What do you reckon to these?

[realysm42]

Bit pie in the sky right now, but I'd love to make my own speakers, what do you reckon to these:

http://www.selahaudio.com/id237.html

[The Grand Wazoo]

I reckon that at 55lb apiece they'll cost a bleedin' fortune to get here from the States!

[YNWaN]

Nice drive units

[sq225917]

How do they manage to sell $3000 dollars worth of drivers in a speaker for $3,295?

[realysm42]

No idea; does that make it a bargain or a bit fishy?

[sq225917]

Looking at the website, they seem legit, they really exist and have shown at shows. They are the bargain of the century on parts cost as the Accutons are all $300+ each and the Raals similarly typically $800+ each.

[Stratmangler]

Sensitivity looks to be low - you'll need a lot of current to drive them properly.

[Welder]

The sealed enclosure version could be interesting. I would be interested in knowing the roll off at the frequency extreems and the polar response.
Not been convinced yet that air farting through a plastic port makes good bass.

Buy these instead.:)

http://www.wilmslow-audio.co.uk/prestige---platinum-940-p.asp

[realysm42]

That's a rather insane looking speaker John, I don't think I've got room in my flat for it lol!

[Macca]

I heard an earlier version of the Prestige at WA back in about 1991 (when they were still in Wilmslow) and I've wanted some ever since.

[Welder]

My audio engineer mate has a pair, although they were originally the Gold version which he upgraded.

You need to do a bit with the cabinet (laminated ply if you can) and rebuild the crossover getting rid of the circuit board.
In a word; stunning.:eek:

[realysm42]

Why would you want to do that to the crossover?

In the review on the web page, the dude mentions the "passive Transformer volume control " and says "you'll never know how good they are". What does he mean?

[northwest]

How do they manage to sell $3000 dollars worth of drivers in a speaker for $3,295?

Because they are paying "trade" for the drivers, we are paying "retail" for them. Doesn't really take much thinking about.

[Welder]

Why would you want to do that to the crossover?


There are a number of reasons.
A lot of crossover boards aren't prticularly well made; cheap board with thin traces.
Most circuit boards are designed with space considerations and often if you change componants you cant get them to fit.
He did his because he wanted the crossover outside the enclosure for easy access for fine tuning and to fit his own hand wound chokes.
I did mine because when I upgraded the crossover the bits wouldn't fit. ;) and I also wanted easy access for tuning.

[sq225917]

Because they are paying "trade" for the drivers, we are paying "retail" for them. Doesn't really take much thinking about.

Well it takes a little bit more thinking about than you managed. Let's be generous and say he gets 40% off, which he most certainly doesn't get on Raal drivers.

So that leaves him $1600 for the R&D, cabinets, crossovers, assembly, and running his business. That's much less than is typical, his gross margin can't be any more than 25% which is pitiful. 100% would be closer to typical figure for any manufacturing business. So I still wonder how they do it for the money.

[daytona600]

Bit pie in the sky right now, but I'd love to make my own speakers, what do you reckon to these:

http://www.selahaudio.com/id237.html



nice speakers kits fom the usa
www.gr-research.com super-v $ 2450
99db effciency coaxial mid/hf with 2x12inch active bass open baffle

www.parts-express.com cbt36k $ 2000
line array with 90drivers

both look great value

[daytona600]

6963
nice speakers kits fom the usa
www.gr-research.com super-v $ 2450
99db effciency coaxial mid/hf with 2x12inch active bass open baffle

www.parts-express.com cbt36k $ 2000
line array with 90drivers

both look great value

[realysm42]

I wish they did kits like that over here. The one John pointed out is nice, but I really need to stick to bookshelves for now...

[Welder]

http://www.iplacoustics.co.uk/IPL%20HI%20FI%20&AV.htm

These people make good kits and if you speak to them they can advise you on the various alternatives to for particular model.

When I saw the price range you were considering in your OP I naturally thought of my first choice.

[northwest]

Well it takes a little bit more thinking about than you managed.

Very astute of you - in fact I didn't think about it at all. It is his business, not mine and somehow he is happy with his own math so, I have other stuff to think about.
Not trying to be clever but I have neither need nor desire to disassemble every or any manufacturers costing - If I want it, have the cash and it fits into my house I buy it. But nowadays I don't really need much so I consequently don't buy much.
The only caveat is that if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. 40% is nowhere near a wholesale/retail margin. 60% is closer.

[realysm42]

Cheers John, I might have a word with them.

I've just got a quote back from them, I think delivery is $2450 lol; I've emailed back to confirm if this is the case!

[realysm42]

Apparently, it's for the kit and shipping, which is excellent in that case!

Doesn't include cabinet materials though. Anyone hazard how much they could come to please?

[daytona600]

about the same price as a set of usher mini dancers two
mate just got a pair superb looking & sounding bit of kit

[realysm42]

They are very pretty speakers, did he get them brand new?

I've heard nothing but good things about Ushers.

[Welder]

I’m going to give you some advice which you are liberty to completely ignore………..don’t do this, unless of course you have cabinet making woodwork skills.

There are two hard bits to speaker building, sorting the crossover out and building decent enclosures.
Looking at the pictures, you’ll need to steam and clamp ply sheets to get the curves and then you’ll want them to look nice so you’ll want to veneer them. Without seeing the cab drawings it’s almost impossible to say how difficult they’ll be to build, or how much the materials will cost.
If you’ve never built a speaker before then at least stick to something rectangular for your first attempt.

[YNWaN]

Actually, I've just done some ply lamination and over a much more complex curved surface; we used multiply layers of 2mm ply and didn't need to soak, or steam, it. However, I would certainly agree that such cabinets are not for the inexperienced, or half hearted.

[Welder]

Why did I just know some one would pipe up with actually I’ve just done, etc etc.:rolleyes::D


Yes, you can laminate thin sheets. To do it properly you really need a press. This may not seem such a good idea if any moisture Gains access. Yes you can force a large radius and if you’re lucky, screws and glue may hold it. However, if you veneer then even the tiniest movement in the ply may crack the veneer, normally at the joints and all that work goes to shite.

Seriously Martin, you could spend a lot of money and end up with something that not only look s rough but doesn’t sound very good. After all, you have no idea what these speakers sound like and there are an awful lot of seemingly well specified and nice looking speakers out there that sound awful.

[YNWaN]

Why did I just know some one would pipe up with actually I’ve just done, etc etc.:rolleyes::D

Perhaps you have the gift of second sight, or perhaps you knew your weren't entirely correct :rolleyes:.

In the past, I've also built curved cabinet walls using a quite different method :ner:.

[Welder]

Perhaps you have the gift of second sight, or perhaps you knew your weren't entirely correct :rolleyes:.

In the past, I've also built curved cabinet walls using a quite different method :ner:.

Yes Mark, so have I but is it really relevant to Martins possibly prospective speakers?

[WAD62]

The sealed enclosure version could be interesting. I would be interested in knowing the roll off at the frequency extreems and the polar response.
Not been convinced yet that air farting through a plastic port makes good bass.

Buy these instead.:)

http://www.wilmslow-audio.co.uk/prestige---platinum-940-p.asp

Hi John, how's it going?...

With regard to wilmslow audio the chaps there are excellent, John and Terry if my memory serves me well...really helped me out last year with some assistance on my old mission 753's...but those speakers will need to sound special, they're not the prettiest!!!

I've been a bit drawn towards the IPL TL's myself, has anyone any experience of these chaps...

http://www.iplacoustics.co.uk/S5tl%20Kevlar%202.htm

[daytona600]

They are very pretty speakers, did he get them brand new?

I've heard nothing but good things about Ushers.

yes new only time his wife has allowed his hifi in the living room
she liked my Be10s in walnut but wanted smaller versions
usher have great Vfm & Waf

[realysm42]

Cheers for the advice John; Im just toying with ideas and I think you're right, I've no experience of cabinet building so might hold fire for a while.

[bobbasrah]

I've been a bit drawn towards the IPL TL's myself, has anyone any experience of these chaps...

http://www.iplacoustics.co.uk/S5tl%20Kevlar%202.htm

Built the S4TL Kevlar if I can be of any help Will....
They were recommended by Ivan for a 16 by 12 room over the 5s I originally targeted ...

[WAD62]

Built the S4TL Kevlar if I can be of any help Will....
They were recommended by Ivan for a 16 by 12 room over the 5s I originally targeted ...

Hi Bob, I think we had a bit of a chat on the subject last year, if my memory serves me well...but didn't have the dosh at the time, so never got round to it.

My living room's 27' by 14', so Ivan recommended the S5TL kevlar ribbons, and I'm looking for a 'bigger' sound so the larger ones appeal...FYI my current ones are upgraded mission 753s.

How do you like the TL sound, I've not heard any myself?

Did you buy the 'total kit'? And how much technical skill would you say it requires? I do have a mate who's a skilled chippy with tools, so I would have the help of a grown up...;)

[bobbasrah]

I'll PM you on this Will to leave the thread to run....