Speaker kits

[JohnMichael]

I have been thinking about building a pair of speakers for a few months now. I have not built speakers since Speakerlab in Washington used to sell kits. I do want a predesigned kit with everything I will need. Here are the kits under consideration.

Dayton Audio UA701BK Usher Speaker Kit Gloss Black 302-950 (http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=302-950)

Madisound Speaker Store (http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/2-way-speaker-kits/seas-idunn-2-way-speaker-kit-pair-complete/)

Idunn (http://www.seas.no/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=274&Itemid=248)

Madisound Speaker Store (http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/coaxial-speaker-kits/seas-loki-mkii-coaxial-kit-with-cabinet-each/)

Hey what is another pair of speakers in the walk-in closet. I thought it might be fun and if I do not like them I have nephews to pass them on along with a pair of Ascends. Any thoughts?

[Poultrygeist]

Frugal or Frugel Horn Mk3 Do It Yourself high end horn loaded loudspeaker DIY FH Mk 3 (http://www.jrbham.btinternet.co.uk/fh3/index.html)

[Feanor]

I have been thinking about building a pair of speakers for a few months now. I have not built speakers since Speakerlab in Washington used to sell kits. I do want a predesigned kit with everything I will need. Here are the kits under consideration.

Dayton Audio UA701BK Usher Speaker Kit Gloss Black 302-950 (http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=302-950)

Madisound Speaker Store (http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/2-way-speaker-kits/seas-idunn-2-way-speaker-kit-pair-complete/)

Idunn (http://www.seas.no/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=274&Itemid=248)

Madisound Speaker Store (http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/coaxial-speaker-kits/seas-loki-mkii-coaxial-kit-with-cabinet-each/)
...
I have no experience with any of them, but I'll comment that the Idunn's DTX tweeter concept seems very sound. Controlled dispersion isn't a new concept but tends to be seen in professional monitors more than consumer speakers. 3-way speakers's drivers can be selected to have similar dispersion over full range, but it can be difficult in 2-way speakers.

The coaxial Seas will provide somewhat controlled dispersion too, and also eliminate "lobing", i.e. interference between drivers at certain angles in the crossover region.

Speakers with 8" mid/bass and 2.5 kHz crossovers to wide dispersion tweeters, (such as Audio Note), will have very uneven dispersion with a lot of beaming between 800 Hz or so, and the crossover point. I think the same would very much apply to Fostex and other full-range drivers; (prove me wrong if you can).

[JohnMichael]

Bill, I was thinking controlled directivity might be a good thing in my room which is on the small side. I think this will be a good thing in the crossover range with the closeness to the side walls.

[Poultrygeist]

With the Fostex it's called point source imaging.

[TheHills44060]

Ooooo I like that Dayton kit.

[Feanor]

Bill, I was thinking controlled directivity might be a good thing in my room which is on the small side. I think this will be a good thing in the crossover range with the closeness to the side walls.
I think so too. I'm not sure how a person could argue that wide dispersion is better while they are, at the same time, using extensive sound absorption on the walls, and maybe floor and ceiling.

My guess is that for HT and multi-channel it is even more important to limit dispersion, i.e. reflections, in order to achieve the effect that the producer/sound engineer envisioned.

[kexodusc]

SEAS makes a great product, I've never heard those kits but I have heard other designs with those drivers. The Ushers are an ok kit, they sound very nice and will surprise you for what you spend. But if you're buying from Parts Express their Dayton Reference kits are a much better buy IMO. I believe Usher makes them, but they're more affordable and there's more than a few tested and proven designs.

I recently built a co-worker a pair of these:
Madisound Speaker Store (http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/index.php?p=catalog&mode=search&search_in=name&search_str=sr71)

Scary good sound for the money. I'm thinking of redoing my home theater with 7 of them.

Let us know how you make out.

[JohnMichael]

SEAS makes a great product, I've never heard those kits but I have heard other designs with those drivers. The Ushers are an ok kit, they sound very nice and will surprise you for what you spend. But if you're buying from Parts Express their Dayton Reference kits are a much better buy IMO. I believe Usher makes them, but they're more affordable and there's more than a few tested and proven designs.

I recently built a co-worker a pair of these:
Madisound Speaker Store (http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/index.php?p=catalog&mode=search&search_in=name&search_str=sr71)

Scary good sound for the money. I'm thinking of redoing my home theater with 7 of them.

Let us know how you make out.


That kit looks good Kex, thanks. Oh and I will keep you posted if I build them. Nothing new until my Krell S-300i is back.

[Feanor]

SEAS makes a great product, I've never heard those kits but I have heard other designs with those drivers. The Ushers are an ok kit, they sound very nice and will surprise you for what you spend. But if you're buying from Parts Express their Dayton Reference kits are a much better buy IMO. I believe Usher makes them, but they're more affordable and there's more than a few tested and proven designs.

Thanks, Kex. It was kind of my thought that the Dayton Reference kits would be better value; I suspect you're paying something for the 'Usher' brand.


...
I recently built a co-worker a pair of these:
Madisound Speaker Store (http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/index.php?p=catalog&mode=search&search_in=name&search_str=sr71)

Scary good sound for the money. I'm thinking of redoing my home theater with 7 of them. ...
Wow, that's good info. I was looking at the Zaph designs a few months ago. Particularly appealing was THIS (http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/2.5-way-speaker-kits/zaph%7Caudio-zrt-2.5-way-revelator-tower-complete-with-cabinets-pair/) 2.5 way. This might seem a little pricey but bear in mind that the drivers are ScanSpeak -- I suspect that made, brand name speakers with these drivers would be 2-4x the price. IMO, 2.5 way designs are a better concept than 2 way, dual woofer designs.

Zaph Audio website is very interesting too: www.zaphaudio.com/ (http://www.zaphaudio.com/)

http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/images/products/preview/zrt-2.5-cab.jpg

[frenchmon]

Here you go JM...

Speaker kits, loudspeaker design services, sub-woofers and amplifiers. (http://gr-research.com/)

[JohnMichael]

Here you go JM...

Speaker kits, loudspeaker design services, sub-woofers and amplifiers. (http://gr-research.com/)



Nice looking kits, thanks for the link. I am waiting until the Krell is returned so I have time yet to decide. I am leaning toward the Idunn and the controlled dispersion of the tweeter at the crossover.

[YBArcam]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Idunn does not come with everything you need. It states that you need to build your own cabinet or have your dealer find one for you.

I'm actually planning on buying a kit myself this fall/winter. Either the SEAS coaxial speaker offered by Madisound, or the Usher kit from Parts Express. I am leaning towards the latter. I like the curved cabinet. My Wharfedales have a curved cabinet and I believe it's effective at reducing boxiness.

[JohnMichael]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Idunn does not come with everything you need. It states that you need to build your own cabinet or have your dealer find one for you.

I'm actually planning on buying a kit myself this fall/winter. Either the SEAS coaxial speaker offered by Madisound, or the Usher kit from Parts Express. I am leaning towards the latter. I like the curved cabinet. My Wharfedales have a curved cabinet and I believe it's effective at reducing boxiness.



The Madisound kit comes with a cabinet but it suggests you build your own brace to reduce cabinet vibrations.

[Feanor]

The Madisound kit comes with a cabinet but it suggests you build your own brace to reduce cabinet vibrations.
It's easy to add some bracing.

Usually a couple of struts between the widest panels, say the sides, will work very well. Place these struts irregularly, i.e. not exactly half way front to back and not exactly 1/3 top to bottom. Use 1x2" or 2x2" lumber. Cut each piece just a little too long, say 1/16", then fit them very snugly by filing or sanding but keeping the ends square. Put some white glue on the ends; use a mallet (or whatever) to drive them into position, ensuring they are square side to side and and front to back

[Poultrygeist]

Several of these kits come with pre-assembled crossovers and cabs. This means you can complete the entire build in a couple of hours without even breaking out a soldering iron. I always look at the educational value of kits and unfortunately there's not much to learn with such complete kits. The kit below gives an opportunity to develop one's soldering skills in the crossover assembly and has easy to follow written and video instructions.

Dayton BR-1 6-1/2" 2-Way Bookshelf Monitor Speaker Kit Pair 300-640 (http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=300-640)

[JohnMichael]

It's easy to add some bracing.

Usually a couple of struts between the widest panels, say the sides, will work very well. Place these struts irregularly, i.e. not exactly half way front to back and not exactly 1/3 top to bottom. Use 1x2" or 2x2" lumber. Cut each piece just a little too long, say 1/16", then fit them very snugly by filing or sanding but keeping the ends square. Put some white glue on the ends; use a mallet (or whatever) to drive them into position, ensuring they are square side to side and and front to back



I would make a figure 8 brace for the cabinet. I then might do a simpler brace for another area.

[harley .guy07]

The Madisound 2.5 way kit with the Scan Speak drivers was one of the kits I looked at real hard before finding my Dyns at a good price but I do like the looks of the usher kit from parts express as well but I think it would be cool to build one of the scan speak madisound kits since they seem to get a real good rating from the DIY crowd or at least the ones I have read but the kit is also one of the most expensive of the bunch and it would be hard to put that kind of money into a first kit but I have experience in wood working and speaker building and crossover design so I think that would be the one for me.