[mccarty350]

John, didn't know that existed, can you drop me a link?  I'm a forum frequenter but I really didn't expand my participation to Audio Circle until a week or so ago  - and I'm glad I did or I wouldn't have gotten this recommendation for my open baffle standmount project!

if you have a resources page I'd be happy to contribute as I learn/build.

[JohnR]

Hi, they're stickied at the top of the circle. Here is the drivers page: https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=149613.0

[mccarty350]

Thank you sir, what a cool resource!

[Digi-G]

I will put in a plug for the NX-Studio Monitors by GR Research.  Technically, I guess these fall into the "partially open baffle" category since it's only the tweeter that is open baffle, but the reviews here have been impressive.  And it sounds like they are closer to your price point.  There is a flatpack option available if you want to go that route.

They ARE listed on the website, but the website is new and there really isn't much info. 

https://www.gr-research.com/store/p14/NX-Studio.html

I think you'll do better to look for reviews on this site (AudioCircle).  Hope this helps.

Here's one of the build threads that helped motivate me to order a kit (just starting on it):  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=168181.0

[rajacat]

Wow, it does seem to be a 'stand mount' form factor even with the 15 right???  Surprised me but still very cool.  Given the prices and simplicity of open baffle I'd prefer to build my own based of of a design rather than pay several thousands for a pre-assembled product.  I'd rather the money go to quality drivers.

What is your OB stand mount consisting of?  Did you build it yourself?

If you have the tools and space to work, DIY and putting the money towards the best possible drivers is a great idea. I built my speakers.

[mccarty350]

If you have the tools and space to work, DIY and putting the money towards the best possible drivers is a great idea. I built my speakers.

Absolutely.  I go DIY constantly because it's not only a good value but enjoyable.  Currently completed projects:
Linkwitz LX521.4
Classix II
C-Note
SB Acoustics Bromo
Bagby Kairos
Mark Audio Alpair MS11 Full Range in Nostromo Cabinet
Econowave in Realistic Nova 8b
This project - The Manzanitas

There are probably more that I've forgotten about but I agree, bang for the buck is all there and so is the fun of building and woodworking.  Only issue is that if you want to sell your DIY project to fund another you take a bath where as with a used product you can usually sell it for what you have into it so to me it's usually the proposition of used vs DIY.

For my open baffle project it's a done deal and has been selected.  There are so many zero cost open source DIY projects out there that I can do myself that I personally don't see much need in spending thousands on products that have only a few hundred dollars in driver parts.  I can do the finishing work/assembly myself and that is where a lot of the bulk of the cost lies.

[mccarty350]

I wouldn't call those open baffle but they do seem to have a dipole tweeter, that is cool, does the top remain open?  I think that's a very unique design with the sloped ramp coming out of the back of the tweeter.  Is the tweeter an AMT or a ribbon?

I'm not a person that is a firm believer in boutique caps for their price tag, i.e. when I'm building I'll get a metalized polypropylene cap because of it's longevity and precision but I won't spend 100's of dollars on sonicaps, wire, etc.  I prefer to invest all of that money in higher end drivers in the kit as to me that is where the majority of the gain is to be had and some manufacturers when you are purchasing the kit from them provide only 'full bore' options where every cap is a sonicap and every coil is from goertz, the wiring is from litz, etc.  That's just not where my personal preference in investing in a kit or DIY speaker goes, everyone has their own audio belief system and hierarchy on what matters. 

I will put in a plug for the NX-Studio Monitors by GR Research.  Technically, I guess these fall into the "partially open baffle" category since it's only the tweeter that is open baffle, but the reviews here have been impressive.  And it sounds like they are closer to your price point.  There is a flatpack option available if you want to go that route.

They ARE listed on the website, but the website is new and there really isn't much info. 

https://www.gr-research.com/store/p14/NX-Studio.html

I think you'll do better to look for reviews on this site (AudioCircle).  Hope this helps.

Here's one of the build threads that helped motivate me to order a kit (just starting on it):  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=168181.0

[mccarty350]

That build thread was really nice, I liked the color schemes that SonicJoy picked.  Super nice!

I will put in a plug for the NX-Studio Monitors by GR Research.  Technically, I guess these fall into the "partially open baffle" category since it's only the tweeter that is open baffle, but the reviews here have been impressive.  And it sounds like they are closer to your price point.  There is a flatpack option available if you want to go that route.

They ARE listed on the website, but the website is new and there really isn't much info. 

https://www.gr-research.com/store/p14/NX-Studio.html

I think you'll do better to look for reviews on this site (AudioCircle).  Hope this helps.

Here's one of the build threads that helped motivate me to order a kit (just starting on it):  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=168181.0

[skite30]

Tekton used to make a hybrid ob using fostex 127s I believe.  Some good reviews.  U might be able to find a used pair. 

[sfdoddsy]

These are an interesting stand mount open baffle:

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa0fgd-arion-audio-iris-active-monitors-monitors

Not cheap, but interesting.

In addition to my suggestion above, back when I had Orions I used various variations of SL's PMT1 speaker as surrounds. Basically the tweeter and mid from the Orion, but I also tried different tweeters and mids.

Using the Seas W8 requires active trickery, but switching to a different mid without the magnesium spike makes things much easier.

Easier still would be to simple plop a pair of Tangband W1808 full range drivers on a flat baffle and use the bass (boost) and treble (cut) of your preamp.

https://www.parts-express.com/tang-band-w8-1808-8-neodymium-full-range-driver--264-894

Not ideal, and certainly not SL approved, but I suspect will still have much of the open baffle magic.