michiganpat
Super Member
Ray, didn't you make some transmission line type speakers out of those ND-90's and some PVC? if cabinet building is too tough, that might be another option...anyone can glue PVC together! 
Single driver speakers
- Thread starter kinsale
- Start date
charles 1973
Super Member
If you build your own, you might consider pioneer 6 x 9 car speakers. I heard some of these in a 68 mustang with a fosgate amp and they sounded great...from 1/2 a block away and in the car.
StevenZ
Texas or nothin'
You might also check out Hawthorne Audio's Silver Iris line of full range open baffle drivers. He sells flat packs for a reasonable price and his speakers sound pretty darn nice considering their price. There's also Audio Nirvana and Wild Burro Audio Labs. Both of latter sell them in pairs and are very inexpensive considering what you get in return. I personally am working on a pair of Mark Audio Alpair 10.2 Super Pensil's right now as well as a couple baffles for some 15" Hawthorne Silver Iris'. The build logs will be posted here as well as well as a couple other forums once they've begun.
Ray, didn't you make some transmission line type speakers out of those ND-90's and some PVC? if cabinet building is too tough, that might be another option...anyone can glue PVC together!
The PVC speakers used Tang Band W3-871s which are no longer available. I still have some of the PVC parts and I've thought about using it with the ND-90's, just haven't done it...yet. And I never glued them.
guitarjunkie
Active Member
Open Baffle project or something else?
mhardy6647
Lunatic Member
The archetypal diy OB for 'audiophiles' is from JE Labs (Joseph Esmilla).
Ask AKer Markus about these
http://members.myactv.net/~je2a3/open.htm
Ask AKer Markus about these
http://members.myactv.net/~je2a3/open.htm
stereofanboy
Addicted Member
My take on the original post is that you want to buy something that is plug and play and cheap, rather than build something yourself. There are a lot of choices in vintage single driver speakers, and they are cheap. Most of the inexpensive compact stereo systems in the '70s came with single driver speakers. They won't have any highs or lows, but many of them can image pretty well, and help you to decide whether to pursue the single driver thing any further.
If you want something a step up from Soundesign and the like, Realistic had the already mentioined Solo 103s and the larger Solo 1s. DLK had it's model 1/4. I'm sure there are plenty of others, but I've had each of the above and they did the have a spooky coherency once you got over the lack of high highs and low lows.
If you do decide to build your own cabinets, there are plenty of dual cone car speakers available cheap.
If you want something a step up from Soundesign and the like, Realistic had the already mentioined Solo 103s and the larger Solo 1s. DLK had it's model 1/4. I'm sure there are plenty of others, but I've had each of the above and they did the have a spooky coherency once you got over the lack of high highs and low lows.
If you do decide to build your own cabinets, there are plenty of dual cone car speakers available cheap.
Thanks for all the replies and useful links guys. Really helpful. I am looking for plug and play right now. WAF plays a big factor too. I still don't understand how you can pick up a decent set of 2 ways for a few hundred bucks but these more simple single drivers cost so much.
The parts express cabinets are 2 way correct? How would I cover the second hole in baffle to use a single driver?
The parts express cabinets are 2 way correct? How would I cover the second hole in baffle to use a single driver?
michiganpat
Super Member
the PE cabs have no holes, you need to cut them yourself
it's very hard to build a true "full range" speaker that can play relatively flat from say, 50hz to 20khz. coaxial speakers are 2 way speakers with the tweeter centered in the woofer, so they are really not much less complex than some of the simpler 2 ways (i.e. EPI100, AR17/18, where the woofer runs full range and the tweeter only has a single cap for a crossover)
it's very hard to build a true "full range" speaker that can play relatively flat from say, 50hz to 20khz. coaxial speakers are 2 way speakers with the tweeter centered in the woofer, so they are really not much less complex than some of the simpler 2 ways (i.e. EPI100, AR17/18, where the woofer runs full range and the tweeter only has a single cap for a crossover)
never mind I didn't notice that the baffle is not pre cut.
audiozaz
rtfm!? - tl;dr
Newark had these one sale 4$ each. Look what happened to one guy who ordered a bunch:
Hope the guys that pack yours do a better job!
az
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mjennens
Old Guys Rule!!!
What size room are these for and what type of music will you be playing through them? That info can help with suggestions. Going the plug-n-play route with a good WAF is easy and there are plenty of single range drivers that sound good that won't cost much.
Mike
BadassBob
Digitally rendered
Tekton Design makes some nice affordable single driver speakers. As a matter of fact, I currently own the 8.1s, but needed a change, so I saved the drivers and built some Bob Brines FB-20 cabs. Eric Alexander of Tekton is very good to work with, and he will tailor any of his models to your needs, within reason of course.
No, I'm gonna build them into a media cabinet in my den. I'll remove the doors and make triple-thick foamcore baffles and if it sounds good my wife will cover the baffles with a suitable fabric. The loading will be a leaky infinite baffle.
Give them a test listen first, Tom. I don't want to besmirch the name of Quam or those speakers in particular as I've never heard them but I used to work for an outfit selling speakers to Quam and they were pretty generic commercial audio drivers. They had a very pronounced peak in the midrange for paging purposes and not much extension on either end. Yours may be something different, like I said I haven't heard them. But I'd take a test drive before building anything substantial.
These are for a small bedroom system. Hence the need for WAF. Vinyl front end. Amp is an old Arcam Alpha. I currently run B&W Prism speakers. The B&W give decent Bass response and I don' want to give that up. Is a 3" driver too small? The ALO Panda speakers look nice but they're much smaller compared to my B&W prisms. Will I miss the bass?
I cant run the speakers very loud and am looking for more of the imaging and holographic sound of a single driver.
mjennens
Old Guys Rule!!!
Some 3 inch drivers can do OK with bass, but you can also make a small sub that can be kind of hidden. Subs can be made to look like a plant stand or something of the sort too. If you check out the Parts Express forum, look for member Wolf and look at some of his designs. He's very knowledgeable and very creative. This is a very do-able project your looking to do.
Mike
mhardy6647
Lunatic Member
for the OP's benefit - just noticed this thread:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=363764
Keep your eyes peeled; chance favors the prepared mind.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=363764
Keep your eyes peeled; chance favors the prepared mind.
These are beautiful and inexpensive. I have run them almost continually for the last six months - and except for a brief period when I just *fell out of love,* they have been my main speaker.
WAF will be very high.
http://aloaudio.com/images/thumbnails/0/250/JB3b.jpg
s.
edit - Yes, you give up some, but not all, bass. Careful placement can do a lot.