Computer speakers

ben62670

Well I am building some speakers for my puter. I am using Morel tweeters, and some MW6502s. The box is a bit smaller than the 4.6's, but is sealed. General rule is you can go about a 1/3 smaller sealed as apposed to ported. I am modding some Monitor 10 XO's for the application. I also just received "amp deal of the century" amp which I am planning on modding, and mounting internally. I built the boxes already, sanding sealer, and about 8 coats of Black Lacquer. I don't expect the bass to go much lower than 70hz, but who knows maybe it will be good to 60hz.

audiobliss

Wow, those sound like they'd make for pretty nice computer speakers, assuming, as you pointed out, you're not expecting any great bass response.

ben62670

Lasareath wrote: »

Ben,

This is what I use for my Computer: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/home_pc_speakers/devices/224&cl=us,en

How's my cables coming?

Sal

Done:)

Face

Now these are computer speakers.

ben62670

And one heck of a monitor!

JoshParsons84

Hey Sal, how do you like the sound of those Logitech's?

ben62670

Pictures just take away from the imagination.
Well here they are. Still wet black lacquer:D
I have to get my ears on before I make any judgments, and the tweeters are brand new.

Edit I need a new camera.

audiobliss

They look nice! But what are you doing with a monitor that small??

ben62670

Thanks. I really was missing good tunes, and as the minutes go by the tweeters keep getting better (smoother). I had one spare 12uf Solen around so I popped it in the right speaker, and bypassed the second 12uf cap. Some Monitor 10's have 2 12uf's in series with one of them having a 2.7 ohms resistor parallel to the cap. The other I left stock.
Its a 19" I also have a second monitor that is a 15". Ideally I should have 2 19's
Well back to getting my ears on:)

Phasearray

That's a good idea. I'm using my Onkyo HT-R340 to power my computer speakers.
R15 for front and Cheapo Pioneer S-HF21 from Circuit city for surround. Original HTIB Onkyo for center and sub.

ben62670

I am loving this! The tweets are smoothing out. I am using my puter as a Pre. I made a new shielded silver plated wire between the puter, and receiver. Now I have to do the same between the CD changer, and the puter line in. I can not believe how good thing sounds. Listening to some Dire Straits now. Sweet:)

MillerLiteScott

Ben, I painted lines on the knobs of my little RS amp so I knew where the controls were. I used the balance knob as the reference because it has the indent at the top. Nice little set up. I have that amp running some RTA 11T's and it sounds great for what it is.

Scott

ben62670

I am running a stereo JVC from 1987. 120 per channel. The Rat shack had a little hiss, seemed pretty clean, but it would clip at higher levels. I am thinking of changing the output transistors.

audiobliss

:eek: That JVC is as old as I am!

ben62670

audiobliss wrote: »

:eek: That JVC is as old as I am!

Damn Kids:p

ben62670

I am using the rat shack amp. I bypassed the whole front panel, and have it hooked up to my computers line out. I am listening to Temptation by Diana Krall. I am loving this. The boxes are sealed. I was thinking a port like the 4.6's, but I have 2 8" PR's kicking around I could mount to the sides. Maybe I will hunt for a pair of 6.5 PR's. I don't know.

Deadof_knight

Ouch Hey Ben good job on your polk-morel monitors!

Face

Cute amp.

Jstas

Eh, a computer doesn't need big power 'cause it's near field listening in most cases. I have a pair of R15's I picked up from Noel a while ago being powered by a NAD amp that I got from RuSsMaN a while ago too and that's got an Onkyo pre-amp that I also picked up a loooong while ago. Sounds pretty damn good for what it is!

Just because the amp is small and of a "lesser" brand name doesn't mean it's ****. Besides, computer sound cards are so noisy that it really doesn't matter what amp you use. Just power the damn things, ya know?

Those DIY deals look snazzy though. Are the tweeters separated inside the cabinet? You can get those little rubber plugs to put in holes and pins for speaker grilles from Parts Express. They should still have them. You can glue together a balsawood frame, your local hobby shop should have open stock on balsa. Stretch some black grille cloth over them and use some hot glue to keep it in place.

Phasearray

Jstas wrote: »

Besides, computer sound cards are so noisy that it really doesn't matter what amp you use. Just power the damn things, ya know?

.

I've never heard noise from any of the cound blaster live or audigy lines.

ben62670

I can crank my volume to full, and not hear any hiss from sound-card to amp. At that level I get about 105db at one meter. Very clean. I am more than happy with the noise level. I bypassed the whole front panel except the power switch. I also have my CD changer running through the sound card via line in. All the crappy sound card effects are turned off. They do sound amazing for what they are. I need to slow down a little on judging them. Everything is still new except a couple caps(coming soon), and the MW6502's. As for the tweeters the Morel line that I chose has a rear chamber to... They talk a lot about the chamber;)

Face

Phasearray wrote: »

I've never heard noise from any of the cound blaster live or audigy lines.

I haven't either. Maybe he's referring to on-board cards.

ben62670

Face wrote: »

I haven't either. Maybe he's referring to on-board cards.

Mine is an onboard card! Its a realtek HD on one of the latest MBs, and man does it sound clean. You just have to make sure you turn ALL the features off, and have it set to 2 full range speakers;)

Thanks again Face.
Ben

jakelm

Ben, what made you go with the Morel tweets, instead of the RDO or older Peerless? Any xover adjustments?

ben62670

jakelm wrote: »

Ben, what made you go with the Morel tweets, instead of the RDO or older Peerless? Any xover adjustments?

I did a ton of research on tweeters in the DIY realm, and I have found Morel's to come up as a highly regarded tweeter every time they were mentioned. They weren't at the very top every time, but were right there with the others that were usually twice the price or more. They are nice and airy, Superb sound stage, detail that is just awesome, and they blend so well with the MW woofers. I was also looking at the Vifa ring radiator tweeters, but they are 4 ohms, and were not a good drop in without modification. The Morel's get along with the 12uf caps beautifully, and are seamless with the MW woofers. Vocals are about the most important to me when I am judging a speaker. If a vocalist is singing, and the transition from woofer to tweeter is seamless then the hairs on my neck, and arms stand up.
Did I mention they are only $35 a piece too:D

jakelm

ben62670 wrote: »

Vocals are about the most important to me when I am judging a speaker. If a vocalist is singing, and the transition from woofer to tweeter is seamless then the hairs on my neck, and arms stand up.
Did I mention they are only $35 a piece too:D

+1 on vocals. Every speaker I hear, I judge it by the vocals.
Thats how I came to liking the Peerless.

heiney9

Current computer system:

Speakers (on stands) are about 6 feet from my desk on the opposite wall.

Speakers: Polk Monitor-5B's with RD0's and Solen/Mills
Amp: Adcom GCA-510 passive line stage integrated (50wpc)
DAC: AMC Dac-8
S. Card: Chaintech AV-710 (config. for Kernel Streaming)
Optical: Harmonic Technologies Sonic Impact Glass Toslink

Source: Computer FLAC files and occasional mp3's and cd's played via the DVD drive.

H9

ben62670

I knew H9 would have an Adcom:D
I just did the caps today. I omitted one set of 12ufs that are Parallel to the input resistors, and I changed one of the resistors to a 3.3ohm from a 2.5ohm to cut the highs ever so slightly. I am going to leave the speakers unbalanced for a while to see which way I prefer. I also added ports. I am starting with 1 3/8 x 4" at first, but the 4.6's had a short port about 2". I'll see what I like better. I can cut and glue no problem.

jakelm

ben62670 wrote: »

I knew H9 would have an Adcom:D
I just did the caps today. I omitted one set of 12ufs that are Parallel to the input resistors, and I changed one of the resistors to a 3.3ohm from a 2.5ohm to cut the highs ever so slightly. I am going to leave the speakers unbalanced for a while to see which way I prefer. I also added ports. I am starting with 1 3/8 x 4" at first, but the 4.6's had a short port about 2". I'll see what I like better. I can cut and glue no problem.

Getting closer the 7's (with peerless tweeter) crossover. I did a similar mod to my 10's xover in my center channel, removed the 12uF bypass cap. Excellent results...

ben62670

jakelm wrote: »

Getting closer the 7's (with peerless tweeter) crossover. I did a similar mod to my 10's xover in my center channel, removed the 12uF bypass cap. Excellent results...

Its a little early but I think I agree with our mod:)

ben62670

OK I did some SPL testing
This is the corrected numbers (SVS RatShack table) in room.
20 76
30 74
40 78
50 73
60 82
70 89
80 90
90 94
100 96
110 98
120 101
130 104
140 101
150 98

To me it looks like a slightly longer port.
The dip at 50 is weird.