Introducing: The Pit Vipers (Ooh Yeah!!!)

[Serenitynow]

If more sensitive mids are requured, I've used Faital Pro mids in car audio before with good results. Many others have as well.

Let's get these bad boys rollin' Paul. I think this is exactly what I've been wanting to build for years. Take me back to the '80s. We just need a Flux Capacitor.

I don't know much about all of the design work involved with a project like this, but, I volunteer to be a guinea pig for anything that may help with the process.

Todd

[jhollander]

The Dayton PK165-8 sounded way better than the FR would indicate. Not sure what pro drivers would fit that opening but that would be my try suggestion.

[bassman_soundking]

Back when I was younger and into big 3 way cabinets (I had several).
The pair I had that I liked the most was CV VS120s.
Not because they sounded amazing for 2 channel listening and great imaging.
They were loud and had bass that was great for rap and bass heavy music.
Bass is still important to me, but I want it layered and not boomy now and in not overbearing.

Ther mid and tweeter on those Cerwin Vegas honestly sucked too thinking back and comparing to anything I like now.

Your design will be what I wish I had back then if I could go back and save my hearing and enjoy the music more and not the sheer output level.

[Paul Carmody]

Not bad! Actually, it's 34" x 11" x 15.5"

[Paul Carmody]

The shapes of things

As I was saying before, when I first got the idea to try this kind of speaker, I studied a lot of monkey coffins through the years. I was initially just going to "clone" the JBL L100. I mean, not a REAL clone, but I was going to basically copy its size, shape, baffle layout, and driver sizes. So that's exactly where this project started. But once I had sketched up the box for the "L100 clone," I realized that the tweeter sits far below ear level--not really optimal. Then I noticed that JBL specifically sells stands for the L100s to raise the tweeters up to ear level. To me, that seems kind of silly. Like, what's the point of having a big, heavy, box speaker if you can't just plop it on the ground? Speaker stands are for BOOKSHELF speakers; what are you doin' putting monkey coffins on there!?!

Anyway, I then decided to design the enclosure to be tall enough to bring the tweeters up to a better level. That let me make the enclosure shallower, which was also kind of the style with 70s and 80s party speakers.

In the attachment, you can see the evolution of the design. I pasted an Amiga cabinet in there to keep a sense of scale as I was working. (These are the same height as the Amiga) You can see that I had toyed with offsetting the tweeter and mid, which you sometimes saw in the days of monkey coffins (they seemed to be really into the Golden Ratio back then), but I eventually centered things for the sake of aesthetic symmetry.

[bassman_soundking]

You've seen Zaph's SB Acoustic monkey coffin with an MTM mid/tweeter arrangement?

And Bill F.'s horn sub with an MTM on top?

I was going to bring this up.
SB Acoustics drivers have always intrigued me and I was thinking about making those.
When looking around for ideas for the SB15s and Sb29s I stumbled across them.
At this point I have pretty much decided to do the MTM instead though and have a seperate subwoofer I can move around.
I really thought about getting the12s and doing them though.

[Paul Carmody]

I'm well aware of Zaph's monkey coffin. I was always curious to hear how it sounded. The thing that i always wondered about that project was if it would ever really catch on because of its relatively high price point. I'm not privy to Madisound's books, though, so I have no idea.

I'm also aware of Bill's horn sub+MTM, but I think what he's doing is a pretty far cry from my project.

[Paul Carmody]

Paul, just ran across the new Dayton GF180-4 that looks interesting.
Maybe that would work for the midrange in these ?
I know it's bigger than 5", but......

Wow, dude. I don't know how you did it, but you've managed to steal thoughts out of my brain.

Yes, that is exactly the other "mid" I'm considering for the project. I don't have those on-hand, although I've considered picking up a pair to try out for this. I saw Craig's project and thought it looked sharp, and Craig gave it high praise. I have some other items I want to tackle with this project first before I cut new baffles, though. So I'm putting the mids on the back-burner for a bit.

[djg]

You've seen Zaph's SB Acoustic monkey coffin with an MTM mid/tweeter arrangement?

And Bill F.'s horn sub with an MTM on top?

[Serenitynow]

Paul, just ran across the new Dayton GF180-4 that looks interesting.
Maybe that would work for the midrange in these ?
I know it's bigger than 5", but......

[fpitas]

I'm a big speaker fan. Mine are constructed with four modules, and look more like alien robots than monkey boxes I've heard a lot of small speakers I like, but larger speakers (when done well) just sound better to me. I'm sure it depends on a host of factors like the room etc.

[Chris Roemer]

2-1/2 cu.ft. or so? About 34"h x 14 x 12? ?

[9sheng]

Although I can't fit such a loud speaker in my room, I'm still happy to see it. Keep an eye on the progress

[Mayhem13]

Wow!…..I’m sure you’re voicing will squeeze the most out of those drivers. Always appreciate your focus on budget with your designs!

[invaderzim]

Personally, I think those look great. I have nowhere to put more speakers and yet I really want to build a set (those and the mentioned zingers). I'm getting to old to try to store them in the attic.