The Home Audio Thread.

[mattsk8]

37 minutes ago, ruecatinat said:

I would like to look into some high sensitivity stuff for lower volume listening - what has worked for you / what have you enjoyed in the past?

Previously my goal was to have clean sound at loud volume but now I'm curious about the other end.

Something like this is what he was referring to... Fostex BK-12m Folded Horn

Here are the issues with those^^...

A. It's a 4" woofer, so you won't get any volume out of it, as soon as you turn it up at all the woofer will pop.

B. Even though it looks impressive because it's different, the f3 (f3 is where bass starts to roll off) is fairly high at 65 Hz, so they really don't play much bass (hoffman's iron law, plus it's a 4" woofer).

C. That kit is $330. For less than $330 there are DIY speaker kits that will easily rival that in terms of bass extension and output, and be WAY easier to build. Something like this for example... Overnight Sensations MTM... or this if you want more output, but I'm about to revise this one with a different tweeter and it'll actually be a little cheaper, and sound better... Blues MTM

And technically speaking, that Fostex kit isn't "high sensitivity", it's 93 db sensitive. I'm not sure where the line for "high sensitivity" gets drawn, but I'd say somewhere at 95 db+.

[ruecatinat]

4 minutes ago, mattsk8 said:

Something like this is what he was referring to... Fostex BK-12m Folded Horn

Here are the issues with those^^...

A. It's a 4" woofer, so you won't get any volume out of it, as soon as you turn it up at all the woofer will pop.

B. Even though it looks impressive because it's different, the f3 (f3 is where bass starts to roll off) is fairly high at 65 Hz, so they really don't play much bass (hoffman's iron law, plus it's a 4" woofer).

C. That kit is $330. For less than $330 there are DIY speaker kits that will easily rival that in terms of bass extension and output, and be WAY easier to build. Something like this for example... Overnight Sensations MTM... or this if you want more output, but I'm about to revise this one with a different tweeter and it'll actually be a little cheaper, and sound better... Blues MTM

And technically speaking, that Fostex kit isn't "high sensitivity", it's 93 db sensitive. I'm not sure where the line for "high sensitivity" gets drawn, but I'd say somewhere at 95 db+.

Those both are described as home theater and require assembly...any existing brand, a model range I could casually browse for on the used ads?

I'm not at a place with a workshop right now and my woodworking skills are haphazard at best

Just want something to enjoy with any one of my amps (the Rotel, my vintage Pioneers) at conversation volume

[Dick Dastardly]

8 minutes ago, mattsk8 said:

Something like this is what he was referring to... Fostex BK-12m Folded Horn

Here are the issues with those^^...

A. It's a 4" woofer, so you won't get any volume out of it, as soon as you turn it up at all the woofer will pop.

B. Even though it looks impressive because it's different, the f3 (f3 is where bass starts to roll off) is fairly high at 65 Hz, so they really don't play much bass (hoffman's iron law, plus it's a 4" woofer).

C. That kit is $330. For less than $330 there are DIY speaker kits that will easily rival that in terms of bass extension and output, and be WAY easier to build. Something like this for example... Overnight Sensations MTM... or this if you want more output, but I'm about to revise this one with a different tweeter and it'll actually be a little cheaper, and sound better... Blues MTM

And technically speaking, that Fostex kit isn't "high sensitivity", it's 93 db sensitive. I'm not sure where the line for "high sensitivity" gets drawn, but I'd say somewhere at 95 db+.

Matt everything I was complaining about was in reference to audio reviewers and the bullshit they spew about $ amounts. The capacitance argument had nothing to do with you it was another reference to audio guys arguing about it.. Not just capacitance but values, styles and brands of capacitors.

You look way too much into this and take it personally. 

Also, as far as low watt high sensitivity is concerned:

95db is a good cutoff point.

the fostex driver can be used to build a higher sensitivity speaker. 

I don't need high volume nor do I desire accuracy (whatever that really is since people perceive sound differently) I like the sound of a tube amp and a single driver. Do I like it for metal? No of course not. But it's fun to listen to and play around with. Is it accurate? No.

Is it colored? yep and I'm okay with that. 

There are speakers for many purposes no one will ever be perfect.. 

 

 

I have JBL "L" series old school monitors for loud rock/ metal but I never use them. They sit in boxes in the attic.

Small Monitors have their place but I get tired of them after a while.

i have some old PSB Alphas I paid $9 for that sound surprisingly good in my garage with an old Scott amp. 

 

[ruecatinat]

7 minutes ago, Dick Dastardly said:

Matt everything I was complaining about was in reference to audio reviewers and the I'm dumb they spew about $ amounts. The capacitance argument had nothing to do with you it was another reference to audio guys arguing about it.. Not just capacitance but values, styles and brands of capacitors.

You look way too much into this and take it personally. 

Also, as far as low watt high sensitivity is concerned:

95db is a good cutoff point.

the fostex driver can be used to build a higher sensitivity speaker. 

I don't need high volume nor do I desire accuracy (whatever that really is since people perceive sound differently) I like the sound of a tube amp and a single driver. Do I like it for metal? No of course not. But it's fun to listen to and play around with. Is it accurate? No.

Is it colored? yep and I'm okay with that. 

There are speakers for many purposes no one will ever be perfect.. 

I have JBL "L" series old school monitors for loud rock/ metal but I never use them. They sit in boxes in the attic.

Small Monitors have their place but I get tired of them after a while.

i have some old PSB Alphas I paid $9 for that sound surprisingly good in my garage with an old Scott amp. 

 

I would like to try a single driver or smaller, efficient 2-way with my old 20wpc Pioneer "Sound Project"

I have a massive Pioneer quad amp with 1980's Cerwin Vegas for metal / loud noise

I have to read / look more into tube amps for sure...

I love my bookshelfs but I find they're best at moderate volume and I'd like something for lower volume listening

[mattsk8]

22 minutes ago, ruecatinat said:

Those both are described as home theater and require assembly...any existing brand, a model range I could casually browse for on the used ads?

I'm not at a place with a workshop right now and my woodworking skills are haphazard at best

Just want something to enjoy with any one of my amps (the Rotel, my vintage Pioneers) at conversation volume

Technically there is no "home theater" speaker, they all do the same thing. These are listed as "computer speakers", but these will do exactly what you're looking for. You don't need anything, you could just plug your iPod or whatever into them and use that as your source... Klipsch ProMedia 2.1. I have those for my computer speakers and they really do sound good.

[mattsk8]

45 minutes ago, Dick Dastardly said:

Matt everything I was complaining about was in reference to audio reviewers and the bullshit they spew about $ amounts. The capacitance argument had nothing to do with you it was another reference to audio guys arguing about it.. Not just capacitance but values, styles and brands of capacitors.

You look way too much into this and take it personally. 

Also, as far as low watt high sensitivity is concerned:

95db is a good cutoff point.

the fostex driver can be used to build a higher sensitivity speaker. 

I don't need high volume nor do I desire accuracy (whatever that really is since people perceive sound differently) I like the sound of a tube amp and a single driver. Do I like it for metal? No of course not. But it's fun to listen to and play around with. Is it accurate? No.

Is it colored? yep and I'm okay with that. 

There are speakers for many purposes no one will ever be perfect.. 

 

 

I have JBL "L" series old school monitors for loud rock/ metal but I never use them. They sit in boxes in the attic.

Small Monitors have their place but I get tired of them after a while.

i have some old PSB Alphas I paid $9 for that sound surprisingly good in my garage with an old Scott amp. 

 

First off, I honestly think that you and I would get along if we met... as long as we didn't kill each other because we're both obviously obstinate pricks. That said... undo any preconceived notions, I love music and I love stereos... period. Believe me, I've had arguments with the "audiophile" goons over stupid stuff like me saying that I loved the sound of these huge Tannoy speakers....

Was nothing but... "Those aren't accurate... the frequency response is blah blah blah". Who cares? They sound amazing. So I definitely get it. FTR, those Tannoys are high sensitivity speakers at 96 db.

PSB makes incredible speakers. I've met the designer, Paul Barton a couple times.

34 minutes ago, ruecatinat said:

I would like to try a single driver or smaller, efficient 2-way with my old 20wpc Pioneer "Sound Project"

I have a massive Pioneer quad amp with 1980's Cerwin Vegas for metal / loud noise

I have to read / look more into tube amps for sure...

I love my bookshelfs but I find they're best at moderate volume and I'd like something for lower volume listening

Tube amps are expensive. I have a friend who builds lower powered tube amps (like 15w/ch) that sound insanely good, but they're still spendy. I can get more info if you want, but you'll need to know how to solder, plus I'm not sure what he uses for the amplifier's chassis.

Edited May 3, 2016 by mattsk8

[ruecatinat]

18 minutes ago, mattsk8 said:

First off, I honestly think that you and I would get along if we met... as long as we didn't kill each other because we're both obviously obstinate pricks. That said... undo any preconceived notions, I love music and I love stereos... period. Believe me, I've had arguments with the "audiophile" goons over stupid stuff like me saying that I loved the sound of these huge Tannoy speakers....

Was nothing but... "Those aren't accurate... the frequency response is blah blah blah". Who cares? They sound amazing. So I definitely get it. FTR, those Tannoys are high sensitivity speakers at 96 db.

PSB makes incredible speakers. I've met the designer, Paul Barton a couple times.

Tube amps are expensive. I have a friend who builds lower powered tube amps (like 15w/ch) that sound insanely good, but they're still spendy. I can get more info if you want, but you'll need to know how to solder, plus I'm not sure what he uses for the amplifier's chassis.

I've been keeping my eyes peeled for a decently priced PSB or Tannoy actually...I have a relative with System 600s and it's quite an interesting design, with the concentric driver and everything.

Building a tube amp is probably a future thing but right now I have no workshop / space.

Looking to either throw a more sensitive pair of speakers on the Rotel or my vintage Pioneer - I hate letting that amp sit as it was the first one my grandfather bought for our cottage and I love the light up dial and old school feel

[mattsk8]

5 minutes ago, ruecatinat said:

I've been keeping my eyes peeled for a decently priced PSB or Tannoy actually...I have a relative with System 600s and it's quite an interesting design, with the concentric driver and everything.

Building a tube amp is probably a future thing but right now I have no workshop / space.

Looking to either throw a more sensitive pair of speakers on the Rotel or my vintage Pioneer - I hate letting that amp sit as it was the first one my grandfather bought for our cottage and I love the light up dial and old school feel

You should really look for a place near you that sells those Elac 3 ways and go listen to them, tons of bang for buck. Those also have a concentric mid/tweeter.

Out of curiosity... why are you looking for high sensitivity? That Pioneer has plenty of power for the average speaker.

[Dick Dastardly]

I can solder.. I've built and repaired tube amps (guitar, pa and audio) effects pedals, guitar repairs, I'm no stranger to soldering

[Dick Dastardly]

I want to get into SET tube amps.. 3-4 using watt 300B tubes. 

Build it myself. 

[mattsk8]

15 minutes ago, Dick Dastardly said:

I can solder.. I've built and repaired tube amps (guitar, pa and audio) effects pedals, guitar repairs, I'm no stranger to soldering

I texted that friend of mine and asked for a pic of his DIY tube amps and how much they cost to build, I'll post when he responds.

Referring to higher sensitivity speakers... I finished the crossovers for these last night. The tweeter to mid is a passive xover, and the woofer to mid is active using a DBX Driverack PA+. The tweeter/mid is about 97 db sensitive, and those subs are around 93 db. These things are STUPID LOUD, I had crystal clear clarity at 115 db playing Rodrigo Gabriela's acoustic guitar version of Stairway To Heaven, and wasn't close to max, plenty of room to go louder. It's a JBL compression tweeter inside the horn, with a 12" Eminence midrange, and an aluminum cone 15" Dayton subwoofer. I use my Carver TFM-55 amp to power the subs, and my Adcom 5500 for the tweeter/mid.

After I got the xovers dialed in, I was playing them and got a text from my neighbors asking me to lay off the volume because I was rattling the windows in their house.

[ruecatinat]

42 minutes ago, mattsk8 said:

You should really look for a place near you that sells those Elac 3 ways and go listen to them, tons of bang for buck. Those also have a concentric mid/tweeter.

Out of curiosity... why are you looking for high sensitivity? That Pioneer has plenty of power for the average speaker.

For low volume listening. My current B&Ws are good on the upper scale of the volume but I want something that doesn't need to be pushed loud

They would either go through my low power Pioneer/Sound Project (not the QX-747) or my Rotel 

6 minutes ago, mattsk8 said:

I texted that friend of mine and asked for a pic of his DIY tube amps and how much they cost to build, I'll post when he responds.

Referring to higher sensitivity speakers... I finished the crossovers for these last night. The tweeter to mid is a passive xover, and the woofer to mid is active using a DBX Driverack PA+. The tweeter/mid is about 97 db sensitive, and those subs are around 93 db. These things are STUPID LOUD, I had crystal clear clarity at 115 db playing Rodrigo Gabriela's acoustic guitar version of Stairway To Heaven, and wasn't close to max, plenty of room to go louder. It's a JBL compression tweeter inside the horn, with a 12" Eminence midrange, and an aluminum cone 15" Dayton subwoofer. I use my Carver TFM-55 amp to power the subs, and my Adcom 5500 for the tweeter/mid.

After I got the xovers dialed in, I was playing them and got a text from my neighbors asking me to lay off the volume because I was rattling the windows in their house.

 

Those look like a lot of damn fun - the kind of speaker I'd want in my future basement to shake the walls when nobody is home

[mattsk8]

20 minutes ago, ruecatinat said:

For low volume listening. My current B&Ws are good on the upper scale of the volume but I want something that doesn't need to be pushed loud

They would either go through my low power Pioneer/Sound Project (not the QX-747) or my Rotel 

Those look like a lot of damn fun - the kind of speaker I'd want in my future basement to shake the walls when nobody is home

Wish you could hear those Klipsch speakers I linked here earlier, I think they'd do what you're looking for and they're going to be tough to beat at ~$100 ish new (on eBay). I know you want to use your amps, but those are powered so you wouldn't need to. Just plug the 3.5 jack into your phone or into a BT receiver and you're off and running. Great clarity, and great bass at low volumes. And they're pretty tiny, the subwoofer is the biggest part and that's only 10"w x 10"t x 11"d.

41 minutes ago, Dick Dastardly said:

I want to get into SET tube amps.. 3-4 using watt 300B tubes. 

Build it myself. 

That guy texted me back, he doesn't have a pic with him but will get me one tonight. He said he has about $350 into his 15w/channel tube amp, plus the aluminum top plate and wood case.

[ruecatinat]

1 hour ago, mattsk8 said:

Wish you could hear those Klipsch speakers I linked here earlier, I think they'd do what you're looking for and they're going to be tough to beat at ~$100 ish new (on eBay). I know you want to use your amps, but those are powered so you wouldn't need to. Just plug the 3.5 jack into your phone or into a BT receiver and you're off and running. Great clarity, and great bass at low volumes. And they're pretty tiny, the subwoofer is the biggest part and that's only 10"w x 10"t x 11"d.

That guy texted me back, he doesn't have a pic with him but will get me one tonight. He said he has about $350 into his 15w/channel tube amp, plus the aluminum top plate and wood case.

See that's no fun, I love mixing and matching and testing stuff out...

My girlfriend has a Bose 2.1 set I can use if I need plug and play (http://www.amazon.com/Bose-Companion-multimedia-speaker-Graphite/dp/B000HZBR64)

[Dick Dastardly]

8 hours ago, mattsk8 said:

Wish you could hear those Klipsch speakers I linked here earlier, I think they'd do what you're looking for and they're going to be tough to beat at ~$100 ish new (on eBay). I know you want to use your amps, but those are powered so you wouldn't need to. Just plug the 3.5 jack into your phone or into a BT receiver and you're off and running. Great clarity, and great bass at low volumes. And they're pretty tiny, the subwoofer is the biggest part and that's only 10"w x 10"t x 11"d.

That guy texted me back, he doesn't have a pic with him but will get me one tonight. He said he has about $350 into his 15w/channel tube amp, plus the aluminum top plate and wood case.

That's gotta be an el84/bq6 though based on wattage maybe el34 but that's an odd tube for HiFi audio (Jolida uses them.. But it's typically lauded for its distortion characteristics in guitar amps)

anyway any of those would make it push-pull instead of SET.. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing..

you have a pic?

300b tubes are in the $100s these days.