Parts Express Speaker Kits
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JimJ[VT]
Super Member
I haven't built one myself, but I've heard very good things about the build quality. I have heard the Dayton Reference woofers (in a pair of MTMs my roommate built), and I was impressed by them.
Which ones were you looking at? Madisound also offers some good kits, if you haven't looked there already
Which ones were you looking at? Madisound also offers some good kits, if you haven't looked there already
JimJ[VT]
Super Member
Some people don't like his tests, but there's a Zaphaudio entry in the 6.5/7" test for the woofer used in those...he doesn't have the Vifa tweet reviewed, though.
http://zaphaudio.com/6.5test/
http://zaphaudio.com/6.5test/
PE kits
I have built several pairs of PE kits, including the aforementioned kit, the cabinets are outstanding, but my last kit I put together I sold rather quickly because I did not care for the sound...plain and simple, and that was the Usher 2 way "reference".....a bit harsh and annoying to listen to due to the BSC in the crossover..subjective to be sure...the BEST kit I have ever put together and actually kept is a discontinued kit by madisound, not as pretty of a cabinet, but the 5 1/2" Vifa MTM kicked the daytons ass all over my living room, right now Madisound has the "SR-71" kit that has Seas drivers and an excellent crossover, or a Fountek kit that looks impressive, both come with cabinets...a word about the Dayton reference drivers, kind of harsh and require a rather complex crossover to achieve specs in their kits.
Don't get me wrong, the Dayton kits are most excellent, but Madisound uses better components, drivers and crossovers...but are pricey..my .02 cents worth...
I have built several pairs of PE kits, including the aforementioned kit, the cabinets are outstanding, but my last kit I put together I sold rather quickly because I did not care for the sound...plain and simple, and that was the Usher 2 way "reference".....a bit harsh and annoying to listen to due to the BSC in the crossover..subjective to be sure...the BEST kit I have ever put together and actually kept is a discontinued kit by madisound, not as pretty of a cabinet, but the 5 1/2" Vifa MTM kicked the daytons ass all over my living room, right now Madisound has the "SR-71" kit that has Seas drivers and an excellent crossover, or a Fountek kit that looks impressive, both come with cabinets...a word about the Dayton reference drivers, kind of harsh and require a rather complex crossover to achieve specs in their kits.
Don't get me wrong, the Dayton kits are most excellent, but Madisound uses better components, drivers and crossovers...but are pricey..my .02 cents worth...
Also check out the AK designed Indignia. It uses the same woofer, albeit a single, and a Dayton tweeter. If you make your own enclosures you can have a pair for ~$130 or so. They are designed to fit the .38cuft PE enclosures so if you don't want to build your own they're ready to go that way (another ~$150 for square cabs or ~$190 for curved). There will likely be a mass review on Indignia in the coming week or so as Newman gets the milled baffles out. Quite a few AKers have heard them already.
Ray
Ray
jimfet
Lunatic Member
Funny you bring this up. I just ordered a pair of these yesterday.
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-774
It's not a kit persay, but I'm just gonna wait around and hope what I have picked out will go on sale sooner or later. I dought the cabs. will, so I might go ahead and order them. I have a Carver C-1 pre sitting around collecting dust and I will use the speaks I build to go with the C-1 and use it with my PC. Of course the Klipsch pro medias I use now don't sound bad.
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-774
It's not a kit persay, but I'm just gonna wait around and hope what I have picked out will go on sale sooner or later. I dought the cabs. will, so I might go ahead and order them. I have a Carver C-1 pre sitting around collecting dust and I will use the speaks I build to go with the C-1 and use it with my PC. Of course the Klipsch pro medias I use now don't sound bad.
mjennens
Old Guys Rule!!!
I built a pair of the Dayton BR-1S speakers.
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-642
They need a little time to break in, just like any new speaker, but they sound very good. Considering the price, the sound very,very, very good!
They aren't my main speakers, but only because I really like my JBLs.
I listen to jazz and 70's music (Steely Dan, Dire Straits, Pink Floyd,...) and they work very well when I switch over to them.
Mike
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-642
They need a little time to break in, just like any new speaker, but they sound very good. Considering the price, the sound very,very, very good!
They aren't my main speakers, but only because I really like my JBLs.
I listen to jazz and 70's music (Steely Dan, Dire Straits, Pink Floyd,...) and they work very well when I switch over to them.
Mike
qboneus
Senior Member
Here Ya go....
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=197508
VERY, VERY Happy with them!!
I changed the drivers to morel, that was it.
Tal
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=197508
VERY, VERY Happy with them!!
I changed the drivers to morel, that was it.
Tal
jimfet
Lunatic Member
Those cabs look nice. I just ordered a set of the .38ft about an hour ago and was wondering how they looked in the flesh. Also ordered a set of Peerless woogers from Madisound, and some Beston ribbons, 2 inch port tubes, etc... All this is going with the amps I have mentioned in a reply above. These will be my PC speakers. When done should have about 75 watts rms each and an average spl of 90. I will send picks when the project begins. All total this project is costing me a total of $500. More than I really wanted to spend for PC speakers. But hey! Idle hands are the Devils playground.
The amps were on sale for $60 each when I got em.
The amps were on sale for $60 each when I got em.
qboneus
Senior Member
They are great!
Tight, Dynamic with amazing bass for a speaker this size.
I was so impressed with these morel 6" 's that I got on sale at PE for like 60% off that I bought a pair of the same model Morel 8" 's At that favorable rate that I have sitting still boxed up waiting for my next project.
The Neo-Lin driver is really awesome! at first blush before installation I was admittedly a little under-whelmed by the appearance of the magnet structure attached to this big 3" voicecoil on this 6"driver.
Once I heard them there was no question that this is infact a great driver:yes::thmbsp:
I am into mine close to about the same, I believe I spent $500 including shipping.
I got every penny's worth!:thmbsp::thmbsp:
If your's turn out as sucessful as mine were for me... you will be asking yourself, much like I did; why did I wait so long to try this?
Good luck and keep us posted with your progress.
Tal
sanyofreak
Active Member
This may be a sin without pictures, but I recently completed a pair of MTM's using the DA-175 aluminum woofers. (not the reference ones)
I built my own cabs to save money and make it more "mine", but the dayton cabs look VERY nice. I increased the cab volume a bit but still basically the same, and I had a pair of decent old RS dome tweeters that I paired up with them. I disagree with whoever said these drivers need complex x-overs to sound right. I simply choked the woofs and capped the tweets to create 6dB/oct network with no other components, and the result (for me) is fantastic.
I think that for the money, the PE kits hold their own, and their drivers as well are pretty darn good, and not outrageously priced. I wouldnt hesitate to order from them again.
I built my own cabs to save money and make it more "mine", but the dayton cabs look VERY nice. I increased the cab volume a bit but still basically the same, and I had a pair of decent old RS dome tweeters that I paired up with them. I disagree with whoever said these drivers need complex x-overs to sound right. I simply choked the woofs and capped the tweets to create 6dB/oct network with no other components, and the result (for me) is fantastic.
I think that for the money, the PE kits hold their own, and their drivers as well are pretty darn good, and not outrageously priced. I wouldnt hesitate to order from them again.
sanyofreak
Active Member
Redemption ?
Here are a few low res pics as an attempt for redemption.
The boxes are 3/4 MDF all around. I routered my best guess at depth for the recesses and they turned out pretty flush.
The final internal volume is 1.44 cu.ft. The 3 inch dia rear ports are tuned to 38Hz. The woofers are in parallel. The x-overs as said, are simple 6 dB/oct.
I gave them a quick wrap in a roll of wal-mart contact paper so I could see what sort of finish their performance would deserve. So far, hooked up to my 74-5 Vintage Sanyo DCX-8000K and to contrast, my only BPC HT unit, an HK AVR110 from about 2000. Both of these units rate at about 50 Wpc. These speakers shine on either unit for me. Overall, they may be the finest sounding pair I've ever built over about 30+ years of dabbling. I've yet to hear them on either one of my PP EL-84 amps, I suspect they'll be great, but might be a bit short on SPL's if I wanted loud rock - but the little glass wonders can crank surprisingly in some cases, and still sound clean. These speakers sound really clean. I am so far very pleased, they deserve real wood veneeer covering, but the cost will exceed the investment You see so far (about $130). Ther ya go !
I would'nt doubt however, You'll be happier with Yours,---wow !
Here are a few low res pics as an attempt for redemption.
The boxes are 3/4 MDF all around. I routered my best guess at depth for the recesses and they turned out pretty flush.
The final internal volume is 1.44 cu.ft. The 3 inch dia rear ports are tuned to 38Hz. The woofers are in parallel. The x-overs as said, are simple 6 dB/oct.
I gave them a quick wrap in a roll of wal-mart contact paper so I could see what sort of finish their performance would deserve. So far, hooked up to my 74-5 Vintage Sanyo DCX-8000K and to contrast, my only BPC HT unit, an HK AVR110 from about 2000. Both of these units rate at about 50 Wpc. These speakers shine on either unit for me. Overall, they may be the finest sounding pair I've ever built over about 30+ years of dabbling. I've yet to hear them on either one of my PP EL-84 amps, I suspect they'll be great, but might be a bit short on SPL's if I wanted loud rock - but the little glass wonders can crank surprisingly in some cases, and still sound clean. These speakers sound really clean. I am so far very pleased, they deserve real wood veneeer covering, but the cost will exceed the investment You see so far (about $130). Ther ya go !
I would'nt doubt however, You'll be happier with Yours,---wow !
