New 2-way speaker design

Options
ShinAce
ShinAce Posts: 1,194
edited September 2009 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
A friend of mine is finding himself in a new home and wants a 5.1 surround system for his living room.

1) Subs are covered.

2) Mains. I've been thinking the recession buster kit. Assuming the stock is still there, I'd build 4 of them and look at the center separately. I'm thinking of even buying the kit 6 times, leaving me with a spare tweeter and crossover. I would use D'appolitto's geometry to build the center with 2 woofers and add resistors to the woofers to keep the same load on the corssover and amp.

What else can you guys suggest? This guy is a neurosurgery resident, which means he has few hours to watch movies and doesn't even make that much money. I'm trying to keep it as cheap as possible without going to inferior quality.

It's mostly for music but will need to suffice for HT.

The space is average; roughly 12' x 15' .
Post edited by ShinAce on

Comments

  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited September 2009
    Options
    If you call Madisound, they will sell you an odd number of kits.

    I'm not sure if there are any RB kits left, but I believe they have plenty of the new RBR kits left, which may be over his budget. http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=35_38_436&products_id=8644
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited September 2009
    Options
    There's also Zaph's new kits. I haven't heard any feedback on them yet, but there is one made specifically made to be used as a center channel.

    http://www.madisound.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=zaph
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited September 2009
    Options
    Just noticed the Vifa kit is sold out.

    Zaph's ZA5.2 TM 2-Way looks pretty good. I'll run him through the cost of doing 2 sets of these plus the center channel.

    I would gladly do the RB reference for myself, but not for him. There's no knowing if the speakers will still get use 2 years from now. He still needs to get himself a flat panel TV to boot.
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited September 2009
    Options
    I've been eyeing the ZRT kits lately. Even though they are pricey, it sounds like the performance is unmatched.

    zrt-v2.jpg
  • royalty
    royalty Posts: 246
    edited September 2009
    Options
    wow those crossovers are ridiculous
    HOME AUDIO:
    Electronics:
    HK 354
    Front Power: CARVER TFM-35
    Center Power: Audiosource Amp One
    Speakers:
    Center: CSi5
    Fronts: rti10s
    Rears: monitor 50s
    psw 125 + psw 505 = BOOM

    CAR AUDIO
    Infinity 6032CF's all around
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited September 2009
    Options
    royalty wrote: »
    wow those crossovers are ridiculous

    Ridiculously well built. :D
  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,872
    edited September 2009
    Options
    ShinAce wrote: »

    Zaph's ZA5.2 TM 2-Way looks pretty good.
    I have a pair of ZMV5's http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74167&highlight=METAL+MINI+MONITOR .The ZA5.2 is basically the ZMV5 with Zaphs custom version of the woofer and one .1uf cap added to the xover.

    They are a good sounding little speaker but I found that the original MCM version of the woofer reached it's excursion limit's rather quickly (even for a 5") with any bass heavy conent even at normal listening levels.Zaph's updated version should be better in this regard but I think hi pass filtering and using sub will be mandatory for HT use.


    Too bad the Vifa RB2 ' are sold out,I was considering getting another pair.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited September 2009
    Options
    zingo wrote: »
    I've been eyeing the ZRT kits lately. Even though they are pricey, it sounds like the performance is unmatched.

    zrt-v2.jpg

    Sweet!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited September 2009
    Options
    If I can scrape together the money, I'll be considering the 2.5 version of the ZRTs. $2K for the complete kit, but it seems like there may not be a better set for the money.

    zrt2-5-cab-v2.jpg
  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited September 2009
    Options
    That's my favorite tweeter next to the Be tweeter in Focal's Utopia line.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited September 2009
    Options
    That'd be a fun shootout. :D
  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited September 2009
    Options
    zingo wrote: »
    That'd be a fun shootout. :D
    Considering the difference in price, I'd take the Air Circ's. ;)
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited September 2009
    Options
    Have you heard Usher's new BE tweeter? It starts on their rebuild of the Tiny Dancer and has only received great reviews.

    front2.jpg
  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited September 2009
    Options
    No I haven't, there are no Usher dealers near me.

    These look pretty interesting though: http://www.scan-speak.dk/datasheet/pdf/d3004_664000.pdf

    Too bad the off axis response isn't better though.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited September 2009
    Options
    Those off-axis charts are pretty steep, but it seems like that tweeter does have loads of potential.

    popup_image.php?pID=1140&language=en
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited September 2009
    Options
    Upon doing some more reading, AVguide claims that the MSRP of those new tweeters is $1000 a pair. :eek: