Help finding speakers that will work with my amp.

[GQuinn0123]

Hi, I would just like to say I am very new to Stereo/HIFI systems or setups so any help would be much appreciated. I have a Fisher CA-854 amp and two Fisher STV-724 speakers and I want to upgrade the drivers in the actual speaker cabinet. I did do some research and it was recommended I replace the crossover inside the speaker because it may not be able to handle the new speakers. I'm not sure what I should get for it or if I even need to replace them. Also, I was recommended these speakers but I'm not sure if they would work with my setup.

• DC28F-8 1-1/8" Silk Dome Tweeter 8 Ohm
• 5.25" NEODYMIUM MIDRANGE LOUDSPEAKER
• Dayton Audio DC380-8 15" Classic Woofer

 

[gizzyman47]

If you're unfamiliar with speaker design and crossovers I would just buy different speakers. Unless you know what your doing, installing better drivers/crossover in the cabinet may end up being a waste of time and money. Plenty of knowledge here to help you in your goal. Just not me. good luck!

 

[hopeless]

Don't open Pandoras Box. Buy new speakers

 

[grindstone]

Yeah honestly it'd be a money-vacuum, but, if it's something you're interested in, others have started that way in years past. Depends what you want--a one-off speaker project or or a slippery-slope intro to a hobby. If you like to tinker, by all means. You wont get your money back (or even a 100th of it) if you want to sell them, but you will learn things. Get some cheap tweeters, stick a couple stick-braces in there front to back and side to side, make sure 3 sides are lined with fiberglass, and make sure it's all sealed and you should find quite noticeable improvements vs. existing. Be careful with the money or just pick a better, proven design if you want to invest more in a better speaker system. FWIW.

 

[Buck Rogers]

I googled the Fisher STV-724 since you did not post a picture...

It appears to be a 4 way speaker with dual mids.

As grindstone commented there are lots of things you can do to improve the sound.

It's best to leave the drivers alone as this is not a good speaker to replace them.

I would place a 1/2" slab of wood over the front except for the woofer/ports and cut new holes.... Lots of work

Here is a video explaining easy ways to upgrade existing speakers.

.

 

[coonmanx]

I have done this very same thing before, but it was a much simpler two way project. Those speakers have gotten used in my systems but right now are sitting in a closet as I plan to upgrade the crossovers with new capacitors.

It is a crap shoot. Things might work out and you could have some great speakers. Or maybe things don't exactly match up and you will find the need to tweak things later. One thing I would say to do would be to contact Parts Express and see what they think. They might even be able to tell you if it is going to work and what you need for a crossover. Let them know what drivers you want to use and the cabinet size and they can give you some good advice.

Whatever you decide, if you do decide to go forward with the project, you will learn. And to me that is the most important thing.

 

[Mike_S]

What is the problem you are trying to solve for? What is lacking now?
rather then getting all new drivers, most of us start at replacing all the electrolytic caps in the crossover. Others go much farther, replacing all parts in the crossover. This alone will have a dramatic sound difference, for the better.

 

[knotscott]

It's doable, but it's a big task to do it well, and I'm not so sure those particular speakers are worth the cost and effort unless they have some strong sentimental value. On the other hand, I hate to dissuade anyone from learning a new DIY skill. Just be prepared that there's more to it than most people realize. There are a lot of online calculators to help with the crossover, but you should at least study up on the basics of what a passive speaker crossover does, so you'll know more about what it's calculating for. You might find more expert help on the DIYAudio forum. Good luck!

 

[GQuinn0123]

It's doable, but it's a big task to do it well, and I'm not so sure those particular speakers are worth the cost and effort unless they have some strong sentimental value. On the other hand, I hate to dissuade anyone from learning a new DIY skill. Just be prepared that there's more to it than most people realize. There are a lot of online calculators to help with the crossover, but you should at least study up on the basics of what a passive speaker crossover does, so you'll know more about what it's calculating for. You might find more expert help on the DIYAudio forum. Good luck!

I know that the speakers are probably not worth doing, but I feel like I haven't seen big wooden cabinet speakers like this, and I would love to keep the vibe of them. Again, I'm still brand new to all of this and am still learning. But thank you for the information i appreciate it.

 

[GQuinn0123]

What is the problem you are trying to solve for? What is lacking now?
rather then getting all new drivers, most of us start at replacing all the electrolytic caps in the crossover. Others go much farther, replacing all parts in the crossover. This alone will have a dramatic sound difference, for the better.

I'm trying to just increase the audio quality, i don't think these speakers necessarily sound terrible but I would love to make it better for my own enjoyment. Also, would you recommend just getting a new crossover or replacing the caps like you said? Also, where would the crossover be, or is it different for most speakers, thank you for the reply I do appreciate it.

 

[GQuinn0123]

I have done this very same thing before, but it was a much simpler two way project. Those speakers have gotten used in my systems but right now are sitting in a closet as I plan to upgrade the crossovers with new capacitors.

It is a crap shoot. Things might work out and you could have some great speakers. Or maybe things don't exactly match up and you will find the need to tweak things later. One thing I would say to do would be to contact Parts Express and see what they think. They might even be able to tell you if it is going to work and what you need for a crossover. Let them know what drivers you want to use and the cabinet size and they can give you some good advice.

Whatever you decide, if you do decide to go forward with the project, you will learn. And to me that is the most important thing.

Thank you so much for the information and I'll defiantly contact them.

 

[GQuinn0123]

I googled the Fisher STV-724 since you did not post a picture...

It appears to be a 4 way speaker with dual mids.

As grindstone commented there are lots of things you can do to improve the sound.

It's best to leave the drivers alone as this is not a good speaker to replace them.

I would place a 1/2" slab of wood over the front except for the woofer/ports and cut new holes.... Lots of work

Here is a video explaining easy ways to upgrade existing speakers.

.

Yeah sorry, I completely forgot to include photos ill post them in this reply. The speakers you posted aren't the exact same ones that I have. But thank you for sending that video i appreciate it and I'll check it out.

 

[GQuinn0123]

Yeah honestly it'd be a money-vacuum, but, if it's something you're interested in, others have started that way in years past. Depends what you want--a one-off speaker project or or a slippery-slope intro to a hobby. If you like to tinker, by all means. You wont get your money back (or even a 100th of it) if you want to sell them, but you will learn things. Get some cheap tweeters, stick a couple stick-braces in there front to back and side to side, make sure 3 sides are lined with fiberglass, and make sure it's all sealed and you should find quite noticeable improvements vs. existing. Be careful with the money or just pick a better, proven design if you want to invest more in a better speaker system. FWIW.

Yeah, I don't see myself selling these in the future if I can find a way to upgrade them, I love the actual cabinet and I feel like I can't find speakers to buy that have the same vibe that these ones do, i posted some pictures of my current speakers to someone's reply in this thread. But thank you for the feedback I will def look into it, I appreciate it.

 

[Mike_S]

I'm trying to just increase the audio quality, i don't think these speakers necessarily sound terrible but I would love to make it better for my own enjoyment. Also, would you recommend just getting a new crossover or replacing the caps like you said? Also, where would the crossover be, or is it different for most speakers, thank you for the reply I do appreciate it.

refreshing the XO's will make them sound much better. Almost like a new set of speakers.

Usually, the XO is inside the cabinet. Pull out the woofer, then look inside. Might be hard to find a new updated XO anywhere, but you can just refresh the ones in there. There will only be a handful of components on there, most of the time, you just replace the electrolytic caps, ceramic resistors.

 

[coonmanx]

Refreshing crossovers can help but it is no cure for crappy drivers. So my advice holds. Talk to Parts Express and see what they recommend for a replacement crossover to go with his pick of drivers. The drivers that he picked look pretty good frankly. A silk dome tweeter is going to blow away any cone tweeter. Just saying. Let OP do what he wants.