Nano Neo's

MillerLiteScott
MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
edited March 2011 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
I found a build over at the Tech section of the Parts Express site. These are a cheap, mine cost less than $75 including $16 worth of binding posts, the designer built his for $55 in parts. The little Dayton woofer has been designed and measured to go in to the low 40's in this cabinet. They image really well and have a deep soundstage. When I have time I want to set them up properly and do a mini (less than $100 speaker) shootout just for the fun of it. I also have a pair of the $25 Dayton speakers (in my daughters system), Best Buy Insignia's, RTA 8TL, and some BA I put in an MDF sealed enclosure.

I am a sucker for a cheap over performing speaker and this one fits the bill. If I didn't already have a great speaker I would think these are pretty good.

The woofer is no longer on sale so they are a bit more expensive to build now but I will be buying another set of woofers if they go on sale again.
I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
Post edited by MillerLiteScott on
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Comments

  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited March 2011
    Rear ported,,nice box size--I bet they do sound very good.Nice work sir.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,197
    edited March 2011
    Very nice!!!! I am a sucker for a cheap over performing speaker as well. Did you make the cabinets or can you buy them assembled? Woodworking is my least desirable skill.

    Could you provide the link over at PE, I'd like to learn more about them.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited March 2011
    Very nice Scott! Time to start working on a Totem clone!
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  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited March 2011
    Ed, I wanted to do a Totem Arro clone but the bookshelf design is more flexible than having another floor stander. I may still build the cabinets if I have time this spring and just swap out the drivers and crossover. The cabinet does not have to be as deep if I did an Arro clone and there would be a false bottom that could be mass loaded like the Arro.

    I also just received a Jolida's new Glass FX Tubed DAC today but so far I am underwhelmed. Maybe rolling some tubes will help but so far it sounds pretty lifeless out of the box.

    Here you go H9.
    http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?t=218177
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,092
    edited March 2011
    Good job!
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited March 2011
    Yeah man, if/when I ever get the time, I would like to build some speakers, and if they sounded even remotely close to Totems.... I'd be very happy. Let me know if you decide to begin a project like that - I'd love to see what goes into it. :cool:
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  • slammin86
    slammin86 Posts: 238
    edited March 2011
    Those look very nice.
    Receiver: ONKYO 709
    Amplifier: Acurus A200x3
    Front: EmpTek E55Ti
    Center: EmpTek E56Ci
    Surround: EmpTek E5Bi
    Sub: Elemental Designs A5-350
    TV: LG 55"
    Blu-Ray: PS3
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  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited March 2011
    Nice build Scott. I'm using Insignia NS-B2111 as my surrounds for HT, is that the ones you have, and how do they compare to this DIY build if so.
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,604
    edited March 2011
    Those look very nice Scott! Great job. Maybe I missed it but did you build the cabinets? Cheap over performing speakers? If you ever run across any Celestion DL4's, grab them. :) I am still loving my $4.00 pair from Goodwill. Would like to build some nicer looking cabinets like yours for them though.
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
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  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited March 2011
    Gary,

    Yes, I did build them with some scrap MDF I had in my garage.

    I did a quick 1 song comparison between my Nano Neo's and my Insignia's with upgraded crossover components.

    The Insignia's are a good bit brighter and have a hollow bass tone to them.o's. The Nano Neo's seem to go a bit deeper with more weight and authority that a 4" woofer could possibly muster. They are also not as bright but the tweeter (< $8.00) is a little brittle but tolerable considering. I think a less budget minded built with this woofer and a better tweeter could be a great still budget minded DIY speaker.

    Scott
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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