Wanting to build cheap floorstanding speakers

Jonboy

I am considering trying to build some floor standing speakers since the R-50's have now sold out at Fry's. I am considering using the Dayton Reference 7"
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=295-364
and the cheaper tweeter
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=275-135
I really have no idea where to start when it comes to picking the speakers and how it will sound. Is a 7" to big will I need something smaller to go with it? Would I be better off with 2 speakers or leaving it at one? Or going with one 7" and using better tweeter?
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=275-130
Are these speakers better than whats used in the R50 line of speakers? Any suggestions welcome. I have everything I need to build the box but knowing what to pick to go in it I am clueless. My budget is about $150 for the speakers/crossovers needed. Any suggestions?

RuSsMaN

http://www.partsexpress.com/projectshowcase/homeaudio.cfm

Browse the project showcase, for tried and tested designs. If you are just going to buy blindly, and want to keep the crossover design simple - try to get 8 ohm drivers so you can maintain absolute phase at 4 ohm. Try to find drivers that match within 1 or 2db efficiency, and have useable response beyond whatever your crossover point is going to be.

Cheers,
Russ

Systems

Jonboy ,here are some links to hi quality designs using the PE and other drivers http://www.zaphaudio.com/ http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=13154

mhardy6647

Partsexpress also has a forum, and some projects online, too.
Someone at audiokarma just built some sort of chimera that used (I believe) the 7" driver to which you refer in the remains of a pair of EV Marquis cabinets. I would consider this heretical, but YMMV.

Jonboy

Thanks for all the help so far, I really want to use a 2 speaker and tweeter setup at this point. I am wanting to use the 8" reference and a 6" to match it. My idea is to port the 8" in the front bottom but then just leaving the other speaker sealed. Is this ok and will they work well together? I have some ideas going in my head on how I want it to look and started off wanting something normal and box looking but the pic is what I have come up with.

This is the speakers I am wanting to use.
8"
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=295-366

6"
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=295-362

Tweeters
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=275-135

Or

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=275-075

Jonboy

With these being 8ohm speakers I am not going to be able to do this am I? Also I just have a 100w 5 year old Yamaha receiver thinking its 8ohm only.

ben62670

PE has a great sale on HiVi, and Audax speakers. I would go for the Audax.
For tweets Morel MDT20 can't be beat for the buck, second choice Vifa.
Dayton is PE's brand, and trust me from experience they don't back up there own brand.

Jonboy

Those tweeters are not shielded since the are small is this less of an issue? I have looked at the Audax and they will work just the same.

Systems

Jonboy ,the drivers you linked to in post #5 are very good but be advised that designing a passive 3way crossover that will properly blend and get the best performance from them is NOT a simple task. Using an off the shelf crossover or one designed using formulas will not do those drivers justice.I would go with a design that already has a crossover properly engineered for it.

I like your design idea in the pic.

digitalman

Yes you should go with one of the htguide designs, they are all very good and extensively tested.