[lacro]

Santa has come across... Now I am ready to order my X-CS Encore kit, and the upgrade caps/resistors for my X-LS Encores
But... Until I get to that project, I need something to keep me busy in this speaker building hobby! I tore apart my nearfield desktop computer speakers that one had fallen off it's stand when they were used for surrounds.
 
 These are a pair of Paradigm Atoms V3 I have had for about 10 years. They are descent sounding book shelf speakers, and are working well for computer speakers. When I opened them up, I was really surprised how "CHEAPLY" they are made for a speaker pair that was $200 10 years ago. That would equate to about $300 in today's dollars!

http://www.stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/664



 When one compares Danny's X Series kits with this speaker, It's a no-brainier IMO. The kits are really a tremendous value. Anyone lurking on this site, just take a close look at how a $200-300 speaker is made (see below) and look at the X-LS kit for $100!, or the X-LS Encore kit for $150. Add another $50 to the mix for you cabinet, and you have a great sounding speaker system for cheap! $150-200

 Now.... I can't leave well enough alone After fixing my damaged cabinet, and seeing there is no bracing, and a small block of damping material behind the woofer, that's it!! I am open to suggestions for upgrading these beasts while they are apart, without spending much.

 Here's my thoughts:

Add bracing similar to how the Encores are done.

Glue some asphalt floor tiles inside the cabinets to reduce resonance, but this may reduce the inside volume some. Inside dimensions. 9-1/2"X 5-1/2" X 6-1/4" The cabs are 1/2" particle board. The baffle is 3/4" MDF

Add some foam or fiberglass damping material to all surfaces except front baffle

Add some Acoustic stuff behind woofer

Replace crossover cap with same value but better quality.... Suggestions need here.

OR:

Maybe I should just reassemble them and leave them the way they were designed, but they just look like they are crying for improvements







This is what I am thinking for bracing, I would use 4 of them, and maybe one straight across the sides?



I am thinking about upgrading this cap:





Suggestions appreciated.....

Larry

[Donald]

Sell them and buy another XLS  kit from Danny.  Or pass them on to a family member.

[persisting1]

Sell them and buy another XLS  kit from Danny.  Or pass them on to a family member.

+1
Or build two X-CS Encores and compare them to your X-LS.

[lacro]

Great ideas... However, I don't have room for the X-LS or Encores in my computer set-up as they are twice the size!. Maybe a single driver in a small box when they become available eventually? This is a learning experience to enhance my skills in soldering, and experimenting with bracing/damping. If I can upgrade these with success, it will surely encourage me to continue ever more complex speakers which of course will be GR designs, that is exactly what I am doing with my X-LS Encore upgrades and X-CS Encore center build.
 Sure, I could sell them or give them away, but this is something I want to experiment with. If it's the wrong forum to ask for assistance from those with a lot more knowledge than me, I will consider your suggestions and move on....

[corndog71]

See if you can get the crossover schematic from Paradigm and upgrade each part.  I would definitely upgrade the caps and swap those iron core chokes with air-core chokes.  You can probably get the whole crossover from ERSE parts and I would bet money it would sound significantly better.  Get a sheet of No Rez for the cabinets too.  Sure, it may not compete with the XLS' but you can make a decent pair of speakers a good chunk better for a small investment. 

Paradigm Atoms were my first real speakers and I had lots of love for them for a good 5 years.  If only I knew then what I know now.  I would do it just for fun.

[RAW]

Santa has come across... Now I am ready to order my X-CS Encore kit, and the upgrade caps/resistors for my X-LS Encores
But... Until I get to that project, I need something to keep me busy in this speaker building hobby! I tore apart my nearfield desktop computer speakers that one had fallen off it's stand when they were used for surrounds.
 
 These are a pair of Paradigm Atoms V3 I have had for about 10 years. They are descent sounding book shelf speakers, and are working well for computer speakers. When I opened them up, I was really surprised how "CHEAPLY" they are made for a speaker pair that was $200 10 years ago. That would equate to about $300 in today's dollars!

http://www.stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/664



 When one compares Danny's X Series kits with this speaker, It's a no-brainier IMO. The kits are really a tremendous value. Anyone lurking on this site, just take a close look at how a $200-300 speaker is made (see below) and look at the X-LS kit for $100!, or the X-LS Encore kit for $150. Add another $50 to the mix for you cabinet, and you have a great sounding speaker system for cheap! $150-200

 Now.... I can't leave well enough alone After fixing my damaged cabinet, and seeing there is no bracing, and a small block of damping material behind the woofer, that's it!! I am open to suggestions for upgrading these beasts while they are apart, without spending much.

 Here's my thoughts:

Add bracing similar to how the Encores are done.

Glue some asphalt floor tiles inside the cabinets to reduce resonance, but this may reduce the inside volume some. Inside dimensions. 9-1/2"X 5-1/2" X 6-1/4" The cabs are 1/2" particle board. The baffle is 3/4" MDF

Add some foam or fiberglass damping material to all surfaces except front baffle

Add some Acoustic stuff behind woofer

Replace crossover cap with same value but better quality.... Suggestions need here.

OR:

Maybe I should just reassemble them and leave them the way they were designed, but they just look like they are crying for improvements







This is what I am thinking for bracing, I would use 4 of them, and maybe one straight across the sides?



I am thinking about upgrading this cap:





Suggestions appreciated.....

Larry

Well been there a few years ago.Below a stock MICRO from Paradigm



Now after I upgraded the parts.Nothing fancy was used for caps or inductors as they are used for rear speakers.




I measured them before and after but do not have the files handy.

Worth it yes.
Is it worth it or build a set of Danny's speakers ... BUILD DANNY'S not worth the time to try to improve the Paradigm. Just my 2

[mlundy57]

Larry,

Your X-LS style bracing idea looks like it would work without cutting internal volume much.

Mike

[Hank]

BUILD DANNY'S not worth the time to try to improve the Paradigm. Just my 2

+1

[Danny Richie]

These guys have given you some good advice already.

A X-LS or X-LS Encore kit is pretty tough to beat and it is nice to see them so highly recommended all the time. No matter what the Paradigms are never going to come up to that level.

On the Paradigms. If you can have fun upgrading them without spending too much money then sure why not. All of those parts are pretty much junk. Meaning that I'd replace all of them. It is just a simple first order network. So there aren't a lot of parts to replace anyway.

Figure out what values you have there and replace them value for value. If you need to just send one of those networks to me and I'll measure them and get you the values. I think I might even have some used air core inductors that I can make you a deal on.

Ditch the sand cast resistor and electrolytic cap for a Lynk resistor and a poly cap. I can make you a deal on those too. And that won't cost much at all.

The bracing will really help those particle board boxes. Some cheap floor tiles will help as well.

They mighty turn into good desk top speakers after all. 

Let me know if you need some help.