High-WAF/SAF designs

[djkest]

I searched and did not find a thread about this. Looking for small speakers that make big sound. Design choices lend themselves to high Spouse Acceptance Factor/ Wife Acceptance Factor.

Women seem to be turned off by:
1) goofy shapes
2) BIG speakers, very wide or very tall
3) multitude of drivers
(at least, most normal women)

With that in mind, here are some things I think qualify for that, can you think of others?
----------------
1) Overnight Sensation/ OS MTM - nice cone color, only 6" wide! http://sites.google.com/site/undefin...ightsensations
2) Speedster- See above http://sites.google.com/site/undefinition/speedster
3) Piccolo (Jeff Bagby)- fairly narrow and small box, nice looking small drivers
4) "Commodore" mini-tower speakers by Paul Carmody, Amiga, Core 2-way, ZX Spectrum http://sites.google.com/site/undefinition/diy/amiga
5) Wolf's Dragon Foals (M3N) http://techtalk.parts-express.com/blog.php?b=43
5a) Zaph Single-driver (B3s) http://www.zaphaudio.com/audio-speaker18.html
------------------
6) Nano Neo / NTN (Chris Roemer)
7) Continuum (JeffB)
8) New Horizons (MikeZ)
9) Piccolatta (LouC) http://www.lonesaguaro.com/speakers/TB4V/Piccolata.html
10) Veepers (LouC) http://www.lonesaguaro.com/speakers/VP/Veeper.html
11) C-Killa (LouC) http://www.lonesaguaro.com/speakers/ckilla/CKilla.html
12) Microbe SE (RJB) http://www.rjbaudio.com/Microbe%20SE/microbe%20SE.html
13) Levitations (Brewski) http://techtalk.parts-express.com/sh...d.php?t=224505
14) Duelattis (Mark65)
15) Sophomores (Wolf)
16) Cinderellas (WayneW) http://www.speakerdesignworks.com/Cinderella.html

What other designs come to your mind? I think the things guys like in speakers (big cones, phase caps, multiple drivers?) aren't always what women want.

[fastbike1]

Gotta add
1 Nano Neo
2 Continuum
3 New Horizons
4 Piccolatta
5 Veepers
6 C-Killa
7 Microbe SE
8 Levitations
9 Duelattis

Had enough?

BTW, I don't think a 34" tower cuts it for "mini". Love Paul's speakers though.

I searched and did not find a thread about this. Looking for small speakers that make big sound. Design choices lend themselves to high Spouse Acceptance Factor/ Wife Acceptance Factor.

Women seem to be turned off by:
1) goofy shapes
2) BIG speakers, very wide or very tall
3) multitude of drivers
(at least, most normal women)

With that in mind, here are some things I think qualify for that, can you think of others?

1) Overnight Sensation/ OS MTM - nice cone color, only 6" wide!
2) Speedster- See above
3) Piccolo (Jeff Bagby)- fairly narrow and small box, nice looking small drivers
4) "Commodore" mini-tower speakers by Paul Carmody, Amiga, Core 2-way, ZX Spectrum
5) Wolf's Dragon Foals / Single driver Zaph speaker, same thing, different crossover.
What other designs come to your mind? I think the things guys like in speakers (big cones, phase caps, multiple drivers?) aren't always what women want.

[carlspeak]

I've been married for over 40 yrs and the only stereo stuff my wife put up with was a Harmon Kardon system I had before we got married. That died about 10 years later and every since there's been nothing acceptable I've built until recently when she said: "I like those. Don't sell them. They will look nice in the living room". So there they stand sounding and looking great.
These are my Intimates with Cherry finished cabinets on Cherry stands. They are high end. So, if you're on a budget, these are not for you.

[djkest]

Good stuff! I haven't asked a lot of women what they think, but do you think bookshelf speakers on stands are more appealing than small floorstanding speakers? Updating the OP.

[patrickm]

I searched and did not find a thread about this. Looking for small speakers that make big sound. Design choices lend themselves to high Spouse Acceptance Factor/ Wife Acceptance Factor.

Women seem to be turned off by:
1) goofy shapes
2) BIG speakers, very wide or very tall
3) multitude of drivers
(at least, most normal women.

Don't forget finish... much has to do with how something fits into a room. Big speakers that look furniture-quality may be ok'd more easily than something that looks homemade, though tastes vary. And include her in the design/finishing process if she wants...collaboration goes a long way. And consider other matching non-speaker items you can make for the room (coffee tables, bookshelves, etc.) as part of the input in the design process.

[tomzarbo]

Wolf's Sophomores. They surprised me when I first heard them. More bass than you would think would be possible from that small of a speaker, plus smooth and listenable... everything sounds "right"

One more to add to the list.

TomZ

[carlspeak]

Good stuff! I haven't asked a lot of women what they think, but do you think bookshelf speakers on stands are more appealing than small floorstanding speakers? Updating the OP.

I think that's a question for HER to answer. Show her my pics and ask her opinion.

A pretty accurate sonic description of the Intimates agrees completely with that given of Wolf's Sophmores by tomzarbo.

[Brewski]

Good stuff! I haven't asked a lot of women what they think, but do you think bookshelf speakers on stands are more appealing than small floorstanding speakers? Updating the OP.

For my wife the width and silver color was the primary offending factor my previous Athena Audition AS-F2 main speakers. I think floor standers under 10" wide would be ok with most spouses. The Ruinations have had acceptable WAF but the majority of the time they have grills on them so the multiple drivers part of the equation ends up hidden.

Take it easy
Jay

[Pete Schumacher ®]

I like what Bill Fitzmaurice said.

When I have input on what shoes she buys, she can dictate what stereo equipment comes into the house.

SAF? Who needs it when you have B A L L S not in a jar on the shelf.

[Face]

Just like most things, WAF is subjectional. I would bring just about anything in my house as long as it's not a pair of Avantegardes or a monkey coffin covered in truck bedliner.

[greywarden]

I like what Bill Fitzmaurice said.

When I have input on what shoes she buys, she can dictate what stereo equipment comes into the house.

SAF? Who needs it when you have B A L L S not in a jar on the shelf.

Haha, some people haven't been married that long.

Or you could just get rid of her like I did..... or something like that lol.

[daryl]

Bose is always big with the lady's.

....Just sayin.

[djkest]

Bose is always big with the lady's.

....Just sayin.

BOSE is not an option. Ever.

One thing that drives me nuts is my wife insists on putting nick-nacks on top of my Paradigm floorstanding speakers. They are NOT plant stands!

[morris]

BOSE is not an option. Ever.

One thing that drives me nuts is my wife insists on putting nick-nacks on top of my Paradigm floorstanding speakers. They are NOT plant stands!

I allow my wife to put knick-knacks on top of my speakers because she tolerates my big boxes. Another thing I observe is that when a DIYer involves the wife in the aesthetic design process, they will more likely tolerate bigger speakers.
In addition, do something nice for you wife on a regular basis (i.e. do chores, give complements, gifts, massages, etc.) and she will more likely allow bigger speakers in the house.

Why do men allow women to dictate the aesthetics inside the house anyway? Is it culture? Wife takes care of the household things and the man goes out to bring the bacon.
When a marriage is based on equal, give and take relationship, there should not be to much fuss about bigger speakers.

[John_Frum]

Tell her you are thinking of something like this



When she freaks, tell her you are kidding and then show her the real design. She will be so relieved, you will be able to do pretty much any design.

[Mark65]

To the OP:

Chris Roemer did the NanoNeos/ntn's, not Wolf.

Oh, and Roman Bednarek did the Microbes, Brewski did the Levitations, and the Deullati were done by yours truly.


Mark

[carlspeak]

Okay, here's the $64,000,000 question:

Why can't wives also enjoy great sounding speakers - no matter what they look like?!

If they did, then aesthetics would be a moot point in the design processs.

I belong to an Audio society with over 60 members. I think we may have 1 female member. What's up with that? Isn't music the universal language?

...... end of rant....

[mtmpenn]

Hey Carlspeak -

Is there a write-up for your design?

[carlspeak]

Not yet in one place, but I hope to get one up here soon. Been getting PM's from a few curious folks. Most seem to shy away when I tell them the whole package I've shown runs about $1400 retail when you've bought all the parts, cabs and had the BB professionally cut for the SS drivers.

Still intersted mtmpenn?

[bobhowell]

My wife and daughters listen to music on laptops and Iphones. They see no need for speakers.

Education is a waste of time there.