suggestions for DIY surround speakers

[jerix]

I am planning to do a DIY surround speakers to replace the big BS speakers i have right now. I will just use my big BS speakers for my other amp. I have already set my receiver's speaker set up to "small" so my 2 subs will process the low frequencies.The surround output of my receiver is 120w at 8 ohms. So I believe the surround speakers should also be 8 ohms. I plan to do a 2-way system.

My concerns are the following:

-Type of drivers I should get;
-Size of drivers;
-Connecting the driver and the tweeter to produce an 8ohms speaker.
-Size of the box.

Thanks.

[Beta Man]

I'm not very savvy at DIY speakers, but I could only imagine that the price of purchasing speakers would be pretty close by the time you add up all the materials etc. That way you could get some decent bipoles.

[Big Daddy]

Speaker Kits
http://www.parts-express.com/webpage...ctGroup_ID=769
http://www.theloudspeakerkit.com/sho...egoryType=kits
http://www.occamaudio.com/kits.html
http://www.madisound.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=178
http://www.solen.ca/pub/index.php?q=...50cmVyPSZpPTQ=

Speaker Cabinets:
http://www.madisound.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=178

One of the easiest way to build a speaker is with full-range drivers such as Fostex drivers. The advantage is that you won't need any crossovers unless you add a big woofer. You can also make them open baffle without a box.

http://www.fostexspeakers.com/fostex.html
http://www.madisound.com/manufacture...x/speakers.php


Take a look at some of these DIY open baffle designs using Fostex full-range drivers.


Open Baffle Design Using a Fostex FE-108 Sigma Full Range Driver and an Eminence Alpha 15A Woofer

ML TQWT using the Fostex FE-164 Full Range Driver

Fostex FE-87E Full Range Driver and Eminence Alpha 15A Woofer on an OB

There are more speakers with full-range drivers in the following:

http://www.quarter-wave.com/Gallery/Gallery.html

[jerix]

Beta man yeah I also believe buying is sometimes cheaper but the joy and satisfaction of doing it yourself is priceless.

Big Daddy that open baffle design is an easy way to build. Even my son i think can do it. But is this design applicable for small 6.5" drivers for surround purposes?

BTW is it really necessary to use a crossover for a 2-way speaker? Do you think a capacitor is not enough? Thanks again.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by jerix

Beta man yeah I also believe buying is sometimes cheaper but the joy and satisfaction of doing it yourself is priceless.

Big Daddy that open baffle design is an easy way to build. Even my son i think can do it. But is this design applicable for small 6.5" drivers for surround purposes?

BTW is it really necessary to use a crossover for a 2-way speaker? Do you think a capacitor is not enough? Thanks again.

A full-range driver in an open baffle design is perfect for surround applications. You just need one driver and it doesn't have to be very big as you should set your surround speakers to small and let the subwoofer handle the bass. You won't have to make the speakers two-way.

If you decide to make a two-way speaker, you should use a crossover filter.

A capacitor stores voltage and blocks off signal at lower frequencies, and acts as a short (lets signal pass through) at higher frequencies. If a capacitor is hooked up in series with a speaker, it will act as a high-pass filter.

An inductor, on the other hand, stores current and acts in exact opposite way of a capacitor. Inductors act as shorts (lets signal pass through) at lower frequencies, and blocks off high frequencies. If an inductor is hooked up in series with a speaker, it will act as a low-pass filter.

Ideally, an active (powered) crossover is the best choice so that you can experiment with the quality of the sound coming out of your speakers as you change the crossover frequencies.

[jomari]

oh, speakers behind the Fostex e-164?

Me like. A LOT.