Beginner help

[Sharp69]

I want to build a center channel, a big center channel. Alot of length, short height, and fairly deep. I would like it to have lows mids and highs. I'm a beginner so im just asking for some advice, tips, and basically if possible to school me on producing mids highs and lows, and general info on crossovers. I know I'm being vague but I'm not looking for every detail, just all around info. Like what woofers, tweeters or whatever creates the certain ranges.

[djg]

For a center channel or any speaker to have low frequency response, it needs a woofer at least 5, maybe 4 inches in diameter. That will determine its height. For your typical horizontal center channel unit.

as far as crossovers, etc, check out the speaker building sticky at the top of the page. You can build a proven design or learn how to do it yourself.

[mattk]

I wanted basically the same things, as I needed a center channel speaker that would also raise my television, but only by 6 to 7 inches. I went with 2 X RS150-4 woofers, a Morel MDM55 mid, and a no-longer-available Vifa D26nc55 tweeter, as shown. The Morel & Vifa both have really small faceplates, which made the height possible. As far as width & depth of the speaker, to match the base of my television, my speaker's external dimensions are quite a bit bigger than needed for the RS150s, but the internal dimensions are the right size. The back of my enclosure is recessed a few inches from the back of the box, and the sides of my enclosure are likewise a few inches inside the walls of the box. Sort of a box within a box.

[Sharp69]

That's a nice center channel, good idea to have a box within a box.

I'm thinkin to use these:
Lows: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=295-328

Mids: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=297-435

And for highs I'm not sure which tweeters would be best....cone, dome, ribbon, etc. I don't know the differences with them.

My dimensions are a big flexible, I want it to cover a large area on my tv stand but like you did I can make inner walls.

Maybe 4 for lows, 2 for mids, and one tweeter. Also ported. Only thing is I wish I would find a yellow woofer that's a 4" to match the mids and my subwoofers. Im trying to go for a yellow theme.

[michiganpat]

that hivi goes high enough that it should cover the midrange and cross directly to a tweeter in a 2 way alignment. if you want more bass extension, you could do a 2.5 way, where the additional woofer is crossed over low (usually under 200hz) to fill in the bottom end.

I'd do a midrange-tweet-midrange, with a pair of them, or a woofer-mid-tweet-mid-woofer with 4 of them, the outer woofers low passed above about 200hz

for tweets, I'd probably use this
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=275-040
or this
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=297-408

offset higher between the two mids to get them closer together, which will allow for a higher crossover point

[kmibb]

Check out the Swope HT. It will do what you're looking for and the drivers aren't too expensive.

[mattk]

That's a nice center channel, good idea to have a box within a box.

I'm thinkin to use these:
Lows: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=295-328

Mids: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=297-435

And for highs I'm not sure which tweeters would be best....cone, dome, ribbon, etc. I don't know the differences with them.

My dimensions are a big flexible, I want it to cover a large area on my tv stand but like you did I can make inner walls.

Maybe 4 for lows, 2 for mids, and one tweeter. Also ported. Only thing is I wish I would find a yellow woofer that's a 4" to match the mids and my subwoofers. Im trying to go for a yellow theme.

You might be the only person who has ever posted here planning on using smaller, higher Fs woofers than mids, unless you listed them backwards.

[LoveDoctor]

http://sites.google.com/site/undefin...-provendesigns

I think the above was suggested as a starting point on one of the other posts you started. If you haven't read it, please do. Long story short, as a self-confessed beginner, don't make the mistake of thinking you can pick some drivers and go from there. Please consider using a proven design from someone with more experience. I've been into DIY for 5 years, and I'm no where near designing my own crossovers. Any center channel listed in the sticky at the top of this forum with a pair of decent sized woofers will provide what you are looking for.

[Sharp69]

You might be the only person who has ever posted here planning on using smaller, higher Fs woofers than mids, unless you listed them backwards.

I don't know what I was thinking. Thank you for telling me before i screwed myself on that one.

[Paul Carmody]

Have you seen the Cynosure? I think that's the general look you want, right? Too bad Tang Band drivers are ridiculously expensive now.

[Sharp69]

Have you seen the Cynosure? I think that's the general look you want, right? Too bad Tang Band drivers are ridiculously expensive now.

Yeah I saw that and I was set on it...then I saw the prices, that's what started this all. I basically want the cynosure with cheaper drivers.

[djg]

In your initial post you asked for low frequency response. The Cynosure is good down to 100 HZ. You can only get so much bass from a 3" driver. You will probably need to choose between form and function.

[mattk]

Yeah I saw that and I was set on it...then I saw the prices, that's what started this all. I basically want the cynosure with cheaper drivers.

The xover would need to be reworked, but look at these:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...umber=264-1062

Also, as DJG points out, you aren't going to have deep bass with this kind of speaker.

[Sharp69]

The xover would need to be reworked, but look at these:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...umber=264-1062

Also, as DJG points out, you aren't going to have deep bass with this kind of speaker.

Yeah I had high hopes, but I know what it will give me now. Also just wondering would say a 6" woofer make a big enough difference in a center channel, to put it in a center channel?

[Sharp69]

Just looked at those woofers, would I still need a tweet or do those cover high enough? Could I just run like six of those, and if need be, a tweeter?

[dwigle]

While these threads are very entertaining, it appears you haven't read or have ignored the beginner FAQs we've suggested.

You're starting this process a little backwards by picking drivers. Going that route requires crossover design. If you're going to pursue that tack, I'd make sure you've got someone on board that's volunteered to design the crossover for you.

Or you could, as suggested, pick a proven design. There are some very good designs with which you would be very satisfied.

[Sharp69]

While these threads are very entertaining, it appears you haven't read or have ignored the beginner FAQs we've suggested.

You're starting this process a little backwards by picking drivers. Going that route requires crossover design. If you're going to pursue that tack, I'd make sure you've got someone on board that's volunteered to design the crossover for you.

Or you could, as suggested, pick a proven design. There are some very good designs with which you would be very satisfied.

I did look at all the FAQ's I would do a proven design but all I can find is either too expensive or a bad size for me. I'm on low budget and need a certain range of dimensions that I only found on the cynosure.

[dwigle]

I did look at all the FAQ's I would do a proven design but all I can find is either too expensive or a bad size for me. I'm on low budget and need a certain range of dimensions that I only found on the cynosure.

If it helps any, the dimensions can be changed but you need to leave the baffle width (height for a center) and internal volume the same.

[Sharp69]

If it helps any, the dimensions can be changed but you need to leave the baffle width (height for a center) and internal volume the same.

I didn't know I could change the dimensions, thanks I'll find one that's in my price range and see if I can tweak it without changing volume or height. I can make it longer right?

[Sharp69]

Okay I found two that would work. The D III and the Millenium III's mtm. Either one better than the oter?