Full Range Desktop Recommendation

[anunnaki]

Hello my fellow speaker building nerds/gurus!

I am looking for some help on identifying a reasonably priced full range driver option for my office desktop. I would like the capability of reaching down to the 50hz range but also looking for smallish form factor. (<.17ft^3)

I have looked at some offerings in a 4” size but seeing most have limitations, I.E. only usable to say 70hz, limited upper end responses to say 10k.

The Markaudio Alpair 7 seems decent but it likely is going to roll off too high limiting the bass response.

I am also open to an inexpensive two way that could fit the bill.

Thanks in advance everyone!

[Chris Roemer]

Dayton's TCP115-4 reaches 40Hz (50 STRONGLY) in about 0.10 vented cf. Of course, you need a tweeter w/it.
There ARE a few builds w/it on PETT.

AURA's NS3-193-8 (VERY similar to Dayton ND90-8) does 50 in about 0.15 vented cf. Most use a BSC filter w/it, but CAN be skipped if you can EQ a bit.

One thing you NEED to do bass w/tiny woofers is Xmax, and both these have it.

[marvin]

I heartily endorse Dr. Jay's updated design of Duane Brown's version of the TCP-115-4 2-way. Craig K also contributed to the revision of the box size and tuning. This DIY version goes lower than the Dayton MK 402X, but I find the MK 402X also performs well as a desktop with a 1 or 2 db boost to upper mids to improve detail.

https://techtalk.parts-express.com/f...deluxe-version

https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton...r-Pair-300-465

[Wolf]

Look up the "Dayton 4" 2-way project by duanebro, refried by DrJay, and Marvin built a set too. That is a very economical build that sounds fantastic.

If you want full range and about 3 ltrs is good, then my Dragon Foals would likely suit. FR is 55 to ~20k. HiVi M3N ported box, and they tend to do quite well.

Values listed in the schematic are measured values of the components I used. I'm sure a 0.1-0.2 variance or so should be acceptable in caps.











Quoting myself from a couple years ago...

Dragon Foals are a 3.1 ltr vented box that is the same basically as the Zaph B3S design in dimension, but I used 3/4" material and it made them a touch wider, and the HiVi M3N instead. 1.5" port diameter, lined inside with ~1/16" thick adhesive-backed craft foam "Foamies" (for turbulence and diameter reduction), and at a length of 4.17" according to simulation. Make it 4.25" and don't look back. This should tune it to 72Hz. The cabinet is to be lined with foam and stuffed with polyfil, keeping the port open on the inside. Front baffle has 0.25-0.5" radius on the edges, and the M3N driver is recess-mounted, and the inside back is chamfer-relieved for better air-flow.

The tuning approximates BSC to +3.3dB at 141Hz for weight in the bass, combined with the first notch.

The contour network consists of 2 parallel notches placed in series with the driver of:

1.0mH/4.7uF/8.2 ohm (I targeted 4.85uF, but a 4.7uF should be close.)
0.1mH/5.6uF/30 ohm

I used 18AWG air-core coils for the 1.0mH, and 20AWG for the 0.1mH. I recommend poly-caps for accuracy in the notches as NPEs can vary, and for size restrictions, the blue Jantzen Standard Z-Caps or CrossCaps make a lot of sense. I just lined them up in a row on a board and tied ends together and soldered with the coils placed on the far ends of the board. You'll find fitting through a 2.5" hole makes it difficult to fit laminate-coils, or even long xovers due to the dimensions of the box. IIRC, I actually installed the ports AFTER the xovers, or I wouldn't have been able to get them in the box. The other alternatives are to make the contour network into 2 separate notch boards connected by a single wire, or make a removable baffle or back to get everything installed. I actually used the polyfil stuffing to keep the xover against the wall in the cab as there was no way to secure or anchor it otherwise.

They are designed to kick like a mule for their size, and IMO have a very very good resolution of vocals with a surprisingly sparkly top end treble.

In fact, the thread I sourced the info from may also be right up your alley...
https://techtalk.parts-express.com/f...eaker-round-up

Later,
Wolf

[anunnaki]

Thanks for the suggestions so far! Dr. Jays and the original Duane Brown options look pretty appealing, especially with the footprint.

[jhollander]

Most all the 3 liter projects from InDIYana would be a fit. I had 3 projects but here are the pictures, https://midwestaudio.club/event-archive/indiyana-2017/

[iglow01gt]

You could also check out this build from a member on this forum tom_s who built one using Part #295-415 Model: TCP115-4 and Part #264-1472 Model: DX20BF00-04 and designing a series crossover, and you can find it at this link see post #51 with crossover :

https://techtalk.parts-express.com/f...-monitor/page4

[tom_s]

After hearing Marvin's cool looking version of Duane Brown's Dayton 4 in Ankeny last Fall, I would urge anyone to go that route if you can find the ND16 tweeters. I think Duane's design is a little better sounding and it costs less to build. The only advantage my design has is the DX20's are in stock at PE.

[3rutu5]

Dayton's TCP115-4 reaches 40Hz (50 STRONGLY) in about 0.10 vented cf. Of course, you need a tweeter w/it.
There ARE a few builds w/it on PETT.

AURA's NS3-193-8 (VERY similar to Dayton ND90-8) does 50 in about 0.15 vented cf. Most use a BSC filter w/it, but CAN be skipped if you can EQ a bit.

One thing you NEED to do bass w/tiny woofers is Xmax, and both these have it.

I might finally try your setup Chris, I'm buying a broken boombox and think this may work pretty well, just got to wait for it to arrive.

[3rutu5]

Dayton's TCP115-4 reaches 40Hz (50 STRONGLY) in about 0.10 vented cf. Of course, you need a tweeter w/it.
There ARE a few builds w/it on PETT.

AURA's NS3-193-8 (VERY similar to Dayton ND90-8) does 50 in about 0.15 vented cf. Most use a BSC filter w/it, but CAN be skipped if you can EQ a bit.

One thing you NEED to do bass w/tiny woofers is Xmax, and both these have it.

Chris, feel like flicking me your TCP115-4 build info?

[Chris Roemer]

Some pics of TCP115-4 w/mdt44S w/series XO (yup, $12 woofer, $100 tweeter).

[andykriech]

One of Wolf's other small desktop designs are the PCs. I am listening to Tycho on them right now and they do very well.
At work i have Scott's Heliums, another small and very good desktop speaker.

andy.

[3rutu5]

Some pics of TCP115-4 w/mdt44S w/series XO (yup, $12 woofer, $100 tweeter).

oh ok, they had an expensive tweeter in that setup. i might need to have a look at a cheaper smaller tweeter for what i want.

[djg]

These are, as they say, hard to beat. I built a pair before the kit came out.

https://www.parts-express.com/Passiv...-Pair-300-7148

[djg]

Or these.

https://techtalk.parts-express.com/f...speaker-system