Small 2-way speakers with linear on-axis and power response characteristics (Scan Speak and SB Acoustics drivers). H&V off-axis measurements included

[Salt]

10 % more ore less in volume won't change much. Maybe 1 or 2 dB?

 

[Gonnog]

HI.
I am trying to make a pair of these. Just cant find a good place for that extra 0.1 mH inductor.
Is this fine? (picture below)
Is that too close to the one with metal core?

 

[Gonnog]

And maybe something like that would be better?

 

[Salt]

You can do whatever is possible, but keep the coils as far apart from each other as possible and 90 degrees rotated (see You did this). Caps and resistors position to these are irrelevant.

 

[XMechanik]

I would opt for the second version, adjacent coils are optimally oriented. The orientation of more spaced coils is less critical.

 

[Akaro]

Hi All,

I am currently tackling this build using MDF, created an account to say a huge thank you to xMechanik for creating a DIY guide. Was wanting to tackle a speaker build that had it all from start to finish (as this is my first speaker build and i think the biggest challenge was learning the crossover) so thank you for this.

I will provide photos once it is done.

Keen to know what amplifiers people are using with these speakers?

 

[johnp98]

Hi All,

I am currently tackling this build using MDF, created an account to say a huge thank you to xMechanik for creating a DIY guide. Was wanting to tackle a speaker build that had it all from start to finish (as this is my first speaker build and i think the biggest challenge was learning the crossover) so thank you for this.

I will provide photos once it is done.

Keen to know what amplifiers people are using with these speakers?

I am almost done building these as well and was planning on using the Douk Audio A5 to drive them as it has a high pass filter and pre outputs that can run to a subwoofer which based on the review/measurements of this speaker will help it immensely as it's best paired with a subwoofer.

I was also planning on making a pair and giving them to a friend and was just going to use a standard AV receiver for the bass management / crossover and I suspect it would have enough power to drive these?

Curious what other people are doing and think about my plans as well.

 

[Preezy]

There is a guy on Youtube who is printing 3D speakers that recently tested out the effects of different infill options. Might be helpful to those of you who are experimenting with this.

Print Your Speakers

 

[johnp98]

Hey! I have finished making these, and they sound truly fantastic! Like, truly incredible!

I am about to assemble another pair for my friend, so I am going to post what I ended up doing, and then people can comment if they see any small changes that I should make for my friend's pair (and now my sister is also asking we make a pair).

Ok, I made the cabinets with a friend who has a fantastic woodworking station in his basement, so I got way better results than if I were to hack at it alone.

For the speaker assembly, I put silicone around the port junction to the speaker as I did not want air to sneak out and around it, and also help with any port resonances.

Then I did what @Woody99 recommended for his speaker build and lined the walls with some acoustic panel material I got from a friend. I think it is a polyweave acoustic panel? It is rather homogeneous and tightly woven fibers so I don't know if people think that would be adequate or not.

I also did window bracing right in between the tweeter and woofer. Not sure if people typically sand and round the edges or if diffraction is of any concern or totally fine the rough way I left it.

Then more of the wall lining.

I had some leftover door sealing material that is foam stripping that I think worked great as a speaker gasket, as it was very absorbent and compressible (I accounted for this when routing down the lip, so the drivers remain flush with the front).

Then I put the crossover resting on the bottom and then, just for kicks put a little bit of polyfill in the speaker as well.
I just used zip ties to attach everything and did not use hot glue, as I wanted to make sure I was happy with all the positions, and when it was done nothing seemed to be able to rattle, so I did not think glue was needed.

I was too excited to paint them, so I just loaded in the drivers as I needed to know how they sound.
I was totally blown away by how great they sounded!
Just for completeness sake, I uploaded the few/minor EQ filters as recommended by the Klippel measurements into my WiiM streamer and no complaints there.

I also put them on some leftover acoustic panel that I had so I can slide them to the front of the desk when I am just listening on the couch in the sun room and then slide them back when at the desk.



I have been listening to these non-stop for about a week and now am posting about it on here!
I guess I should paint them, but they get so much use that I will have to find a day when I won't be using them.

Anyways, happy to see if people have any recommendations for even small tweaks.

Mostly:
1) Any changes you would make to mounting the port?

2) Any changes to the window bracing? (I accounted for this volume and added it to the speaker depth)

3) Any changes to the wall lining? (We have Sonopan up here in Canada so I can always use that, but that sheds more particulate matter, and so I felt that the polyweave material was probably the best. I could also use foam or mass loaded vinyl or nothing).

4) Any changes to fill material and amount? I heard that you don't want to overfill a speaker and so with the wall lining, I thought to keep it on the more minimal side. We just did a home renovation, so I have leftover rigid foam, polyfill, fiberglass insulation, and rockwool so really I could put whatever and however much of anything (or even a combo of any and all)

5) Any changes to the gaskets? Or as long as the speaker ends up flush, then all good.


Thanks @XMechanik for the incredible speakers!
If you ever make speakers with even more output for a home theater, I'll be the first one to make them.

Ok now back to listening!

 

[LiveTek]

Anyways, happy to see if people have any recommendations for even small tweaks.

My only nitpick is using black screws over silver. Really elevates the look, silver/chrome just always look very out of place to me.

4) Any changes to fill material and amount? I heard that you don't want to overfill a speaker and so with the wall lining, I thought to keep it on the more minimal side. We just did a home renovation, so I have leftover rigid foam, polyfill, fiberglass insulation, and rockwool so really I could put whatever and however much of anything (or even a combo of any and all)

Polyfill doesn't really have much of an effect in speaker boxes, and mineral wools are generally ill advised in a ported speaker as there's a risk of fibers being thrown about into the room. I don't care for foams as they eventually break down into crumbles. My favorite material is cotton based insulation. Not sure where you would source it in Canada but there's probably a few options. It's so much better than anything else I've used I don't really bother with other materials anymore. My go to are Sonic Barrier acousta blue, henry ultra touch, or ATS acoustics cotton insulation boards.

 

[johnp98]

My only nitpick is using black screws over silver. Really elevates the look, silver/chrome just always look very out of place to me.

Thanks!
Yeah I was just too curious to see how they sound so I used what I had. But when I paint them I am going to get black screws for sure.

Polyfill doesn't really have much of an effect in speaker boxes, and mineral wools are generally ill advised in a ported speaker as there's a risk of fibers being thrown about into the room. I don't care for foams as they eventually break down into crumbles. My favorite material is cotton based insulation. Not sure where you would source it in Canada but there's probably a few options. It's so much better than anything else I've used I don't really bother with other materials anymore. My go to are Sonic Barrier acousta blue, henry ultra touch, or ATS acoustics cotton insulation boards.

Sounds good. I'll see what I have.