Want to build speaker monitors

rahimlee54 · « **on:** 1 Jun 2011, 01:38 am »

I was wondering if anyone could point me to an easy intro to speaker building kit, I have no experience but want to try it out on a set of monitors.

Thanks
Jared

JoshK · « **Reply #1 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 01:44 am »

There is only one of two ways to go about it:

1) build a proven and sucessful design. There are plenty of them out there, starting reading up about them. One place to go is zaphaudio.com.

2) take a HUGE risk, read, read, read some more, learn how to use crossover software, how to measure, the physics of the design and then give it a go. Not a very high likelihood of success. Even the smartest guys typically don't like their first attempts. And these are typically engineers by day.

S Clark · « **Reply #2 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 01:57 am »

There are several guys here at Audio Circle that have highly reviewed DIY designs. Check out the kits sold by Danny Richie at http://www.gr-research.com/ Just find something to match your budget as all of Danny's designs are excellent. The AV-1 is a nicely balanced monitor with good response and detail, but the Neo group is real step up. Also check out some of the designs by Dennis Murphy before he turned pro and began working with Salk speakers. These are at http://murphyblaster.com/content.php?f=main.html
Zaph is a prolific amateur with lots of designs to his credit. I've heard one of his designs, but it was using woofers that I wasn't fond of so I can't recommend it.

Scott

2gumby2 · « **Reply #3 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 11:25 am »

North Creek Music Systems have the best kits I've ever built. The kits contain everything you need except wood and some glue. They have outstanding build instructions, excellent customer service, and they sound great. Most highly recommended!
http://www.northcreekmusic.com

richidoo · « **Reply #4 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 02:25 pm »

Hi Jared
This one looks well designed and cheap. http://www.audioheuristics.org/projects_gallery/ER18DXT/ER18DXT.htm
I like it because it uses quality, high value drivers, full measurements are shown, exact parts listed and priced, and it uses low order crossover filters.

If you build them please let me listen!

P.S. Selah also sells kits.

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #5 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 02:32 pm »

You say you have no experience. Do you have any woodworking experience? Do you know how to read a crossover schemetic and solder it up? Do you have any test equipment to verify correct wiring and final results?

Just asking because some 'kits' require more skill than others.

S Clark · « **Reply #6 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 02:47 pm »

Quote from: richidoo on 1 Jun 2011, 02:25 pm

Hi Jared
This one looks well designed and cheap. http://www.audioheuristics.org/projects_gallery/ER18DXT/ER18DXT.htm
I like it because it uses quality, high value drivers, full measurements are shown, exact parts listed and priced, and it uses low order crossover filters.

If you build them please let me listen!

P.S. Selah also sells kits.

The measurements for that Audioheuristics project certainly look good. I don't know much about the Selah kits, but I've heard one of his designs that was excellent.
Even if you use pre-built cabinets, you will need a router to cut and recess the front baffle. I don't know if these are still available, but it would certainly save you a ton of work on an AV-1 project. http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=94827.0

sts9fan · « **Reply #7 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 02:50 pm »

Skills are over rated. Jump in. It ain't rocket science.

rahimlee54 · « **Reply #8 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 02:51 pm »

Quote from: TurboFC3S on 1 Jun 2011, 02:32 pm

You say you have no experience. Do you have any woodworking experience? Do you know how to read a crossover schemetic and solder it up? Do you have any test equipment to verify correct wiring and final results?

Just asking because some 'kits' require more skill than others.

I have never soldered or built a crossover. I do have a little experience reading wiring schematics but that was just in college for a few months in physics, I'd like to pick it up as I go and start with something simple and increase the the difficulty as I feel comfortable. If you want to recommend some test equipment I am all eyes and ears. I have a small amount of woodworking experience so I can make a box, it just wont be really pretty, but that is ok for now.

I wanna start out cheap that way if I mess up I am not out alot of money, plus I can sell them to friends for whatever they cost and eventually step up if I enjoy the process.

I have a router and I am looking to get a nice table saw, hopefully a used cabinet saw that way I am good for the rest of my life.

Thanks
Jared

jtwrace · « **Reply #9 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 02:51 pm »

Quote from: sts9fan on 1 Jun 2011, 02:50 pm

Skills are over rated. Jump in. It ain't rocket science.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=94946.0

sts9fan · « **Reply #10 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 03:04 pm »

"A man's errors are his portals of discovery. "

James Joyce

Quote

I have never soldered or built a crossover. I do have a little experience reading wiring schematics but that was just in college for a few months in physics, I'd like to pick it up as I go and start with something simple and increase the the difficulty as I feel comfortable. If you want to recommend some test equipment I am all eyes and ears. I have a small amount of woodworking experience so I can make a box, it just wont be really pretty, but that is ok for now.

As I said, skills will most likely just get you a prettier product if you follow the instructions. If you don't have to have it super pretty then jump in. Soldering that stuff is cake as is following instructions to assemble a crossover.

S Clark · « **Reply #11 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 03:05 pm »

Quote from: rahimlee54 on 1 Jun 2011, 02:51 pm

I have never soldered or built a crossover. I do have a little experience reading wiring schematics but that was just in college for a few months in physics, I'd like to pick it up as I go and start with something simple and increase the the difficulty as I feel comfortable. If you want to recommend some test equipment I am all eyes and ears. I have a small amount of woodworking experience so I can make a box, it just wont be really pretty, but that is ok for now.

I wanna start out cheap that way if I mess up I am not out alot of money, plus I can sell them to friends for whatever they cost and eventually step up if I enjoy the process.

I have a router and I am looking to get a nice table saw, hopefully a used cabinet saw that way I am good for the rest of my life.

Thanks
Jared

Go ahead and do it. There are plenty of us that can answer question and offer advice. If crossovers and schematics are intimidating, we can walk you though it, or even build it for you. You can also get by without a table saw- just take your measurements to your local Home Depot and pay the extra $.50 per cut to have them cut out the pieces.

srb · « **Reply #12 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 03:26 pm »

Quote from: S Clark on 1 Jun 2011, 03:05 pm

You can also get by without a table saw- just take your measurements to your local Home Depot and pay the extra $.50 per cut to have them cut out the pieces.

Your Home Depot's lumber department is better than mine. When I had pieces cut, the tolerance was about +/- 3/32" which meant two pieces could vary by as much as 3/16" - not good enough for many projects.

Steve

S Clark · « **Reply #13 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 04:09 pm »

Quote from: srb on 1 Jun 2011, 03:26 pm

Your Home Depot's lumber department is better than mine. When I had pieces cut, the tolerance was about +/- 3/32" which meant two pieces could vary by as much as 3/16" - not good enough for many projects.

Steve

Wow. Mine really is better than yours- but I always have it done at an off time when they aren't busy. I tell them that I need to have it as accurate as possible, and they usually make an effort. I have a table saw and do most of my own, but I usually have HD make the long rip cuts on mdf

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #14 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 05:26 pm »

Quote from: rahimlee54 on 1 Jun 2011, 02:51 pm

I have never soldered or built a crossover. I do have a little experience reading wiring schematics but that was just in college for a few months in physics, I'd like to pick it up as I go and start with something simple and increase the the difficulty as I feel comfortable. If you want to recommend some test equipment I am all eyes and ears. I have a small amount of woodworking experience so I can make a box, it just wont be really pretty, but that is ok for now.

I wanna start out cheap that way if I mess up I am not out alot of money, plus I can sell them to friends for whatever they cost and eventually step up if I enjoy the process.

I have a router and I am looking to get a nice table saw, hopefully a used cabinet saw that way I am good for the rest of my life.

Thanks
Jared

If you're limited on woodworking skills, just start with one of the pre-made Parts Express cabinets ... many published kits use them, like that ER18/DXT kit linked too. Then all you'll need to do is router out the holes from drivers. The problem with soldering networks is there's a decent chance you'll make a mistake or two the first time, and unless you have some sort of test equipment to verify everything is working correctly, you might not even know. It's harder than you might think to hear a tweeter wired out of phase if you don't have tons of listening experience.

For test equipment the two most handy things are a Woofer Tester, and a setup to measure frequency (and other stuff). You can get both things for right about $200. I'll go into more detail, or link to other threads where it's been covered indepth if you're interested.

No, putting together a kit isn't hard. But designing stuff from scratch requires proper tools. Many people quickly get bored with kits, and want to try designs of their own. Picking up just a few things now will help you verify proper build of your kits, and can also be used when designing new stuff.

jtwrace · « **Reply #15 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 05:28 pm »

TurboFC3S

What do you recommend to test crossovers electrically that isn't $5k? Are there any alternatives?

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #16 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 08:02 pm »

The Woofer Tester is $100 and will show you your phase information. Then your measurement rig is also about $100 and will show you impulse which tells you how drivers are wired, and FR summation. That's how I verify a network is correct.

planet10 · « **Reply #17 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 08:21 pm »

Quote from: rahimlee54 on 1 Jun 2011, 02:51 pm

I have never soldered or built a crossover.

Jared,

Just build a 1-way and avoid that issue. Hard to beat some of the most recent really good ones without spending silly money.

dave

S Clark · « **Reply #18 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 08:26 pm »

Quote from: TurboFC3S on 1 Jun 2011, 05:26 pm

No, putting together a kit isn't hard. But designing stuff from scratch requires proper tools...

Such tools include a good quality, calibrated mic, a measuring program, a stock of caps, coils, and resistors- lots of $ and lots of patience. Honestly, design is harder than most people understand...stick with a kit. You can get by without the test equipment, although a VOM could give you a very rough idea of impedence after the crossover is built- just to make sure that you don't have a dead short.

richidoo · « **Reply #19 on:** 1 Jun 2011, 09:00 pm »

You just need your router to cut the driver holes. It is not hard at all, you'll need a small Jasper circle cutting jig. You could lay out your crossover parts and post a picture here to confirm you are wiring it correctly if you are concerned, by it is so simple I don't see how you could screw it up. I have a WT3 I can send you for final check before connecting to amp. Or just double check by eye and multimeter and try it on a midfi SS amp with short protection.