Budget tall mid-bass to sub speaker, to act as stand for LS50s

[john61ct]

It might be tough to keep the ls 50s secured without some sort of bracket or fixturing

Hmmm...

https://www.mcmaster.com/product/8422N13

Also for between the stacked units

And the bottom-most one gets the spikes

 

[john61ct]

By "these" you mean the drivers?

So if I did want a "sealed box" but with a passive radiator for more oomph

Sideways would be flippable but only with one PR

If two is better, would one pointing down be good? How much of a gap between them stacked?

Bass management + room correction is a must no matter what IMO.

You can always escalate later.

oh be still my heart

 

[john61ct]

When you think about a tall, thin design you will also have to think of a way to make it stable.
You can eventually end up taking more space than you thought.

VERY good point. For in between the speakers and multiple stacked cubes, see the Mcmasters idea above.

https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...-to-act-as-stand-for-ls50s.63906/post-2343117

I'm now thinking a wider/deeper "bottom plate" just thick enough to receive that stud thread, maybe if metal 3/8". Painted ply cheaper, may need to be thicker to embed the thread inserts.

But I like the steel plate idea, since

> Some weight at the bottom could help.

 

[Flaesh]

4739 Low Frequency 2 x 26SH-1 380 mm (15 in) dia., 76 mm (3 in) edgewound ribbonvoice coil transducers mounted in 4509 LF enclosure for example. ?..

Or 3739 Low Frequency 2 M115H-8A 380 mm (15 in) dia.61 mm (2.5 in) edgewound ribbon voice coil transducers mounted in 4509 LF enclosure:

 

[john61ct]

Very nice, but only as a fantasy! :-0

See the very first word of my title - those are a higher price than my entire system.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Hi, I've been picking up OG LS50s at reasonable prices over the years, getting to the point I want to improve my implementation, specifically placement.

In shopping for "proper" stands I can't believe the costs involved even at the low end, but at the high end more than I paid for the speakers!

I've also decided to do supplementary bass, high up enough in frequency to mean "not just subwoofer" maybe even 600Hz (ish) ? but certainly over 200Hz, directionality still relevant, stereo needed for localization / imaging.

So I'm thinking, look for mid-bass boxen that can ACT AS stands, in effect convert my LS50s into floor-standing 3-way speakers

either dedicated to the range between there and 60-80Hz sub territory, or (holy grail would be) "do it all woofer + sub" units within my desired form factor.

Off-grid, tiny-house or even van camping context, so looking for as small as possible to accomplish the assignment, and passive (or DC-driven ? designed for car / boats?) reco's only please not AC powered.

I care almost nothing for aesthetics, only SQ functionality and VALUE is top priority!

Assume a biggish room with EQ room correction and SOTA bass management to optimize crossovers, and for power say Adcom GFA-555 levels, low Z-out plenty of current rather than Class D.

So, sizing: LS50 footprint is 8x11" (20.3 x 28cm) so that would ideally be the minimum, and ideal maximum say 12" square (30.5cm). Deeper is fine more so than going past say 15" wide but willing to be flexible for a spectacular good value result.

Vertically the target range is 24 up to say 36" (60-90cm), while the true ideal would be 12" height so multiple boxen that can be stacked - to accommodate my increasing tendency to work / listen standing up, plus dancing sometimes .

I MIGHT go DIY - feel free to give form factor suggestions (is a square footprint ideal?)

and reco suitable (reasonably priced) drivers say 8" and up, but 6.5" would be even better.

But meantime the main request here is reco's for suitable pre-built speakers.

I came across Rythmik FM8 - that is purpose-built for the "do it all woofer + sub" use case, but a bit beyond my budget; I'd need to scrimp on the kids' groceries many months to get there.

Willing to buy secondhand, so would be great to get a biggish watch list put together for eBay, Reverb, and CL/FB locally.

Bonus question: should be fine to lay the LS50s on their side if needed? thinking if used for Centre channel when in HT mode 5.2

Cerwin-Vega makes loudspeakers in boxes 'near' the size you desire - the 'SL-8' is 9.79 inches deep by 10 inches wide by 30 inches tall.

Perhaps a used pair can be found and use made of their woofer drivers.

Cerwin-Vega SL Series 8" 2-Way Floor Speaker - SL-8

Experience powerful sound with the CV SL-8 floor speaker. Features 8" woofer for punchy bass & crisp highs for home audio/theater.

cerwinvega.com

 

[john61ct]

Wow blast from the past, purpose built for this bass use case! SL-12 dimension's better and yes reasonably priced, will keep an eye out on eBay...

I'm surprised their current rep online is as good as it is!

 

[Chrispy]

Using a sub/mbm below a weak speaker like the LS50 might be a way to go, but not what I'd do.

 

[EJ3]

Very nice, but only as a fantasy! :-0

See the very first word of my title

glad that he threw it out there, though. Now I am looking at that.

 

[EJ3]

Very nice, but only as a fantasy! :-0

See the very first word of my title

The price seems reasonable for what you get, n, no plans to get away from RCA conectors if I don't have to & overkill for what I would want to do.
But nice.

 

[kemmler3D]

Do you need really high SPL? If not I think doing a DIY dual opposed sub makes a lot of sense here. Trying to do a decent woofer to play up to 200hz plus a decent sub plus a really small footprint seems tricky.

 

[Ricardojoa]

Just buy a pair of subs and if they are too short , lift them up with a bottom support or box.

 

[kemmler3D]

Just buy a pair of subs and if they are too short , lift them up with a bottom support or box.

Yes, if we take the budget part of the title seriously... This is probably the answer. I was able to get some used Bic F12s for $125 each. Put a couple cinderblocks on top of the sub, ls50 on top of that, and hold it all together with some tie down straps. Aesthetics, 0/10, value for dollar 9/10+?

 

[Ricardojoa]

Yes, if we take the budget part of the title seriously... This is probably the answer. I was able to get some used Bic F12s for $125 each. Put a couple cinderblocks on top of the sub, ls50 on top of that, and hold it all together with some tie down straps. Aesthetics, 0/10, value for dollar 9/10+?

You can skip the cinder block, just lift the sub with some small wood cube, and put some used books on top of the sub to pit the speakers a bit higher. Not the best looking but is good on budget.

 

[Flaesh]

but only as a fantasy! :-0

I wrote this primarily for inspiration).
A few years ago you could find it used very cheap. Somewhere in the US they were giving away 4 pieces for free for pickup.
And do you consider DIY options?
One buddy used the LS50 with a pair of 15" woofers in open baffles.

 

[Waxx]

If you try to use 4" or 5" woofers to get real sub frequencies on reasonable volume, you're dreaming. They just don't have the cone surface to move enough air to get there. That is the so called "Hoffmans Iron Law". A 8" driver is the smallest i would go for a subwoofer, and even then the volume will be limited on low frequencies. Those smaller woofers only work in woofer arrays where many share the workload. And ready made solutions for you don't exist i think. You will have to rely on diy or custom design/made, and expecially the latter is quiet expensive.

 

[john61ct]

Clarifying and summarizing my current thinking

Do you need really high SPL?

The primary goal is to maximise the LS50 SPL up to, but not past the point of SQ or safety risk.

Not looking for BRuTeS (Bone Rattling fUll-size TruE Sub) here, no desire for infrasonics (<30hz) and yes their form factor is not suitable.

In fact pretty sure I do not need to use the term subwoofer at all?

Stereo pair obviously.

"Bass augmentators" is a better term for what I'm after, but not just mid-bass, for sure lower than 80Hz - and lower the better, but only within the context of a physical dimensions footprint not "too much" bigger than that 8x11" of the LS50s.

Their SPL down in those frequencies does not need to be so great as to overwhelm the LS50s output.

The depth dimension could accommodate side-firing 12" cones, and height will allow passive radiators as well

but I think 9-10" is the max I want for the width dimension.

I'd prefer non-DIY ideas, the con is of course extra cost.

The C-V suggestion made me realise a major advantage, when I take away the LS50s for portable use elsewhere, (audiophile boombox)

I'd be leaving behind a lower quality but full-range system for my teen kids to use while the Kefs are gone.

Not sure if I mentioned, I have an Outlaw ICBM for six channels of crossover / bass management, so it is the case that mid-bass reinforcement "could" be handled via a separate pair

but I'm just thinking that would be an added cost and unnecessarily complicated.

Rythmik FM8 remains the archetype but as I stated too pricey.

 

[Waxx]

what you ask does not really exist on the market. It's can be done, but it will be diy (or pay someone to do it for you). Pro audio cabinets will be to big, and for hifi this is something where there is very little demand for, people want plug and play systems. The closest to what you want is something like a Function One SB8 woofer cabinet (but not fully the spec you want).

 

[Ktacos]

Pretty much have to DIY this idea, but it's probably the easiest thing to make as far as speakers go.

 

[Flaesh]

Genelec W371A Subwoofer, 23 Hz - 500 Hz ))