DIY speaker kits

[zepman1]

I'm thinking about building some speakers for a secondary (currently non-existent) home theater setup. Ideally, I would like to start with a kit (BR-1, Ar.com, etc) for the front speakers, and then custom build surrounds, center channel and subwoofer for a 6.1 setup. I figure that I can learn while building the kit, and then hopefully use that knowledge (and help from message boards) to build the rest.

Anyhow, I am trying to decide on a starter kit and which I should get. The BR-1's look good, but I am concerned about the power handling. I would like to feed these at least 100W per channel, and will likely run them pretty hard. Other than power handling, accuracy and stereo imaging are my primary concerns. I would prefer a three way design for the front channel but it is not critical. Any suggestions? Oh, and cost is a concern I would prefer the kit to cost less than $300. I will build my own cabinets for the surrounds and sub if necessary.

[Swerd]

Here are a few DIY web sites that I have found useful. All of them are well written and documented and seem to contain a variety of good designs. Understand that I have not heard most of them. Several of the articles at speakerbuilder.net were especially helpful when I was first starting DIY. This site has a design that uses the same woofer as the AR.com but a different tweeter and crossover.

My personal favorite designs are Dennis Murphy's 2-ways, the MB20 (less $, similar in price to AR.com and IMO better) and CAOW1 (more $) at murphyblaster.com. He has plans that allow you to convert his 2-ways into a 3-way with the addition of a 10" woofer in a separate cabinet (MBOW1 3-way). I've heard them and they are excellent. He also has a corrected crossover design for the BR-1 kit. All the designers except Wayne J at speakerbuilder.net will answer emails.

http://www.zaphaudio.com/
http://www.lonesaguaro.com/speakers/
http://murphyblaster.com/content.php?f=main.html
http://www.speakerbuilder.net/web_files/default.htm
http://www.rjbaudio.com/

Have fun reading them

[kexodusc]

Swerd pretty much covered most of the weblinks I'd give you.

I've build a project by every single one of these designers. My favorite by far is John Krutke (zaph), Dennis Murphy sure knows his stuff though.

For a home theater on a budget, you can't go wrong with something like the BR-1's. I say this because there are a zillion designs using the Dayton woofers and tweeters that you can study/copy/borrow ideas from for customizing your own home theater.

I just built a home theater for a friend based on some of Wayne J's designs from speakerbuilder.net (you can see my thread below in this forum). Very good sound for not a lot of money.

I've also built the PeeCreek (the Peerless design Swerd referred to) and the Ar.com...I actually preferred the Ar.coms overall presentation, but the imaging in the PeeCreeks is extremely good for an inexpensive speaker.

Lots of options....
I'd recommend a few books if you really want to get into the hobby:

Designing, Building, and Testing Your Own Speaker System - David Weems
Loudspeaker Design Cookbook - Vance Dickason
Speaker Building 201 - Ray Alden
Great Sound Stereo Speaker Manual - David Weems

I don't have a favorite yet...maybe the 1st Weems book and SB 201...all are good. You can find them used for cheap if you look.

[Swerd]

My favorite by far is John Krutke (zaph)

Hey kex

Which of John Krutke's designs did you like? Was it the Seas L18/27TBFCG?

I haven't heard a whole lot of metal speakers and I was thinking of trying one out for my next project. So far, I prefer the coated paper woofer designs I've heard, but you never know what you haven't heard. Obviously, the choice will be between a Seas aluminum design and one with the Dayton RS drivers which sell for a lot less. Have you heard any of those that you like?

[zepman1]

Thanks guys, looks like I have lots of reading and experimenting ahead of me.

What about the power handling of the BR-1's? I don't believe I've ever seen a rating for these other than that listed with the Dayton drivers. If I remember it was really low, something like 60w. Is this correct or can they be safely (and effectively) driven with average amplification (100w per channel)?

Thanks, the BR-1's seems like a good starting point for me, but I want to avoid them if the power handling is a concern. Thanks again.

[kexodusc]

The power handling is 100 watts max on the BR-1's, but that's a real estimate. Most speaker wattage ratings are absolutely useless, and refer to the thermal handling capability of the voice coils, not the actual amount of full-range power you could feed a speaker.

If you were to take a typical brand name speaker like B&W, Klipsch, Paradigm, etc and try feeding their power handling numbers into the speaker, you'd run the risk of driver excursion in many designs.

The BR-1's will play plenty loud, don't worry, I'm guessing you don't use 100 watts average amplification to your current speakers.

[kexodusc]

Hey kex

Which of John Krutke's designs did you like? Was it the Seas L18/27TBFCG?

I haven't heard a whole lot of metal speakers and I was thinking of trying one out for my next project. So far, I prefer the coated paper woofer designs I've heard, but you never know what you haven't heard. Obviously, the choice will be between a Seas aluminum design and one with the Dayton RS drivers which sell for a lot less. Have you heard any of those that you like?

I did hear Zaph's Seas all metal design...and for the money it is by far the best speaker design I've ever heard, DIY or otherwise. If memory serves, it was the larger woofer model Zaph uses, the L18, not L15...it was a fellow DIY-er at the local "club" I guess you might call it who built the design and brought it in for us to demo...I could verify for certain if you want, though I can't imagine one design being executed better than the other.

I very close to building a modified version of the L18 design myself. By most accounts, the Seas tweeter is a bit better than the RS28 or a bit less money (though might require more xo parts to narrow that gap). Zaph also liked the Seas woofers better than the RS woofers he tested by a good margin, but you're right, about costs again. I think they'd be comparable...one's got a high priced tweeter, the other a woofer. If you're doing an MTM, I'd probably lean with the Daytons. I plan on eventually trying all these drivers.

Since shipping from PE is a bit steep for me the Seas is designs are a bit more attractive to me right now....but there's just so much raving about the RS drivers...decisions, decisions...

[Swerd]

Yes there is no shortage of new designs with metal drivers.

I just read last night that Dennis Murphy is in the process of designing a 3-way speaker with Dayton RS drivers. It will have a RS150 mid and two RS225 woofers. There are two versions with different tweeters, one with the Dayton RS28 and one with the Seas H1212 tweeter. http://www.pesupport.com/cgi-bin/config.pl?read=265584

Here I thought I was beginning to understand things. I thought Dennis preferred coated paper woofers with gradual high freq roll-off and gentle breakup peaks that allow 2nd order crossovers. He also prefers very flat performing designs and seems to avoid bass heavy designs. And now he is making a metal 3-way with two 8" woofers! Dennis has always said that just because an aluminum driver is shiny looking doesn't make it bright sounding.

I'm eager to find out more. If anyone accuses me of being a Dennis Murphy fanboy, I guess I'm guilty as charged.