How good can D.I.Y speakers really get? - Enter Mr Al Newall

[twogoodears]

Owning an embarassing plethora of DIY amps, me and my audio pals sort-of invented a code, nothing special, it's a joke, but... we call our projects with friend name who made or tuned, who gave the haviest foot, better "finger" print to circuit or aesthetic... i.e. - Gianni's transformers-coupled WE300B are leaner than Franz's Partridges/WE300B... Eugenio's RE-604... nice.. well, you got the idea.
After this little, cheap, humble, revolutionary "naming", we sort-of gave a new dignity to these painstakingly assembled, tuned and lovingly listened and cherished handicrafts.
As we're all aware, humanity and culture are greatly word-sensitive, and "no-name" is blamed per-se. Try to call your partner: (using a gruntly voice) "hey, woman!"...
DIY, seems sub-culture, but it's a little better, as it defines an area, at least... but a "Franz's WE300B" sounds (it indeed do!!!) much, MUCH better and makes a world of difference, don't you?

[muffinman]

Any piccies of these speakers?
i'm looking for a low cost project to get my juices flowing over the next few months

[Marco]

Gareth,

If you do a search for 'Chesterfest' or 'Owston' and look for the big-ish white, flat, OBs in any of the pics, those are Al's. Otherwise when he gets to this thread he might be able to post some separate pictures

Marco.

[Beechwoods]

IMHO DIY is the way to go. If you can live without the glitzy name tag and the pat on the back from like minded brand hungry forum goers, you can save yourself a bundle and have a fantastic system to boot!

I think this should be added to the 'Ethos' post I would always rather have a well made DIY component than spend a wad trying to achieve the same performance with no effort. And that goes as much for DIY equipment bought second hand as stuff I'd made myself (of which I have very little right now, but hope to improve upon soon )

[muffinman]

big-ish

I think i'll use that when my wife asks what they'll look like

[SPS]

Hi Steve... so we share same name
I'm jealous about your PX25's... the best sound I ever listened - cost no object - was coming from a Axiom 80's baffles-pair fed by single 71A based amps... also love RE-604 and AD-1's DIY amps using 70's Partridges irons and paper-in-oil caps... In my system: too bad I find single WE300B/Partridges amps and autoformers x-overs MUCH better than (better on paper) multiamping, these days... and 10Y, 71A, AD-1 and 45 or 350's have finesse BUT not guts enough for my actual system... too bad.
I tried yesterday evening a couple disks using a DIY amp using 71A and, airy and poetic sound, it lacked the authority and cojones of 300B...
A friend recently improved his 211 single transformers-coupled amps using WE212... i.e. - 211 guts and filament using the same material of WE300B... AMAZING blend of good qualities... for BIG bucks price-tag.
... but Koji at EIFL-Japan still have plenty of these super-triodes... 'til they last.

Stefano,
I'm into british valves, px4, px25 and the 2p are my most used output valves..
mainly because i dont need many watts.. a couple is enough.. i have quite a lot of valves.. but there's some i haven't tried.. mostly US types,
i have a nice old pair of 4300a's, they sound very well, i do need to make an amp for them soon

steve

[SPS]

open baffles.. well i thought a picture of mine might be approprate at this point.. they are quite big but dont look too out of place
the size is the issue with most baffles

I would not get them past every wife i've had...

[twogoodears]

i have a nice old pair of 4300a's, they sound very well, i do need to make an amp for them soon

... but, if failing (something I'm not wishing, indeed...) on this, I nonetheless kindly ask you to drop me a line... my offer pronto won't be late...

Mo' seriously... nice collection.

[Marco]

I would not get them past every wife i've had...

How many wifes have you had, you sex God?

Marco.

[Beechwoods]

I'm not sure if they're all his own... come on, 'fess up, Steve