recommended speaker kits

CButterworth · « **on:** 7 Jun 2006, 05:19 pm »

One of my projects for the Fall and winter is to make a new pair of floorstanding speakers.

I use an AKSA 55 N amp and mainly play cd's of various genres - rock, new age, classical, etc. I do like my current Polk floorstanders, but I think that a new set of speakers could really improve my system.

Of course, I also have a budget - less than $600 for the kit (excluding cabinets, which I will build myself). I want floorstanders, because with two feisty dogs running around, speaker stands feel quite vulnerable to being knocked over. My room is small to medium (10ft by 15ft). At present, I only have a single amp, but may add a second in the next few years, so biwiring should be an option.

A fellow AKSA builder has suggested that I look at GR-Research. But what about the kits from Madisound?

Also, what is the difference between transmission line and other speakers, and will this matter for my amp?

Thank-you,
Charlie

gitarretyp · « **Reply #1 on:** 7 Jun 2006, 06:05 pm »

I know this will just make choosing harder but here are some places to look for good quality kits in your price range, besides GR research and madisound:

selahaudio.com
rawacoustics.com
the mission possible DIY forum at htguide.com is pretty awesome and loaded with good designs
zaphaudio.com
musicanddesign.com
northcreekmusic.com
murphyblaster.com

Folsom · « **Reply #2 on:** 7 Jun 2006, 07:09 pm »

Seas Thor T line is very good from my understanding.

MarkM · « **Reply #3 on:** 7 Jun 2006, 08:55 pm »

Quote from: CButterworth

Of course, I also have a budget - less than $600 for the kit (excluding cabinets, which I will build myself). I want floorstanders, because with two feisty dogs running around, speaker stands feel quite vu ...

If you can stretch your budget, consider this kit from Selah Audio. http://www.selahaudio.com/id15.html

I built this speaker in a floor stander and for the $$ a great value. This speaker offers smooth detailed extended treble, solid image via the mid dome and great bass response for the size.

If you have a sub, perhaps a Dayton woofer or lower end Seas could be used for the woofer. I'm sure Rick has a variation of this model for your budget. I say mow a few more lawns to save for the SS8545.

rosconey · « **Reply #4 on:** 7 Jun 2006, 09:45 pm »

i second rick craig-he designed my speakers a few years ago-

Folsom · « **Reply #5 on:** 7 Jun 2006, 11:53 pm »

Ops I missed the budget sorry.

Rocket · « **Reply #6 on:** 8 Jun 2006, 01:44 am »

Hi,

Zalytron sell affordable speaker kits. here is their link:

http://www.zalytron.com/

In the kits they don't supply wire or connectors but provide the plans, drivers/tweeters and the other components to build the xover. They have an axon line array for just over $600us.

I'm currently building the phenomenal kit and i'm almost finished.

Regards

Rod

kfr01 · « **Reply #7 on:** 8 Jun 2006, 02:06 am »

I can't recommend the Adire driver based kits at http://www.diycable.com/ enough.

Awesome performance for the money.

Cacophonix · « **Reply #8 on:** 8 Jun 2006, 02:52 am »

I second GR research ... i've just recently bought the av/3, and they sound just great! Around $350 for the kit.
Also you might want to wait a little and get the smaller open baffle floorstander. The kit might be a wee bit more (~$50-$100) than your budget, but i'm willing to bet that it'll be more than worth it.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #9 on:** 8 Jun 2006, 03:13 am »

I'd go for these, if I were in your shoes: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=25289

Here are a couple of reviews (second/third one is of the response audio modded version, but you may address some of those issues on your own):
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=23318.msg206552#206552

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=23735
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=23855

Danny Richie · « **Reply #10 on:** 8 Jun 2006, 04:33 pm »

Quote

Also, what is the difference between transmission line and other speakers, and will this matter for my amp?

Think of a transmission line as a really large port. It can tune the speaker a little lower and extend the output level of the low end response to below what you can get with a ported version. It can also improve the control of the woofer giving you cleaner and tighter bass response with some improvement up into the lower mids.

The transmission line loading of the woofers will have no adverse effect on your amp.

Quote

I second GR research ... i've just recently bought the av/3, and they sound just great! Around $350 for the kit.

Thanks for the recommendation but the standard kit is only $329.

Quote

Also you might want to wait a little and get the smaller open baffle floorstander. The kit might be a wee bit more (~$50-$100) than your budget, but i'm willing to bet that it'll be more than worth it.

These will be released shortly. See pic and some info in this thread.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=25225&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30

Kit cost on these will be $750. for the pair but I may make an introductory special.

We A/Bed these with a set of $9,000 Merlins a couple of weeks ago. According to those present, they beat up on the Merlins.

fajimr · « **Reply #11 on:** 8 Jun 2006, 05:04 pm »

charile

this might be streching your budget a little but consider Dave Ellis' speakers
http://www.ellisaudio.com/

They are suppose to match nicely with the AKSA, in fact I think Dave is using an AKSA now... I love mine and as soon as I get my amp tested I can tell you how well they match from a personal persective. Dave's a great guy and has his own circle so head on over there and see what's shaking....

wendell · « **Reply #12 on:** 8 Jun 2006, 05:12 pm »

[/quote]Kit cost on these will be $750. for the pair but I may make an introductory special.

Quote

Can't wait for these open baffles, my next DIY!

I have Danny's AV series for my HT along with 2 of his subs aand hey ROCK. I also have the infamous Paradox 1's.

Danny's kits sound great and they don't cost you your mortgage, affordable the way it should be.

Another vote here for GR Reseach.

I'm sure the others are great but I have not heard them, but I have had great experience with Danny and he's a great guy.

audioferret · « **Reply #13 on:** 8 Jun 2006, 05:31 pm »

I can't recommend these speakers enough.

Ribbon Tweeter
Excellent Midrange
Excension around 25 hz!

http://www.rawacoustics.com/

$659, plus you have to pick up some MDF. I made mine from Piano-Grade 13-ply Baltic Birch - Excellent.

CButterworth · « **Reply #14 on:** 8 Jun 2006, 09:16 pm »

Thanks for all the opinions. So far, I am edging towards the GR-Research. I have heard good opinions about them, and the price is certainly right. My wife thinks that we should wait until we build our new house, then worry about new speakers, but I am itching to upgrade.

For now, I don't have to bite-the-bullet as my workshop is outdoors under our carport. Seeing as I live in the Phoenix area, the outdoors (and my workshop) is a no-go zone during the summer months. Of course, I suppose that I could buy the parts in anticipation of cooler weather.

Now, given that I would end-up with two sets of speakers, what is the likelihood of breaking even, should prefer my Polks and decide to sell my kit-built speakers?

I suppose that as long as I could break-even, I could build a kit, decide which speakers sound best and sell the others, eventually settling upon the preferred kit through a process of trial and error. Does this sound reasonable?

Charlie

JLM · « **Reply #15 on:** 10 Jun 2006, 10:59 am »

Charlie,

I've owned transmission line speakers for over 25 years, starting with I.M.Fried Model M's. With all due respect to Danny and others, transmission line designs are poorly understood and under appreciated by most "outsiders". The depth, speed, and natural musical quality of bass cannot be compared with bass reflex or sealed systems. Frequency response is extended (with roll-off matching room gain), bass impedance bump if flattened out for better loading of the amp, and bass/midrange is clearer as the back wave is absorbed into the tapered line.

Here is a good place to start looking for the theory, examples, and DIY advice: http://www.t-linespeakers.org/

My current speakers resulting from my commissioning Bob Brines to provide MLTL speakers using the mighty Fostex F200A full range driver. Bob is a highly competent student of Martin J. King, co-inventor of the MathCad application that has finally provided a design method for TL's. Bob offers plans, knocked down kits, completed cabinets, and full speakers of various designs.

Here is Bob's site: http://www.geocities.com/rbrines1/

I'm also a big believer in simplier is better and to that end have gone the single driver speaker route. Thanks to King, Brines, and Fostex I have 30-20,000 Hz. in room response from a single driver. The single driver has many advantages such as direct (active) connection to the amp, better efficiency (no crossover losses), single point source (better imaging), and single voicing (vs two at crossover frequencies).

Which leads to my 3rd (alternative) recommendation: single driver in open baffle (simplicity itself). You'll probably need a sub, but the Visaton B200 driver by all accounts is a most remarkable unit, well suited for open baffle, highly efficiency, and within your price range. Check out the Darkstar thread here at AC under the Red Wine Audio circle and the Decware forum.