Ash, Musicians Friend, Guitar Center, etc. You'd probobly still have to DIY the sub but that's easy enough.

[andykriech]

Not the cheapest route, but a good one and with good SQ is RJBs Microbes (build them ported and stuff a sock in the port) with his Cerberus sub. I use this in our bedroom 2.1 HT/music system and am very pleased with the outcome. For my usage, it goes plenty loud and the bass is good for it relative size. An upgrade in bass SQ would be to swap in a sealed RSS265 for the Cerberus sub. I assumed that size was a factor with your relatively small room.
Small size a very good SQ. I am sure there are many other good 2.1 setups as well.
HTH, Andy.

[bearberry]

Mitch311 - I'm watching the progress on this for the same type of setup as you want:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/class...amplifier.html

Andykriech:
Beautiful cabs!

bearberry

[johnastockman]

Hey Guys and Girls,

Still very very very new to the whole DIY arena. I have been doing a fair bit of reading around. I don't know much about HiFi other than that my speakers aren't giving me what I want.

My Desires:

2 Bookshelf size speakers
1 Sub

1 Digital Decoder/Amp that runs off SPIDF from my computer.

Uses for system:

Listening to music, a bit of movies on computer but mostly music. I listen to D&B, Trip Hop, Electronic, Dance, R&B, Pop, Metal & other stuff in that order. I love big loud and clear bass.

Room: Small 3mx3mx2.8m Office with 2 computer desks. But I am aiming to be able to hear the music anywhere in the house by just turning up the volume. I won't have much room to keep speakers off walls etc so sealed units (by my limited understanding) would be more suiting for my conditions?

So what I am asking for is suggestions of tried and true plans for the bookshelves and sub that would compliment each other and fit my desires. I can throw maybe $300 at the drivers and x-overs. I have unlimited access to free hardwood and mdf and a carpentry workshop so that isn't a factor. I'd just have to find a cheap decoder/amp to power it all for hopefully around $100.

For instance Tritrix with a sub?

Just asking for these suggestions at this stage so that I can read more information focused on what I am looking for. Reading about $3000 speakers just isn't really useful for me in my limited knowledge.

Thanks for your time and suggestions, feel free to ask any questions.

Mitch

$3000+ a pair is the realm of retail speakers. Reading a bunch of hyperbole and marketing BS from just about any OEM is fruitless. Not all, of course. We used to measure at our store and rarely did the measuring and listening impressions match up with the factory's blah-blah. Even with the 5-to-6-figure-a-pair variety. Ray Alden has a great beginner-friendly book, "Speaker Building 201". Nice place to start if you're interested in a little more of the tech side. Ray writes in a layman's way...understandable to even a Luddite like myself. The SDVC sub drivers are a true bargain, offering a lot of performance per dollar. I've used the 10" SDVC in a few subs. The one I use every day in my own set-up (2-channel music only) is the 10" SDVC in 2.3 ft3, ported, and the 70 watt plate amp. For a smaller space, that might be too big, but the 8" would work well in a smaller enclosure. Chris has the specifics if you want to use the 8". I have a pair of the TriTrix 2-ways in .25 ft3. The SQ belies the fact that the drivers are inexpensive. A pair of those sealed and a small sub would be a nice set-up...AFA listening-throughout-the-house music, I can't speak to that. But kept within the power requirements, I'm sure you'd be happy. Also Paul Carmody's Overnight Sensations is another choice. Let us know if you need any more info.

John A.

[weinstro]

2 Bookshelf size speakers
1 Sub

1 Digital Decoder/Amp that runs off SPIDF from my computer.

How about ZaphAudio ZMV5, SqueezeBox, and a 2nd hand power amplifier, e.g., Hafler DH-200?

Assuming you have a computer already, you could do this for ~$500. I figure ~$200 for the speakers, $200 for the SB, and $100 for the amp.

Regards,

Rob

[Mayhem13]

How about ZaphAudio ZMV5, SqueezeBox, and a 2nd hand power amplifier, e.g., Hafler DH-200?

Assuming you have a computer already, you could do this for ~$500. I figure ~$200 for the speakers, $200 for the SB, and $100 for the amp.

Regards,

Rob

Don't forget the plate amp for the sub!

[Mitch311]

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for all the replies!

Obviously I messed up a little describing what I had in mind.

I'm quite happy to use a active sub, that was the entire plan in fact. I was going to look around for maybe a HT receiver or some such that can power the satellites and will provide output to the sub that will run through the powered amp on the sub.

So What I Plan:

PC SPDIF** Out -> SPDIF** In Receiver/AMP

Receiver -> Passive Satellites
Receiver -> Active Sub

I was considering the TriTrix or Dayton 3's though I was wondering since I will be using a sub whether the cross overs would benefit from being changed so that the woofers aren't straining to push bass but instead can focus on mids? This would also allow them to be run louder without distortion if my understanding is correct. There seems to be little point having 3 units covering the same range.

Pricing Estimates:

Tritrix Kit $120
Sub + Amp $88 for 10" SDVC + 70W Amp (I'd need crossovers too i think?)
Finishing $50 - Make the boxes pretty, was gonna upholster em.
Receiver?? $??

Total: $258 not including Receiver or postage.

So roughly $150 to throw into a receiver that takes SPDIF** In, has powered output for the satellites and a sub output.

** I could if need be buy a 2nd hand sound card for my computer (of a decent quality instead of the on board sound) This would cost roughly $50-80 depending on luck. Following this I would have analog output from my computer and would just need any HT receiver with some amp'd channels for the satellites + sub output. Or the sub could be run straight off the output from the sound card. It would be nice though to be able to drag the speakers, sub + receiver out and run it without comp from a different source.

While I know I don't have an overall large budget for getting good hifi, I am really keen to DIY and try and get the absolute bang (SQ) for buck that I can. So again any advice.

Again thank you to all,

If I get this show on the road I promise to do a write up about what I hope will be a solid little 2.1 system for music listening. May as well share the knowledge to more like me.

Mitch

[arlis_1957@yahoo.com]

mitch, may inquire to your whereabouts? you could consider the overnite sensations plus a triska sub.

[Mitch311]

I'm in Australia, I'm yet to see if parts express ship to Australia but if not I'm sure i'll still be able to find parts over here.

Mitch

Edit: Seems bout $100 to get stuff shipped here from parts express. So I'll either have to find someone in australia that can beat the prices or buy from parts express and foot the shipping I guess.

[Paul Carmody]

I'm in Australia, I'm yet to see if parts express ship to Australia but if not I'm sure i'll still be able to find parts over here.

Mitch

Edit: Seems bout $100 to get stuff shipped here from parts express. So I'll either have to find someone in australia that can beat the prices or buy from parts express and foot the shipping I guess.

Also look at HasAudio in New Zealand. They seem to carry a lot of PE parts. It's gotta be cheaper than shipping from Ohio.
http://www.hasaudio.co.nz/

[Mitch311]

Yeah I found them already actually thanks. Only thing I have seen so far is they don't stock the 70watt sub amp

I have also been throwing around the idea of say to the hell with it and building some dayton 8's. http://www.angelfire.com/music5/audio0/

They seem to be clear, bassy and loud.

Build these guys, get something to drive em, sit em either side of my computer desk and make sure I don't accidentally hit the volume up.

If I still feel that they aren't producing enough low end I could always add a sub in later. Treating the whole project as slightly modular would be a good way to get it past her-in-charge.

The other good thing is versatility. Drag em out into the living areas for parties etc.

So another concept is $400 spent on 2x Floorstanders and 1x Receiver/Amp to run em. It seems a fairly given that I will have to upgrade my sound card in the comp but I think I can get away with that fairly cheaply so I won't include it in the projected costs.

Mitch.

Oh the woes of beginning from a level of -1 out of a 0-10 range of knowledge about hifi.

[tom_s]

Mitch,

You need to talk with Andy G, an Aussie who could probably steer you in the right direction when it comes to sourcing parts. He's probably also built a few things over the years that fit you criteria...but they might not be rectangular boxes

Here's his web site - http://members.optusnet.com.au/~gradds55/index.html

[mantha3]

Take a look at the Encore Project in the Speaker Project section. Nice

[donprice]

So roughly $150 to throw into a receiver that takes SPDIF** In, has powered output for the satellites and a sub output.

I'm pretty sure running the SPDIF out to the coax (RCA) "digital" input on a HT receiver will work for you. I did this a few years back (PC CD player direct to HTR) so the details are slightly fuzzy. Of course running a 1/8" stereo plug to L/R RCA cable from the PC to the HTR is dirt simple and even the on-board audio is (probably) good enough when you are starting with space and budget limits.