[fcraven]

So, it is with mild trepidation that I make my first post on this forum

Two weeks ago, partially in celebration of my new job, my wife and I (more I then my wife) got a new TV, a lovely little Sony KDL52XBR4, along with a playstation 3 for blue-ray (and to please the kids).  Now we have this nice TV on the wall, but only our old moderately decent stereo. So, that needs to be upgraded, and here's where my search for advice extends to y'all.

I have been wanting to build my own speakers for years. I have no shortage of skill on the woodworking side, and I even have had great success with the solder gun in the past, but I'm not interested in designing any crossovers. Thus I found GR.

Our "home theater" area is a little on the small size (for now) and now that our new TV is only 8" out from the wall, (vs. 2' for the old 30" wide screen CRT) we really want to enjoy the added real estate. So having gained an exceedingly high WAF of the TV (and the sound the PS3 Provides with the current system, it is desirable to have speakers that are, likewise low profile.

So weather I get some AV1/3 or Neo Xs (which I really like), it would be good to make them a little shallower... is this kosher?  I know that I can port to the front, or have a sealed boxes. but what I really need to do is to make them stick out less. I know this is not optimal, but it is our current restriction, fortunately, I can elongate the box to retain the air volume, and my wife think that it would look cool.

There isn't any shelving or book cases on the wall, and I will be building a low slung "cabinet for the few components that are involved. (and yes, I know it will stick out a little further into the room, but it will probably be recessed into the wall..

So... any suggestions?

Yes, there will be a subwoofer.

Oh, and do you have to use the face plate with the neo tweeters? I just think they would look cool without the big circle around them.

Best Regards,
Fred

[S Clark]

Elongating the box should work fine- just keep the front baffle width the same as the original plans.  The AV1 is a little giant killer.  I think you have made a good choice.

[Danny Richie]

Before I can answer your questions please answer a couple of mine.

How big is your room? Dimensions?

Are you looking for a 5 piece combo?

I'll go ahead and answer this question...

Oh, and do you have to use the face plate with the neo tweeters?

Yes you do.

[fcraven]

Hey Danny,
I spoke with you over the phone a couple time, but thought I might try my hand at posting here.

How big is your room? Dimensions?

The room is 11' deep and 15' wide.

Are you looking for a 5 piece combo?

Oh, yes, it's just a matter of which ones, and making in fit, the rear speakers will likely be the A/V-1RS or similar(?) they don't pose any space issues.

[Danny Richie]

I offered this about three years ago. You might want to check out the discount on the package deals. I'll still honor this prices for now, but not for long because of the increase in the cost of copper.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=13407.0

If you need to put them right up against the wall then you might want to go with A/V-3S models across the front. They are easy to drive and offer high sensitivity too.

A lower sensitivity but really high quality option would be three of the Neo-2X speakers all in a sealed box. Those could be placed near a wall as well.

No bigger than your room is, either of those options will be more than plenty of output for you.

[tizeye]

Danny and others, please correct me if I am wrong.  It is a question I have been wanting to ask, but the OP's question - reducing speaker depth and building equiptment cabinets - raises the issue.

Typically on a rear ported speaker, the recommendation is to place approx 2' out from the wall.  Is this 2' measurement from the front baffle or the rear of the speaker?  I have always interpreted it to be the front baffle as it is the primary sound source that the port reflected sound needs to coordinate with.  If that is the case, then reducing the depth of the box would have no impact on placement, as the front baffle would still need to be 2' out.  Would you please clarify which is correct.

Also, most equiptment stands ar approx 18" deep with an inch or so wall clearance for cable routing. (Mine had to be 24" deep to accomodate a caroucel DVD player, otherwise 18 would do) At any rate, speakers on stands out 24" (or even towers like the A/V3) would not be that prominent drawing attention to it if just a few inches further out from the equiptment stand, and far enough away from the recessed TV.

By the way, nice TV! 

[fcraven]

well, having had some excitement in the family (my 6 week old baby girl having to spend the night at Children's Hospital), I thought I could use a little recreational posting.

So, I'm pretty sure what I'm going with Neo-2xs across the front with the main left and right being Hanks slot ported design (moved to the front) and the center being sealed. AV1RS's in for the back and a lovely single sealed servo.

But I'm still willing to be dissuaded from the ported speakers.

[fcraven]

I now have two sheets of MDF in the garage ready to be cut. one sheet is 1" and the other is the standard 3/4. Just waiting for some copper to arrive

[Optichammer]

A wall mounted version could be cool; shallow as you dare, port to the bottom of the cabinet. (Not sure if this is Kosher, Danny) Should melt into the room, given the size of it. Looking forward to PIX.