[ebag4]

My son's PSB Alphas have bitten the dust.  I want to build him a pair of bookshelf speakers capable of big bass.  He will not have space for a sub, but he has gotten use to the bass output of my V1s.  I know I will not be able to recreate that type of bass in a bookshelf speaker, but I am trying to determine my best option.  My preference is not to use a sub built into a cabinet that requires a plate amp (that requires a nearby outlet), but instead build a speaker that will get all of it's power from his Onkyo AVR (100 wpc). 

I have read up on a couple of Anarchy builds (including Danny's design) tuhat have peaked my interest but am looking for additional feedback.  I have a couple of new GR-T6 tweeters that I would like to use for this build.

The rooms these will be used in are/will be small (dorm room next year), sensitivity shouldn't be too much of a concern with 100 watts and a small room although a fairly benign 6-8 ohm impedence may be a benefit.

His musical preferences include Rap, Classic Rock, and Country.


Thanks,
Ed

[TomS]

Ed,

How about some variation of one from www.pispeakers.com like a 4 Pi for a (very sturdy) bookshelf? Serious output for sure and high efficiency.

Tom

[jtwrace]

Ed,

How about some variation of one from www.pispeakers.com like a 4 Pi for a (very sturdy) bookshelf? Serious output for sure and high efficiency.

Tom

Great recommendation!  That's a "real" speaker.

[ebag4]

Ed,

How about some variation of one from www.pispeakers.com like a 4 Pi for a (very sturdy) bookshelf? Serious output for sure and high efficiency.

Tom

Thanks for the recommendation Tom.  The kit price certainly looks great for the entire line.  It looks like the One or Two would be the two designs that might fit the bill. 

From the various threads I have read, the Anarchy will reach into the 30's in room with relative ease, how do the Pi's compare?  I have never heard a pair.

Thanks,
Ed

[TomS]

Sorry, haven't heard them myself, but others I know who have given great reports on them. They are an especially good value since obviously you can build the cabs yourself.

[jtwrace]

See this post http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=105616.msg1079977#msg1079977

[JLM]

I heard the 2Pi and 2Pi Towers years ago.  2Pi don't do much real bass, 2Pi Towers do a bit better.  Like most high efficiency designs, deep bass (under 40 Hz) is missing.

As you know, those nasty laws of phsyics say pick one: bass, size, or efficiency.  The most clear exemption that I know of are Hawthorne Silver Iris ($320/pair of coaxial drivers, easy to build, small baffle.  The 15 inchers will reach 40 Hz in-room at 96 dB/w/m.  The 10 inchers integrate the woofer/tweeter better but gives up some of the bass.  Not the most resolving (unless you want to spend more).

If you were open to active designs, you can relatively easily get big bass in a small package.  Event 20/20 BAS (Big Ass Bass) is one example ($900/pair USD, 35 - 20,000 Hz, 14x10x11).