Help me choose my next project!!

Arctos · « **on:** 13 Jan 2004, 01:09 am »

I am trying to decide on which monitor DIY project to take on next and am looking seriously at these:

North Creek Okara II with the Scan Speak D2905/9500 tweeter and Vifa P13WH-00-08 woofer (cost - about $530)

Benefits: Crossover is excellent in design, components and construction.

Madisound Vifa Studio kit with the Vifa XT25TG30 dual concentric tweeter and the Vifa PL14WJ09 woofer with a 6.5" Seas passive radiator (cost - About $305)

Benefits: Much cheaper and should have deeper bass.

Both options use high quality drivers. I will build the cabinets myself and will use the construction methods of North Creek.

I am also open to other ideas, but don't want to spend more that the North Creeks. They will be used in a 12' x 14' carpeted room with 9' ceiling.

Thanks,

RDS

rosconey · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 Jan 2004, 01:32 am »

rick craig should have his fxt kit ready-about 500$

IanATC · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 06:49 pm »

Those are some good choices. I would not underrate the VIFA stuff. Some vifa drivers are used in very high end speakers. The difference is in the magic of the xover.

One xover trick is to take a small value poly cap and use it to bypass the caps in the crossover. This additive effect will have a pronounced effect on clarity and detail.

FWIW: If you ever intend to use a sub, do not let bass extension be a deciding factor. I have been eyeballing a couple of MTM kits that probably nosedive at 80hz.

jackman · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 06:57 pm »

I would look at the new MBOW1 3-ways from Dennis Murphy (murphyblaster.com). He gives away the plans for free, you just have to procure the components and drivers (and cabinets). There are two versions, a more expensive version that uses OW1 tweeters and a cheaper version that uses the new GR Research tweeter. You should be able to build the cheaper version for under $400 (not including cabinets). That's about as cheap as it gets for a full range speaker project. I'm thinking about building a set during the winter.

Jack

IanATC · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 07:28 pm »

Quote from: jackman

I would look at the new MBOW1 3-ways from Dennis Murphy (murphyblaster.com). He gives away the plans for free, you just have to procure the components and drivers (and cabinets). There are two versions, a more expensive version that uses OW1 tweeters and a cheaper version that uses the new GR Research tweeter. You should be able to build the cheaper version for under $400 (not including cabinets). That's about as cheap as it gets for a full range speaker project. I'm thinking about building a set during the winter.

Jack

From what I have seen, most of the required parts (especially cabinets) are available at www.partsexpress.com.

toxteth ogrady · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 08:15 pm »

The Okara II is one hell of a monitor. In a smaller to medium sized room or if you have placement constraints it would be hard to do better. I'm really surprised that people don't talk about this speaker more given its performance to cost ratio. I currently have a pair of the upgraded 9500 Okara's and am in the process of building a second pair which utilize the D28 tweeter that North Creek recently came out with. Performance wise, the D28 according to North Creek is supposed to fall somewhere between the Scanspeak 9500 and 9900 revelator.

The Dennis Murphy designs are excellent as well and will be cheaper to build if you know how to assemble a crossover(very easy). I have heard several diy designs, including a couple from the Murphy Blaster site. And while many were excellent performers none of them grooved me more than the Okara II. Mate them with a good sub and you're set. My vote, Okara II's.

Rocket · « **Reply #6 on:** 15 Jan 2004, 01:06 am »

Hi,

getting slightly off topic. does anyone have any opinions about the diy designs that zalytron sell?

i've been tempted to buy a kit from them for a long time.

regards

rocket

Arctos · « **Reply #7 on:** 15 Jan 2004, 04:09 am »

Good stuff guys!!,
rosconey, the FXT looks very nice, but I am a little leary of ribbon tweeters. I must admit that I have only heard 1 or 2 speakers that use them, and it was quite a while ago, but I keep reading about how narrow the sweet spot is with the ribbons. I should probably try to a little more research because I have also heard how awesome they are when you ARE in the sweet spot!!

Ian, I agree that Vifa makes a great product and that is one of the reasons for my interest in both the Okara and the Studio. If the crossover really is the key then I lean towards the Okara, as the gentlemen at North Creek that designed these is a renowned crossover master.

jackman, I must say that I am really partial to 2-way designs. They are simpler to build and I am a big proponent of simplicity in design. The more complex the network the more I feel that something may go wrong sonically (by omission or addition). My first pair of DIY speaks are single driver models with literally nothing but wires from binding posts to the driver!! They are fun, but are actually a little too simple.

toxteth, I can't find anything on North Creek's site about this new design with the D28 tweeter? Where did you find out about it? I ask because I may want to consider it if it really could be better then the 9500.

Thanks all,

RDS

toxteth ogrady · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 Jan 2004, 06:09 am »

Arctos

Information on the D28 is on the "What's New" page on the North Creek website. It's not mentioned anywhere else, probably because it is so new - it was introduced only a few weeks ago. Go to the Okara page and you will see it in some of the newer photos, look for the tweeter with the silver faceplate. I just got mine the other day, and they're massive buggers. Can't wait to hear them.

After I finish the Okara's along with the Poseidon subwoofer I'm building, I'll be starting on my next project - the holy grail of diy speakers - the Linkwitz Orions! Should be fun.

t.