Help me out with the basics?

[trjordan]

Hi all - total n00b here.

So, I want to build a pair of bookshelf speakers, but I'm still not sure what I'm getting myself into. I guess what I'm looking for is a project where I can make some decisions about what I want, but won't take longer than a weekend and doesn't involve a lot of tools (I neither have them nor the space to use them - stupid apartments). I'm willing to spend money and time doing this, but I'm having trouble figuring out how hard a lot of the tutorials I find actually are.

So far, I've figured out that I want to make bookshelf speakers and spend ~$200 on parts. Questions I have:

1) What makes a decent driver? I'm a physics major and have interest in EE, but I'm just not familiar with what kind of tradeoffs I can make here.

2) Do I want 1 driver or 2? I want something mostly full-range, but for $200 and my first project, I'm not expecting the sun and the moon. What are the pros and cons here? I understand you have to match sensitivities if you get two speakers - any other traps to be aware of?

3) Short of entirely designing and simulating my own enclosure, what can I look for? The only relevant things I've found are internal volume and presence of a port. Anything else I should look for?

4) Any thoughts on what's the most important? There's so much information out there, and I can't see where to start!

Thanks for reading all that...

 

[TLS Guy]

Hi all - total n00b here.

So, I want to build a pair of bookshelf speakers, but I'm still not sure what I'm getting myself into. I guess what I'm looking for is a project where I can make some decisions about what I want, but won't take longer than a weekend and doesn't involve a lot of tools (I neither have them nor the space to use them - stupid apartments). I'm willing to spend money and time doing this, but I'm having trouble figuring out how hard a lot of the tutorials I find actually are.

So far, I've figured out that I want to make bookshelf speakers and spend ~$200 on parts. Questions I have:

1) What makes a decent driver? I'm a physics major and have interest in EE, but I'm just not familiar with what kind of tradeoffs I can make here.

2) Do I want 1 driver or 2? I want something mostly full-range, but for $200 and my first project, I'm not expecting the sun and the moon. What are the pros and cons here? I understand you have to match sensitivities if you get two speakers - any other traps to be aware of?

3) Short of entirely designing and simulating my own enclosure, what can I look for? The only relevant things I've found are internal volume and presence of a port. Anything else I should look for?

4) Any thoughts on what's the most important? There's so much information out there, and I can't see where to start!

Thanks for reading all that...

I just recently posted a beginners bookshelf speaker.

Here it is:-

http://www.drmarksays.com/?p=30

This should be a good beginner's project. I doubt you will build it in an apartment though, as all woodworking makes a mess. I would either try and do the wood working at a friends house or have a cabinet shop cut and rout the panels. You could do the rest of the assembly in an apartment.

What books have you read so far? You have asked some questions that are just too lengthy to answer in a forum.

 

[Swerd]

Hi all - total n00b here.

So, I want to build a pair of bookshelf speakers, but I'm still not sure what I'm getting myself into. I guess what I'm looking for is a project where I can make some decisions about what I want, but won't take longer than a weekend and doesn't involve a lot of tools (I neither have them nor the space to use them - stupid apartments). I'm willing to spend money and time doing this, but I'm having trouble figuring out how hard a lot of the tutorials I find actually are.

So far, I've figured out that I want to make bookshelf speakers and spend ~$200 on parts. Questions I have:

1) What makes a decent driver? I'm a physics major and have interest in EE, but I'm just not familiar with what kind of tradeoffs I can make here.

2) Do I want 1 driver or 2? I want something mostly full-range, but for $200 and my first project, I'm not expecting the sun and the moon. What are the pros and cons here? I understand you have to match sensitivities if you get two speakers - any other traps to be aware of?

3) Short of entirely designing and simulating my own enclosure, what can I look for? The only relevant things I've found are internal volume and presence of a port. Anything else I should look for?

4) Any thoughts on what's the most important? There's so much information out there, and I can't see where to start!

Buy or borrow this book - Speaker Building 201 by Ray Alden.

Also, you might benefit from building a kit on your first try. Part Express sells an inexpensive kit for a 2-way bookshelf the BR-1 that is not bad and costs $150 a pair. The owner's manual for this kit is an excellent read for a curious beginner. Download it from the link I gave you and see for yourself.

 

[trjordan]

Thanks a bunch for the quick responses, guys.

I haven't read any books yet - I'm still poking around the internet trying to get started. Is reading a book the best way to get started? I'll look into Alden's book - any other recommendations, TLSGuy?

Would it make sense just to buy a kit as my first pair of speakers? It sounds like that might be the way to go, then if I want to do more, I can tackle something a little more complicated, working my way up from there. Any other kits I should consider?

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks a bunch for the quick responses, guys.

I haven't read any books yet - I'm still poking around the internet trying to get started. Is reading a book the best way to get started? I'll look into Alden's book - any other recommendations, TLSGuy?

Would it make sense just to buy a kit as my first pair of speakers? It sounds like that might be the way to go, then if I want to do more, I can tackle something a little more complicated, working my way up from there. Any other kits I should consider?

Try this for starters.

http://www.audioxpress.com/bksprods/products/bkaa67.htm

A kit in your circumstances, might be a good way to go, as you can't have a workshop in an apartment.

Here are some good kits from Madisound.

http://www.madisound.com/kits/index.php

Speaker building is great fun and very rewarding. Being in an apartment will be limiting though.

 

[trjordan]

So, I just bought the Dayton BR-1s. That should start me off for now, but I'm already considering buying a router and trying to build another kit.

Thanks to both of you for all your help. This looks like a fun hobby, and I'll definitely be back here if I decide to pursue it further.

 

[Midcow2]

So, I just bought the Dayton BR-1s. That should start me off for now, but I'm already considering buying a router and trying to build another kit.

Thanks to both of you for all your help. This looks like a fun hobby, and I'll definitely be back here if I decide to pursue it further.

Trjordan,

Nice thread and Nice responses TLS knows his stuff very well and gives excellent info and recommendations.

I have built electronic items before, Dynaco power am, Dynaco tuner, Heathkit ( was great do-it-yourself company) multimeter, but have never tried speakers.

Good Luck,

MidCow2

 

[Swerd]

So, I just bought the Dayton BR-1s. That should start me off for now, but I'm already considering buying a router and trying to build another kit.

Thanks to both of you for all your help. This looks like a fun hobby, and I'll definitely be back here if I decide to pursue it further.

I hope you enjoy building the BR-1 kit and like their sound once you are done. It is the least expensive kit I have heard that sounds decent.

An interesting modification of the BR-1 kit has been published by a well known DIY guy, Dennis Murphy. His revised crossover smoothes out the midrange a bit where the crossover occurs.

If you choose to do that, it would give you experience at building a crossover board from scratch rather than using the prewired board provided by Parts Express in the kit. Read this for general directions as to how to go about laying out the parts in a crossover board.