Soundbar conundrum

[Jicafold]

I had built the Dayton center channel seen in the speaker project gallery below. So my next plan was to build a set of matching bookshelf size front left and right channel speakers. I have other speakers there now and my spouse is a bit annoyed with all the speakers around the television screen. It appears my projects have a low WAF, or wife approval factor.
We discussed a sound bar much to my dismay. I did pick up a Canton CD 90 SB sound bar used, cheap, for experimental purposes. MSRP new was $650. Figuring if I didn’t like it I could always resell it. It’s rather nice, certainly not a piece of garbage. It is a passive sound bar with 3 separate channels for left right and center with 3 inch woofers. So you hook it up just like you would your speakers. I have to say it sounds pretty darn good. But I would think the center channel I built and potential bookshelf speakers would sound better. I am going to do a few more days of listening and some back and forth. So as a compromise, I’m considering modifying that center channel I made. I could make it an inch shorter so it would be 5 inches tall with 4 inch drivers and then extend the box say 40 inches wide (or more) and put a 2 way system at each end with identical drivers. Dividing the box into 3 separate chambers. Voila, soundbar. Although it’s very subjective, do you think such a DIY Soundbar would be better than the Canton product?

[andy19191]

In your position I would be tempted to look at coaxials to avoid the issues of a tweeter to the side. The SB Acoustics coaxials perhaps?

[Jicafold]

I was actually considering a layout such as this:

[JonathanPenner]

Subscribed.

I’ve been interested in something like this too. Some family members want an upgrade from the built in TV speakers but don’t want visible speakers everywhere. I’ve been thinking a wide (~40”-48”) three-channel soundbar with coaxials might fit the bill, or even trying the approach of small full ranges pointing out the sides with the surround channels.

I’d think coaxials will fare better with dispersion than having tweeters off to the side and would allow for a shorter box and larger woofers since you aren’t also competing for vertical space with the tweeters.

[wogg]

In your position I would be tempted to look at coaxials to avoid the issues of a tweeter to the side. The SB Acoustics coaxials perhaps?

Same.... that's my plan for an eventual 5.1 system update. A coax flanked by a pair of small woofers in a 3 way, identical across all 5 channels.

[djg]

Your idea is fine. I suggest blacking out the soundbar cab to hide the speakers, even black grill cloth (an extreme measure).

A stereo Helium based unit with amp. If you black it out it doesn't have to be one piece, three matching dimension boxes butted up to each other.

https://sites.google.com/view/sehlin-sound-solutions/helium-soundbar

[andy19191]

I was actually considering a layout such as this:

Looks like an improvement but possibly not at the cost of an inch off the size of the midwoofer if you intend to use the soundbar for stereo music as well.

[Jicafold]

Forgive my accuracy with using Paint. More like this with the top edge of the woofer and tweeter equal height. 4 inch woofer. 5 inch tall box. True...they could be 3 separate pieces.

That there Canton soundbar has 3 inch woofers.

[djg]

Which would allow for moving the L/R when the wife isn't watching you. And, your situation may change in the future such that separates are feasible.

[Whitneyville1]

I spent way too much time listening to a $1200 soundbar (Carver???) at Worst Sell and thought a pair of Yammie 6.5" two-ways and a puny 20-30 watt stereo rec. ate it's lunch. 70 something inch OLED TV in the "FLOWER ROOM" while my ex-roomie was buying puter-stuff. Had the place to myself, so I was A-B-ing playing with 4K (still underwhelmed, 8K is another story), just not good enough imaging from the DBX soundbar, especially for the bucks FOR ME. I'm single and right now, I don't even have a Guinea Pig to tell me what I have to do. You do what you gotta...

[Jicafold]

I would get started on this but both the TCP115-4 and ND20FA-6 I had previously used for the center channel are out of stock. I could buy a pair of the Dayton MK402X speakers and gut them but the tweeters are different. Not sure how the ND20FA-6 would like that crossover. However the leftover cabinets would make a nice birdhouse.

[djg]

I would have recommended these earlier, but last time I looked, the coaxial driver was indefinitely backordered. Now in stock. A very nice sounding very simple small 4" coaxial driver speaker. Sealed or vented. 4 element XO. BOBinGA made one for a center channel. I adapted the design for a stereo pair. The coax sounds really nice. I'd do three separates or a soundbar. I'm sure you would like the sound.

https://techtalk.parts-express.com/forum/tech-talk-forum/1426474-cx120-8-easy-build

https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-CX120-8-4-Coaxial-Driver-with-3-4-Silk-Dome-Tweeter-8-Ohm-295-384

[Wolf]

My Bar-Gain bar in the Gallery has drivers that are different, but definitely capable. I sought for higher sensitivity, and use with a separate sub.
Wolf

[LOUT]

Your Bar-Gain (if I'm remembering right) had been the only build I could find using the PC105's at the time.
I had been worried they were bad enough to be shunned until I saw that build...and its icecream sandwiches.

[Wolf]

Yep- you have the right build. I thought it sounded quite good too!

Yep- and the icecream sandwiches...

[Wolf]

For that matter, the Synchaeta design could also be applied to a soundbar for higher output than most others.
Wolf

[Jicafold]

For some reason, I just can’t bring myself to use a coaxial.

[Jicafold]

Finished !

https://techtalk.parts-express.com/forum/speaker-project-gallery/1476681-the-transformer-soundbar