DIY Subwoofer question

[luckaz]

I was looking at HSU 2.3 and the new 15 MFW from av123 and after reading a bit more I've become very excited about DIY subwoofers. But, I'm a little overwhelmed with all the info out there.
Size and asthetics don't matter. My HT is in the basement and my wife never comes down . It can be big and ugly and long as it sounds fantastic. Budget is $500. I think I want a 15 incher and I was considering modeling it after the av123 MFW-15
1) Can anyone suggest some good background reading to get me up to speed with the terminology
2) How about DIY kits? Any experience with these? Suggestions for good ones? I am worried I will end up spending a lot on parts and end up with a crappy SW so I want to do my research first.

Thanks for any directions you can provide.

 

[j_garcia]

Loudspeaker Design Cookbook is a good place to start.

DIY kits can be an excellent choice. Take a look at the ones from www.partsexpress.com and www.rythmikaudio.com

 

[Warpdrv]

Go over to TCsounds.com and buy a TC-2000 15" driver before they raise prices... They are some of the Highest rated drivers out there, and they're prices are very cheap right now, but will go up 50-100%
1 of them is supposed to be equal to or better in SQ and Headroom then a JL F113

I just bought 2 15" TC-2000's and 2 18" passive radiators...

But you will need a large amp for those drivers... but they will beat the CR@P out of you...

 

[j_garcia]

FYI: Rythmik's drivers are made by TC.

 

[no. 5]

Go over to TCsounds.com and buy a TC-2000 15" driver before they raise prices... They are some of the Highest rated drivers out there, and they're prices are very cheap right now, but will go up 50-100%
1 of them is supposed to be equal to or better in SQ and Headroom then a JL F113

Reeeeeealy... which one?

 

[Warpdrv]

Reeeeeealy... which one?

Well I am just quoting some of the comments of those people from the DIY sites that have already built with them... One of the members even sold his Dual F113's to go the DIY route, but with the LMS-5400 drivers and is extremely happy with his better results...

So I figured that I would give it a go and see how it turns out...
For the minor amount of $$ I will be experimenting with I think its worth a shot, Can't wait...


My question to a member

Thoughts on whether 2 of these would spank my current dual subs SVS-PB12 Plus/2 and PB12 Plus....? SQ as well as Headroom in my 8200 cu ft room..?

Yeah, they'll make the +/2 sound weak in comparison. A single TC2K beats a F113 (or is it the TC3K ) Sound quality and SPL wise.

Link to post... http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=11104341&&#post11104341

And those are the middle of the road drivers from TCSounds...
http://www.tcsounds.com/tcrawsubs.htm

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

$500 won't get you top end components, but you can build an outstanding sub nevertheless. At $500, you can build a sub comparable to the Plus/2 and Ultra/2 and one that outdoes the $500 offerings from HSU and SVS.

I would consider something along these lines and up the budget a tad:

Parts Express amp 300-752 for $229 (they just had them on sale for $159!)
The 300-808 is on sale for $330, but it really ups the budget

Dual subwoofers 295-468 for $318 (had these on sale for 139ea.!)
Use the rest for building the box. PE will give you exact
specs for a ported or sealed sub, and size/length of the port if you go
ported.

 

[no. 5]

Thanks Warp!

I have been seriously looking into going DIY, I'm still researching, but it's cool to see more drivers available that will give the W7 a run for its money... cheaper.

 

[luckaz]

I have been researching furiously and decided to buy a 15' TC-2000. Completely blew my budget. Very excited. Now I am looking for an amp. TC says I need at least 1000W. Thinking of going sonosub tube design.
Any suggestions for an amp to match this?
Thanks again.

 

[WmAx]

I have been researching furiously and decided to buy a 15' TC-2000. Completely blew my budget. Very excited. Now I am looking for an amp. TC says I need at least 1000W. Thinking of going sonosub tube design.
Any suggestions for an amp to match this?
Thanks again.

Behringer EP2500 is a well built, extremely power amplifier that will output an actual approximate *2000 watts at 4 ohms bridged with very low distortion, as measured by a 3rd party ( a Crown amplifier technician ). I think that will do it.

-Chris

*Note: a normal power circuit will not achieve this power rating. The tested output power was with a special power circuit that could deliver virtually unlimited power for all intents and purposes of the test. You will have less actual power due to voltage sag on a normal circuit.

 

[Warpdrv]

AWESOME...

Glad to see another leap of faith....

Yeah its looking like Im going to end up with a QSC amp either 4050 or 5050.. 2000 or 2500 wpc....

Im droppin a little more then I want on the amp, but hey, going for quality as well as quantity.... WmAx is right on target with the Behringer suggestion, lots of people have them and they work great... Plenty of juice, more then you will need...

Keep us informed on whats happening, I will get my 50 lbs each drivers on tues... I'll post some pics at that time...

 

[WmAx]

AWESOME...

Glad to see another leap of faith....

Yeah its looking like Im going to end up with a QSC either 4050 or 5050.. 2000 or 2500 wpc....

Im droppin a little more then I want on the amp, but hey, going for quality as well as quantity.... WmAx is right on target with the Behringer suggestion, lots of people have them and they work great... Plenty of juice, more then you will need...

Keep us informed on whats happening, I will get my 50 lbs each drivers on tues... I'll post some pics at that time...

I've never had any quality issues with Behringer, other than the two A500s I ordered that both happened to be defective. I have had about a dozen Behringer products, and they are generally made to very high quality standards with high quality components. Seriously. There are exceptions to this, but the EP2500 is not one those exceptions. It is a well made product that measures well. I highly doubt the QSC or Crowns for double the price can exceed it's quality or performance by any substantial degree.

-Chris

 

[Warpdrv]

You are probably right on the button with that statement WmAx... You start to run into the diminishing returns bracket....

Somehow or another I end up getting deals on way to many things..... Luckily Im not paying double the price, so I will have no qualms with the QSC.....

I have absolutely nothing bad to say of Behringer.... They are a very very popular amp...

 

[WmAx]

You are probably right on the button with that statement WmAx... You start to run into the diminishing returns bracket....

Somehow or another I end up getting deals on way to many things..... Luckily Im not paying double the price, so I will have no qualms with the QSC.....

I have absolutely nothing bad to say of Behringer.... They are a very very popular amp...

I got my EP2500 for $271.95 shipped, from an authorized, highly reputable online dealer with price matching. I bet you still pay double as compared to this for the comparable QSC or Crown, even with your 'deal'.

-Chris

 

[luckaz]

I think I have it narrowed down to the EP2500 or the Dayton HPSA1000-R .

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=300-810



Any thoughts? Anyone use the Dayton before or heard about it?


Thanks

 

[WmAx]

I think I have it narrowed down to the EP2500 or the Dayton HPSA1000-R .

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=300-810



Any thoughts? Anyone use the Dayton before or heard about it?


Thanks

How is this even a comparison? The EP2500 costs less and puts out far more power.

-Chris

 

[luckaz]

Chris
I hear you but I was thinking the built-in high pass filter would be an advantage on the Dayton as well as the no fan operation. Appreciate your input so I don't make a mistake.
Luc

 

[WmAx]

Chris
I hear you but I was thinking the built-in high pass filter would be an advantage on the Dayton as well as the no fan operation. Appreciate your input so I don't make a mistake.
Luc

If the fan on the EP2500 is too loud, you can purchase a quiet [1]fan for about $8 that replaces the stock unit. It's a quick procedure. As for the high pass filter function, the Behringer has one, but it's a bit high (30Hz). That will have to be a feature that you decide if is important enough to get a weaker, less versatile amplifier that costs more.

-Chris

[1] www.digikey.com
P/N: P9739-ND
FAN 24VDC 1.30W 80MM FBA HYDRO