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Upgrading Speaker Cabinets er.. speakers

#1
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3/31/08 at 6:55pm
  • Joined: January 2008
  • Post Count: 51
I was thinking about making a pair of custom speakers for my 5.1 setup. I have a couple of cabinets I can use that I got from the local Goodwill. The speakers are pure crap but I was wondering if replacing them with speakers that are better and match my current system would be a worthwhile thing to do.

I am planning on using them as "speaker b" or as my rear surrounds if suitable.

Right now I'm using the small stock speakers that came with my Onkyo receiver and I use stereo monitors(for recording) for my main left and right from time to time(which sound awesome to me since I'm able to sit close enough to them).

The cabinets I'm asking about are Realistic by Radio Shack(2ftx1ft approx). They look fairly old and hold a tweeter and a midrange speaker(I guess that's what it's called). The cabinets don't have portholes and I'm not sure if I need them or not for this application.

I just want to upgrade the speakers and be able to use them in my setup. Any recommendations, advice, information is greatly appreciated. Is this even worth doing?

Thanks a lot!
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#2
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4/1/08 at 5:57am
  • Joined: August 2000
  • Location: Southaven, MS
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Re: Upgrading Speaker Cabinets er.. speakers

Just buying new drivers is not the correct way to build a custom speaker. It will be a crap shoot as to whether or not it sounds good. The crossover is the heart of a good speaker design and it should be tailored to fit the drivers. Changing drivers without changing the crossover will give you worse sound quality almost every time. Not to mention you may blow up your new speakers.

The proper way to build a speaker is to select a mid-bass and tweeter that work well together based on their frequency response. Test that response in your existing cabinet. Based on the response, use a program like LSP Cad to design a crossover. Build the crossover and listen to the speaker. Tweak as necessary. This will require about software and harward for your PC with will run at least $500. From what I've read, the learning curve is steep so you will need to dedicate a few months of practice with it before starting your actual build.

The easier way is to post the exact size of the Rat Shack boxes. Internal diminsions are preferred. Outside will work as long as you tell us the thickness of the wood used to build the box. This will give us the gross volume of the box and we can start to look at mid-basses then. What size is the mid-bass cut-out? What size is the tweeter cut-out? Do you have tools to enlarge the cut-out if necessary? What is your budget for this project?

With the answers above, I'm going to try and find an existing design that will work in those cabinets. No need to buy expensive hardware and software. No need to learn to use a skill that you may only need once. With these designs, someone has done this for you.

-Robert
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#3
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4/1/08 at 7:59am
  • Joined: January 2008
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Re: Upgrading Speaker Cabinets er.. speakers

Yea, I want to change everything that I'd need to. I will get back to you with the driver sizes(I'm at work). I'd prefer not to enlarge the holes if possible but I know someone who can help me if it's necessary.
I was thinking that maybe I could get a complete "kit" or something with everything already matched?
Thanks for the reply.
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#4
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4/1/08 at 10:37am
  • Joined: August 2000
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Re: Upgrading Speaker Cabinets er.. speakers

Quote:
Originally Posted by FranklinD
I was thinking that maybe I could get a complete "kit" or something with everything already matched?
There are a few kits available but it will more than likely be a design. I'll help you source the parts. Most will come from a handful of companies like Parts Express, Madisound, etc. An example of a design is here. GR Research has a page of kits here.

-Robert
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#5
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4/1/08 at 4:43pm
  • Joined: January 2008
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Re: Upgrading Speaker Cabinets er.. speakers

Thanks for the sites.
The mid bass is 8 1/2"(the hole is 7 1/4") and the tweeter is 2 1/2"(the hole is 2 1/4"). From the outside the cabs are
10 7/8"W x 17 3/4"H x 7 1/2"D and the wood(particle board) thickness is 1/2". The front is inset into the cab 1/2". The cab contains a couple pieces of fiberglass and there is a 50v2.2uF bipolar capacitor or something connected on the positive terminals. Is this supposed to be the crossover or something? In between the terminals there is a place to plug in, what looks like, a composite cable. And that's all there is to these..

I'm looking for 8ohm drivers with a 100 watt total. I'm a little confused about crossovers in general and what exactly I need to do. I need to read more about this.
I don't want to spend a whole lot on this at all. I'm just expecting a usable decent quality. What do you think?
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#6
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4/1/08 at 7:20pm
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Re: Upgrading Speaker Cabinets er.. speakers

The single capacitor is the absolute minimum (and cheapest) way to build a crossover. I didn't check exact sizes since I don't have the time right now, but this design may work out - link.

-Robert
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#7
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4/2/08 at 1:54pm
  • Joined: January 2008
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Re: Upgrading Speaker Cabinets er.. speakers

Thanks again. I'll research this a bit more and let you know what I come up with if you want. I too am a little squeezed for time at the moment.

Now I'm fantasizing about building a complete set for my system heh...
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#8
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4/2/08 at 3:38pm
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Re: Upgrading Speaker Cabinets er.. speakers

Speaker building is a great hobby. I've been doing it off and on since 1986.

-Robert
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#9
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4/3/08 at 7:20am
  • Joined: April 2004
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Re: Upgrading Speaker Cabinets er.. speakers

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert_J
Speaker building is a great hobby. I've been doing it off and on since 1986.

-Robert

digital speakers?

--ignore the man behind the curtain

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