[RCFloyd]

Hi again.
In my Introduction I mentioned my interest in getting back into listening to music through a 'good quality' system.  I'll try to flesh-out what that means to me now, and then follow it up by asking for y'all's help.

Champagne on a Beer Budget, and that about sums it up.  With this in mind, I've just ordered 2 Fosi V3 Mono Amps as well as their newest ZA3 DAC.  In discussion with Andrew @SparkoS, he's suggesting that I change out 12(!) op amps with his SS3602's; Expensive proposition for me at $960 and is Triple the cost of the system itself!!
 * 1st question then: any suggestions in which to approach this, like just replacing the 3 in the DAC (I'll be using the XRP's not the RCA's), or perhaps the opposite, and just some of the op amps in the V3 Amps??

Being in India had put me in a bit of a dilemma regarding Speakers though, as there are not too many sold here, and the ones that do come in are subject to very high Tariffs in the way of VAT (value added tax).  While doing more research than must be healthy for anyone, I stumbled across Danny, and being a tinkerer and DIY kinda guy, it became apparent that I've gotta make these 'myself' (with a Lot of help from my (new) Friends! 

Shipping the Components won't be troublesome or costly, but a pre-made Wood Kit certainly wood-be (haha).  So in this regard I'll find a cabinet maker here to construct these (maybe Teak Wood, or Rose Wood!?) 

My current Room Size is 14' X 14' X 9'ceiling.  The Room opens up into the dining room on one wall, has sofas and I intend to put up some tapestry to help in the dampening dept.

Now to my original question; Which Speakers to build?  I'd originally assumed that they'd be bookshelf sized, perhaps enhanced later on with a Sub, but have now been Dazzled (& overwhelmed) by what I've seen and read about on this Forum and have realized that it's probably best not to make assumptions!

So, a little help from my friends, please, and TIA!
Bob

[Phil A]

Check out this site as well (among others) - https://www.parts-express.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=6443420617&utm_content=78474321778&utm_term=parts-express&gadid=694194486662&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA9bq6BhAKEiwAH6bqoOy8Mma76Gas4BM0UpJprbQ6bOzZrSpN60YauFohd3QrYL_aCys_PxoC7GkQAvD_BwE

[js1955]

I would also give serious consideration to Creative Sound Solutions (CSS) DIY speaker kits:

https://www.css-audio.com/?srsltid=AfmBOornakDg8yZtMAaBXnH7Eq0HJS6CQwqi2NtETs3i8hbMdpk5-cFM

Many positive reviews out there, search on YouTube.

[Doublej]

If I remember correctly Danny's drivers are custom built to his specifications. Some of them come from Peerless India. It might be worth contacting Peerless India to see if they have any kit recommendations for you.

[Zuman]

 I also strongly endorse both CSS and GR-Research. I've built both CSS Criton 2TDx standmounts and towers: the standmounts from the CNC'd MDF flatpacks, and the towers from solid mahogany hardwood, which sounds like it might be the kind of approach that would suit your needs.  Take a look at a couple of pictures here: https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=manage;album=36266
I truly believe that you can't go wrong with either GR-Research or CSS. I chose CSS because I initially wanted an M-T-M (midwoofer-tweeter-midwoofer) design. I am absolutely confident that both GR-Research and CSS speakers deliver performance and quality equivalent to 2-3x their cost when compared with typical "factory" speakers.
It's really important to not skimp on cabinet construction. Not only are the proportions critical, but internal bracing and treatment makes a huge difference. I also paid a great deal of attention to wood stability when choosing the material for my solid hardwood towers.  You don't want your beautiful cabinets to split or warp due to changes in temperature and humidity, so make sure that your cabinet builder uses properly aged and dried wood from a species that has excellent "stability" (that's why I chose quartersawn African mahogany). If glue-up panels are required (narrower boards edge-glued together to produce a wider panel), ensure that the cabinet maker knows what they're doing. While I used mahogany for the finished exteriors, I also used Baltic Birch ply for inner front baffles and panel lining and for the interior braces.
Best wishes...your project will be worth it!

[listenermark]

Good choice on the Fosi amps.  I would run them in and give them a good listen before upgrading, mine are good stock.

I have two of Danny's speakers in my stash.  I like them a lot and they are easy to reccomend.

[JCarney]

I'd look at the Parts express passive C-Note kit here. https://www.parts-express.com/C-Note-MT-Bookshelf-Speaker-Kit-Pair-with-Knock-Down-Cabinets-300-7140?quantity=1
I built the powered version with my Granddaughter, and they are a good two way speaker. For the $140 kit price, you get a good bang for buck.

I would also look at X series at GR Research. https://gr-research.com/x-series-3/  The X-Bravo two way or two of the XCS-Bravo mtm center kits would be very good options. You can use the centers placed on an end for left and right.

CSS has a two way kit for $279 called the Tori. https://www.css-audio.com/online-store/CSS-Torii-Kit-Pair-p496644088.

There are four suggestions of the many available kits out there. The C-Note seems to fit the "champagne taste on a beer budget" request the best.

Best of luck and keep us posted please,
JCarney

[FullRangeMan]

Hi,
If you want a simple DIY speaker with hi performance look this inexpensive OB project from a AC member, it have only four (4) parts:

Eminence Alpha15A + 4.7mH + Visaton B200 and a MDF baffle.


Other option are the Lii Audio F15 FR driver $399/pair, not each.
Here Decware OB with the Lii Audio F15 driver:

If one have a woodworker is possible try the Lii Audio F15($399/Pair, pair not each) 97dB/8Ω and benign impedance curve suited to OB or Bass Reflex box or the F18($540/pair), no Crossover, no Tweeter beaming, no Phase rotation, no driver sensitivity loss, no Harmonics loss, no Retail price.
http://www.glowinthedarkaudio.com/lii-audio-f18.html

My personal choice is the Lii F18 in Single Driver configuration, but if you make question of wanting a 2-Way speaker you may want a bigger woofer than the Alpha15A, so there are W18 inches and W21 inches from Lii Audio, personally I dont like these two VCs woofers, they are hard to drive with a small tube amp.
https://www.lii-audio.com/product/w-18/

https://www.lii-audio.com/product/w21/

Please note some Circles of interest you may like>
The Fullrange Driver Circle:
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=128.0
The Open Baffle Circle:
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=90.0
The Tube Amps Circle>
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=144.0
The Vinyl Circle::
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=32.0

[WGH]

Troels Gravesen is a speaker designer that has a wide range of DIY speaker designs on his web site.

http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/Diy_Loudspeaker_Projects.htm

A friend just built the Purifi-Be using the SBAcoustics TW29BN-B-4 tweeter that has a beryllium dome and likes them a lot, I will be listening to them soon. The Purifi is a state-of-the-art woofer/midrange driver with ultra low distortion and deeper bass than almost any driver for it's size. The solid wood front baffle is native Arizona velvet mesquite.

The Purifi-Be has been replaced with the Purifi-6R
http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/Purifi-6R.htm

[RCFloyd]

Thank you all So Much!  A lot of good suggestions that I'll need to pour over now, and it would seem from a quick assessment, that any/all could work great for me! Oh boy, gotta fend off the analysis-paralysis now, and just chose one!  That's why I just pushed the buy-button on the Fosi gear too, as I'd seen Enough good ratings to indicate that it'd serve my purpose, but jeez are their a ton of choses and paths to go down. A guy can spend his whole life looking/dreaming about these goodies!!
Bob

[FullRangeMan]

Thank you all So Much!  A lot of good suggestions that I'll need to pour over now, and it would seem from a quick assessment, that any/all could work great for me! Oh boy, gotta fend off the analysis-paralysis now, and just chose one!  That's why I just pushed the buy-button on the Fosi gear too, as I'd seen Enough good ratings to indicate that it'd serve my purpose, but jeez are their a ton of choses and paths to go down. A guy can spend his whole life looking/dreaming about these goodies!!
Bob

Hi, the choice are simple:
Do you want a boxed 6'' midrange or a 15'' woofer?

[WGH]

Hi, the choice are simple:
Do you want a boxed 6'' speaker or a 15'' woofer?

In almost every situation I can think of - 15" is better than 6"... except with speakers.

A speaker using a Purifi driver is more aspirational than practical when on a beer budget, the parts alone are insanely expensive. The Troels Gravesen website probably has designs closer to your budget. I spent an afternoon listening to the Salk BePure bookshelf speakers which uses the same Purifi driver and what I heard beats the pants off all bookshelf speakers I have heard, the clarity of the Purifi driver has to be heard to become a believer.

I have listened to many open baffle speakers using 12" and 15" drivers, I always thought the sound was meh. Many people like the non-direction sound, honky vocals with plenty of room echos. The trick to getting open baffle speakers to sound good is to place them 1/3 into the room so the echos don't overwhelm the direct sound, that will be hard to do in a 14' x 14' room which, being square, is the absolutely worst shape for room modes and boomy bass. Two 15" drivers in a square room is a recipe for disaster. You can actually can have too much of a good thing.

A friend uses the GR Research NX Studio in a small square room augmented with the smallest REL subwoofer and the results are phenomenal. The Ohm 1000 (as an example) also work in his small room. The advantage of the NX Studio and other smaller speakers is there are many placement options unlike a large open baffle design. And the NX Studio is also a modified open baffle design but the rear output can be adjusted.

The Fritz Carbon 7 speakers will work beautifully too. We replaced the GR Research NX Studio with the Carbon 7's in the small room and they sounded fantastic. I could live with either design. Fritz doesn't sell kits but for you he just might sell you a crossover and you supply the drivers and cabinet. Fritz is very helpful and fun to talk to. Give him a call, he really won't care if you buy his speakers or not.
https://www.fritzspeakers.com/


Fritz Carbon 7 speakers in the small room. I forgot to take a photo of the GR Research NX Studio on the same stands. The NX Studios adds more spaciousness to recordings because of the reflected sound. The Carbon 7's image beautifully, the speakers disappear and there is more 3-D depth between the speakers. Both speakers are tube friendly and can be driven to loud levels using flea sized amps. I drove the Carbon 7's with 225 watts per channel, they liked it.

[FullRangeMan]

Too long. There is a rack between the speakers.

[planet10]

Another useful site; https:diyAudio.com

I assited with drawings on a couple early kits from CSS (the new one), they are well received.

I am partial to simple single driver FR boxes (Fullrange’s WAW OB [Woofer Assoisted Wideband) are a development of the single driver concept).

Can’t recall whether he has installed the necesary (AFAIC) phase plugs. With them the Visaton B200 he uses is one of my 2 favourite 8”.

http://www.planet10-hifi.com/downloads/B200-phase-plug.pdf

dave

[ArthurDent]

Greetings & Welcome to AC