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I am wanting to put a system in my wife’s office. It will consist of a Magnavox SE EL84 console amp and my Foreplay II, once operational again! About 4 watts I think. But speakers are the problem. I have been spending a bit on my main system and the bedroom system which does not leave much for the office, and frankly it really doesn’t need to be spectacular. Just better than the computer speakers. I was thinking about the parts express speaker cabinets with a full range single driver and eventually adding a powered sub later? I don’t know, I am just looking for basic ideas for $100 to $150 bookshelf speakers that will be pleasant background music while we put a puzzle together or surf the internet. Used in that price range or an easy, cheap build is fine. Any ideas?
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... are pretty good, and you can find them used for $100-150 a pair.
Although not technically high efficient, I've driven them with as low as 10 watts. I've also driven them with 100 watts and boy did it make a difference! I sold mine years ago to a budding audiophile.
Rob CThe world was made for people not cursed with self-awareness
You didn't mention if size was important. I just finished a nice small set of speakers for my office. They are Fostex FE107E speakers in a ported 6-liter cabinet (12.5"H x 6"W x 10.75"D). They won't do deep bass but do sound very nice.http://www.geocities.com/remlapretep/104_0452.JPG
Right now I'm using them as my home office system without a sub and they are fine for jazz/classical/etc. If you are looking for party level volume or big bass, then you need to look elsewhere.
That is actually really pretty. I can't get the jpeg link to work though.
That's not a link. I just included the address because I wanted to make sure that there was a way to get to the picture if it didn't show up in the post. To use it you'll need to copy and paste it into your browser.
Sometimes when it comes to computers I feel like....
"Roadkill on the information highway!"
If you do decide to go this route, drop me an email and I'll send you more details.Take care,
That wooden grill looks familiar - I picked up a pair of Sonics AS-304A's at Goodwill ($20?) that I enjoyed for a while with my Paramours - very nice midrange, ran them with the backs removed, faux open baffle style. Our four year old kicked off a rain boot and put a 3 inch tear in one of the woofers - glued it up with diluted white glue, but I keep the wooden grills on now when the kids are home.
That's my Sansui SP-3500. Got them in Okinawa '74 and haven't been able to part with them since. Not the last word in detail or imaging, but one hell of a party speaker. 100dB/W/m makes them fairly tube friendly. They've survived the 70's, two boys, served as living room end tables when we first got married, and still keep on truckin'. I just can't let them go.
Fostex FE207E's in 1 ft^BR's. Drivers are a little pricey, but they're sweet, extended, and efficient. Really, really nice IMNSHO. Top right in the photo :-)They'll still come in under your budget if you meant $100 to $150 a piece...
all the best,
mrh
Is what I used to call the Concentric 2, sort of named after the Pi Studio 2, which it uses the drivers of. Piezo-on-a-stick; drilled dowel stuck through the center hole of an Eminence Alpha 10, sporting a ksn1038 from back when you could still get them. I sold those boxes last year and wound up building another pair slightly smaller because I liked them so much. They stand in for the Mighty Karlsons when the M.K. are getting tweaked or getting the crap pounded out of them at some dance or other.
Hi Mark,What's the speaker in teh cab under the Fostex? Looks rather coaxial...
Which leads to: I have a couple of rather "interesting" design home brew speakers that were "adopted" from the Mont Vernon dump, er, recycling center. They have some rather weird internal baffling, and have some vintage Utah 12 inch "full range" - woofer with a paper whizzer cone - in them, and I am looking to upgrade to better 12 inch coaxial speaker for them. The Utahs have a rather dull high end response, and their bass isn't exactly inspiring, either.
Scenario 2 is to simply replace the Utahs with some vintage Altec 12 inchers that I have on hand, and use these as woofers with a mid/tweeter box on top.
/ed B in NH
... is either an Adire 10.1 or 12.1. That's the Eminence coaxial speaker; I don't recall for sure whether it's the standard Eminence compression tweeter, though. I actually don't recall hearing them. You can learn more from the AX review (link below). You'll note they had some polarity problems, though :-)
"The Utahs have a rather dull high end response, and their bass isn't exactly inspiring, either. "snappy tag line 1: sounds like a great driver!
snappy tag line 2: sounds like a Utah
(couldn't decide which to use, so I offer both...)The Eminence coaxes might be worthy of attention. They're not terribly expensive, IIRC.
all the best,
mrh
Hi Mark,Thanks, I was thinking they might be the Eminences, but wasn't sure.
I wonder how the Eminence coaxials compare to the PAudio coaxials, which are listed on the commonsense audio website. They start at 8 inch and go up to either 15 or 18 inch diameter.
BTW, 7408s are slightly souped-up 6V6GTs, I probably have a few in the tube stash./ed B in NH
How about the MBOW1? I guess even as a DIY project they're not that cheap, but they sound great. It'll cost $500 for a pair using the PE cabinets, less if you build cabinets yourself. I built a pair for my 12 year old son, and I listen to them every chance I get, at least when I dare step into his room.There are other projects as well on the murphyblaster web site. Some are cheaper I'm sure.
I have really been impressed with the back loaded horn for the Fostex FE126E speaker (about $35 each). They also have a small bass reflex design for the same driver which I have heard good things about as well. We use these for a similar purpose of background music for our kitchen.
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Guess I kinda skipped over that huh? I just built the recommended enclosure from fostex. Its pretty small for a back loaded horn and its a funky bass reflex/back loaded horn hybrid design. Sounds pretty good with the Paramours too!
You might want to look at EPI 100's, JBL l19's or ADS L570 all are two ways with 8" woofer. They are all great sounding and within your price range. I am using the JBL L19's with my SEX amp.
Will look those up, thanks for the suggestions. My wife tolerates my kit obsession, but if I can come up with a speaker I can resell if she doesn't like it while keeping it in the same price range used, so much the better.
for inexpensive bookshelf-type speakers, the Studio Pi's (1 and 2) are great. Good synergism with low-wattage tube amps, too. Way better than computer speakers.
Those present an interesting idea, especially for $80. It doesn't look like it would be too difficult to hook up either. Do they come with good instructions? I suppose I could easily stick them in a Parts Express Dayton box and be done with it? How do I figure out what box would work with the kit?
These speakers are just very simple boxes- with 3 circles cut into baffle, one for each driver and one for the port, and a hole in the rear for the terminal. If you have a cooperative Home Depot or other lumberyard, they can cut a sheet of plywood for you for $0.25/cut or so, and they can be screwed and glued together. They can be thrown together if you want, or made as nice as you want if that's the goal. Electronic yoke, what there is of it, is prewired. I'm not sure if there is a Parts Express box that would work. Some people get a cabinetmaker to make the boxes and it's still a good deal. I have some Two's here in ATL for a short while, replacing them with Stage 4's.
Just moved from Atlanta to Columbus a few months ago. So still not that far. Used to live in the Northlake area.
intown- near Buckhead
Hi, guys! I'm in Stone Mountain, and, though I've posted here before, I'm still pretty new to this DIY stuff. I didn't even know there WAS an Atlanta Audio Society!
And they do put on pretty good shows from time to time. Their vintage show was a lot of fun and I have learned a some about what I don't like.
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maybe, but I'd rather build something or drink & listen to music than do a factory or store tour! :)
The factory tours I could do without, but the store tours and the actual demos they have in that clubhouse are nice.
The Specifications and Thiele/Small Parameters apply here:The parameter that relates to box volume is the Vas which is the overall "compliance" of the speaker. This is defined as the volume of air that has the same compliance (or springiness) of the driver.
This can be used to determine the proper box size/volume for a woofer. Tweeters and sealed back midranges do not have a Vas rating.If you're using a Parts Express catalog, they have tables giving all the parameters and the recommended sealed and vented (ported) box volumes, this is good reference any which way, and can be found on pages 147-149, and 186-187, in the 2005 Parts Express catalog. This can also be found through the Parts Express website, they have the catalog in PDF format and individual pages can be opened and printed as needed.
HTH
Was recently perusing: Craigslist.com (new Ebay IMHO) Found a pair of Tannoy Studio Studio monitors (bookshelf sized) self powered for $500 asking.. a serious bargain on V V good units.
You could sell yer amps:-)to recoup costs.
Don't overlook the Pro Audio stuff.. a lot of it puts home audio into striking comparison.
All one would then need in addition to the drivers is a decent CD source (DVD player?) and yer good to go.
I don't have anything to sell! All of the various amplifiers are being used in one system or another (office, bedroom, TV and main). Since this system is ostensibly for my wife and her office $500 isn't going to get me there even if I could sell the little amp for the $100 or so it is worth. But thanks, I will look around.
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