[trondareo]

Help!  I need ideas for cheap and cheerful point source speakers and subs. But the acoustics are terrible with the stairway partitioning the available area for speakers. Do you have any suggestions? I love unusual speaker configurations ...

Also I love small and cheap SET tube amps. I´ve built 6S45p amps and 13EM7 amps. I´d love to find a way of use a 1-5 watt tube amp to power my living room system. I like jazz and heavy rock but rarely play over 80dBs.

The picture illustrates the situation. Today I have Magnepan SMGa´s along the left wall. This does not work at all.

[trondareo]

One idea I have been playing with is to build a transmission line or TQWT speaker based on a 3" or 4" full range like fostex or tang band and wrapping it around a Eminence Alpha 15"  where the dimensions mimic the partition by the stair well.

[trondareo]

Or maybe some omnipolar TQWTs 3 inch with bass support under 200Hz
Ikea has some spherical candle holders that could be made into dispersion spheres: http://www.ikea.com/no/no/catalog/products/40152077/

[JLM]

Thanks for posting, interesting design ideas.  I had a pair of 8 inch TL's that were way too much for even large rooms.  Knowing that bigger drivers are more efficient, I'd stick with a simple sealed or ported sub. 

How deep do you need to go?  Here's an idea:  http://www.decware.com/newsite/DM945.html

If you like O.B. sound, a cheaper/smaller/highly efficient alternative is Hawthorne Audio.

Of course check with Dave at Planet 10 or Bob Brines at Brines Acoustics for DIY ideas that include smaller drivers.

[trondareo]

I´ve had a pair of Hawthorne Silver iris 15" and was not happy with the tweeter integration. After them I built a Eminence/visaton OB that did not pass WAF, but I have it in my cave. The Good Wife is happy with Magnepans but they can not be used for critical listening the way the room is built and furnished.
I also have a Tang Band W4 TQWT that I am quite happy with. A great mid is more important than high end as my hearing is down to 10kHz and tinitus. Bass extension to 50-60 Hz is probably enough.

2way book shelf speakers would probably work. I guess what I am  looking for is something that can center around the TV, and overcome the staircase divider.

[trondareo]

Maybe a slim dipole based on a 6inch FR would fit. Height 90 cm  to match the divider. Width 30cm.
Maybe add some similar woofers

[viggen]

That's a tough space for floor standers.  Thought about monitors on stand or even wall mounted?  Your speaker choices defintely won't be as interesting if you go that route though.

[trondareo]

I was thinking of mounting the magnepans on the wall and swinging them out like they do with the small ones. Unbelievably the Good Wife likes the idea!

By the way I found this Decware paper http://www.decware.com/paper14.htm that argues for a diagonal speaker placement. So maybe diagonally over the stairs is the best place, although floor reflection would be messed up.

[corndog71]

I would flip the couch to where the tv is and put the tv and speakers on the long wall where the couch was.  Just flip them around. 

In the future I would recommend a place that suits your audio needs.

[trondareo]

We had the room arranged that way for a year, but the Good Wife didn't like the interior  .
she loved the way the Maggies sang tho.

[decal]

We had the room arranged that way for a year, but the Good Wife didn't like the interior  .
she loved the way the Maggies sang tho.

Looks over sound. It happens all the time.

[JLM]

I tried the Decware diagonal setup (when I had the place to myself) and it seemed to help.

I agree with the woofer/tweeter integration with the Hawthorne 15 inchers, but the 10 inchers are better in that regard (trade that for deep bass).  I've heard all their models and really think Hawthorne has the below $2,000 USD O.B. market cornered.

Another suggestion for cheap/efficient (and point source) is Pi speakers.  Wayne sells primarily kits, but the 2 Pi tower can be done with pre-laminated MDF shelves as I recall.  But from what I've found from auditions they (more so than most speakers) want to be away from the wall (unless you go for one of their corner models).

[trondareo]

So maybe a open baffle wall mounted speaker over the stairs directed diagonally. And it has to be hinged to open the back and it can take advantage of the wall as an extended baffle.

[corndog71]

Pretty much any other way you slice it the sound will be seriously compromised.

You might as well get some Gallo Micros and call it a day.

[trondareo]

I´ve had them demoed and owned some gallo subs, boring! 

In the spirit of cheap and cheerful I should at least make them with  salad bowls.

[srb]

How does one get presumably flat frame drivers to fit a curved surface so well?  Is that your creation?
 
Steve

[trondareo]

They arent mine I found them on http://www.ikeafans.com/home/ikea-hack-hemi-salad-bowl-speakers/

Its pretty thick wood so you could just sand a flat on the bowl, I guess.

[corndog71]

I´ve had them demoed and owned some gallo subs, boring! 

In the spirit of cheap and cheerful I should at least make them with  salad bowls.

When it comes to subs I recommend http://www.rythmikaudio.com/index.html
Particularly the GR version.  Servo subs are definitely not boring!

I was a bit disappointed with the little Gallos back when they first came out.  I thought maybe they've improved over the last 10 years.  They did some stuff right but yeah, not the most compelling.  Or at least a better option than B***.

What about in-walls?

[dB Cooper]

Whoever suggested the wall mount option, I think they're on to something. Some wall mount satellites and a sub will open up a lot of placement options that wouldn't otherwise be doable in this space.

[grsimmon]

Mirage OMD-5 satellites at Vann's online.  Cheap, cheerful, omnidirectional,  and wall mountable (I think the hardware comes included).