DIY Loudspeaker Projects

DIY Loudspeaker Projects by Troels Gravesen, Denmark

About this website:

The constructions show here are divided into sections based on the main driver in the system. Some projects are available as pdf files and can be downloaded here.

Please do take a look at "crossovers" before writing. If you have specific questions to my constructions, be sure having read the file thoroughly before writing. Most questions I receive are already answered in the files. I do not have time to guide you through e.g. cabinet construction in detail. There are numerous examples on the web on how to make cabinets; please use google.

Again: Please read this before writing: Crossovers

I case you want advice on what speakers to build, please read "choices". I do not engange in this and shall not recommend any speakers for reasons outlined in the file. And I mean this seriously: DO NOT ask which speaker to build and please DO NOT ask about the sonic differences between two speakers.

If you have questions regarding your speakers, please include links, photos and crossover schematics if available! There are thousands of speakers in this world and I only know a fraction of them. Please write something in "subject line" that clearly describes the issue so I can pick deleted mails having "spam" in subject line, which happens much too often.

Regarding frd and zrd files for speaker simulation: I do not provide these files from my LspCAD library and please do not send your own in case you have them. I do not have time for this. Sorry!

The common habit of anonymity on discussion forums is sad I think. If you cannot sign your statements, don't write them. If you have questions or comments, please state your name and the country you live in. Feel sure I need your response to make this website better. I have a lot of mails and answering takes time and please do not feel neglected if my reply is short.
I also regard any communication between you and me as personal, so do not post my comments or anything on dicussion forums, websites, etc. without my written consent.

contact: troels.gravesen@stofanet.dk

None of constructions, illustrations or information presented here
may be used for commercial purposes without my written consent.
Copyright © Troels Gravesen

Go to on this page:

Recent up-dates

Speakers' Corner

For sale

High Efficiency Speakers

High Efficiency Speakers, general info

Vintage Speakers

Tips, ideas, damping materials, coils, etc.

My stystem, amps CD-player and turntables

Builders' Response index

Sponsor of crossover components

For sale

Pair SEAS CA25FEY, high-efficiency bass drivers, new in box, 1500 DKK/200 EUR.

Brand new Canon Powershot SX1 IS for 267 EUR. 3 months old - hardly used.

Renovated Dali 800/Obbligato caps

Speakers' Corner
- last updated 28 August 2010 -

Recent updates:
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28-08-2010: Tweaking the DTQWT, incl. intro to TQWT-mkII and DTQWT-mkII

16-08-2010: Modifying Audax TW034XO-P47N dome

11-08-2010: QUATTRO, 2-way from JA8008/TW034 IN 40 liter vented standmount

18-07-2010: Large tweeter domes, part I. Chario Sonnet dome, Audax TW034, Ciare MT320, Ciare PT383.

01-06-2010: Test of Chario Academy Sonnet speaker from a diy'ers perspective.

11-05-2010: PRELUDE, 3-way from AudioTechnology 10C77 bass and 15H52 mid + ScanSpeak 9900 tweeter.

24-04-2010: 2½-way floorstander from SEAS CA18RNX + SEAS 27TDC.

24-04-2010: Vintage, German SABA greencones, pics, links and some modelling.

06-04-2010: 2½-way floorstander from Peerless NOMEX 164 (830875) and ScanSpeak D2608/9130.

18-02-2010: Study on stepped baffles with little impact on tweeter performance.

11-01-2010: Siri's Killer Note; how female vocals can make your hair turn grey (- if it wasn't already)

03-01-2010: Some thoughts on amps for TQWT and DTQWT speakers.

26-12-2009: New workshop amplifier: JungSon JA88D-09.
18-12-2009: SP98-09, new crossover and cabinet for ScanSpeak 18W/8531G00 and D2904/9800 tweeter.
05-12-2009: Christmas Month Special: Make your own non-inductive graphite resistors!
01-12-2009: The importance of chamfering driver holes. A small study.
21-11-2009: Calculation of box volume and ports. Can we calculate box volume at all?
05-11-2009: WWDT, world's worst dome tweeter, PHILIPS AD-0160-T8.
01-11-2009: 10C77 Audio Technology sandwich cone bass drivers under test.
01-11-2009: Update, Garrard 401/Thorens TD124 shootout.
29-10-2009: Vintage ScanSpeak. W21-3804-P2A and D3804 drivers.
09-10-2009: Ellam d'Appolito from ScanSpeak 15W8530G00+Vifa XT25TG-30-04.
08-10-2009: AT-SW: 2-way compact BR from AT 18H52 midbass and modified SWANS planar tweeter
19-09-2009: Why it's not so easy to make a small mini into a 3-way. Based on numerous mails.

View updates 2005-2009

Index: Builders' response

02-09-2010: PMS built by Ferran/Spain. View a listening room most of us can only dream about.
28-08-2010: DTQWT builders' response, no pics
05-08-2010: Jazzman, built by Craig, Australia
10-07-2010: Response from builders of Vifa constructions

29-06-2010: SEAS 3-Way Classic, built by Max/Ukraine.
05-06-2010: Ekta, built by Ball/Thailand
17-04-2010: CNO25 built by Daniel.
09-04-2010: New Cyclop cabs by Max/Ukraine and SEAS CA18RLY/22TAF-G floorstander
08-04-2010: SP38 built by Roberto/Italy.
08-04-2010: Jazzman buil by Roman/Ukraine.
19-03-2010: PMS, built by Yaniv, Israel.
16-03-2010: Update on Lennart's big speaker system built around the JA8008 driver.
12-03-2010: PMS, built by Manolis, Greece
11-03-2010: 3W-Classic, built by Björn/Sweden
03-03-2010: Ekta,built by Staffan, Sweden.
03-02-2010: DTQWT built by Mark/Denmark.
27-01-2010: More response to JBL up-grade kit.
25-01-2010: SEAS 3-Way Classic, built by Slawek/Poland.

High-Efficiency speaker constructions:

Click heading or image to go to HES speakers introduction.

DTQWT mkII: 3-way double tapered quarter-wave design, JA8008+TW034/waveguide + 2xEminence Deltalite II 2510

TQWT mkII: 2-way tapered quarter-wave design, JA8008+TW034/waveguide

NEW: QUATTRO, 2-way monitor/standmount from JA8008/TW034wg drivers.
Maybe not exactly high-efficiency (90 dB) but belongs to the family of TQWT/DTQWT and OB9.

2009, OB9, open baffle construction, JA8008/TW034 and Eminence Deltalite II 2515, 15" bass driver

2008, DTQWT experiments, Supravox 215RTF + JBL LE26/waveguide + Goodmans Axiom 150 mkII

2007, OB7 open baffle experiments, Supravox 215RTF + JBL LE26/waveguide + Goodmans Axiom 150 mkII

Amps for TQWT and DTQWT, some general thoughts on suitable amplifiers.

SEAS:

Click heading or image to go to SEAS constructions' overview.

Cyclop, W26FX002+M15CH002+T29CF002

Acapella SEas, W22EX001+W18EX001+T25C003

Acapella NEXT, W22NY001+W18NX001+T29CF001

Acapella LWJ, L21RN4/P+W18EX001+Fountek JP3 (download "Acapella All-Files")

Poor Man's Strad, CA22RNX+MCA15RCY+T27TFFC

Poor Man's Strad-EXCEL, W22EX001+W15CY001+27TFFC

Point75A&B, ScanSpeak 18W/8535+SEAS W15CY001 + Expolinear NDRL81/alt. NEO3PDR

Point75i, SEAS L22RN4X-P + W15CY001 + Expolinear NDRL81

NEW: SEAS CA18RNX, 2½-way floorstander from SEAS CA18RNX + SEAS 27TDC.

CNO-25, 2½-way CNO, 2 x W18NX001+T29CF002

CNO-mkII, W18NX001+T29CF002

CNO-T25, W18NX001+T25C003

MAYA, CA18RNX+T25C003

SEAS TOK (tweeter overkill)CA18RNX+T29CF002

CA18RLY/22TAF-G COMPACT

3W-Classic, CA22RNX+MCA12RC+27TFFC

TJL2W, W18E001 + Fountek JP3

TJL3W, W18E001+W12CY001+HIQUPHON OWI

SEAS W17EX001/SS-8513, W17EX001 discontinued

Scoperta, mini TLs, W15LY001+Peerless HDS

SEAS 5INCH minis, CA15RLY, W15CY001, W15LY001, 22 TAF/G

Eekels' minis, W12CY003+22TAF/G

W15CY001 + Hiquphon OWI

W15CY001 + NeoCD3

T14RCY+SS/8513 or Hiquphon OWI, T14RCY discontinued

W11XT, W11CY001 discontinued

Scan-Speak:

Click heading or image to go to ScanSpeak constructions' overview.

Jensen 1071, - big 3-way from SS 26W/8861T00 + 18W/8531-G00 + D2905/9900.

Mark21, large 3-way speaker from SS 21W/8554+15M/4531-K00+XT25

Jazzman, 3-way floorstander from W22/8857T00 + 15W/8530-K00 + Vifa XT25TG

SP44 (SS/Accuton/Hiquphon), 3-way floorstander from ScanSpeak 18W/8530-G00 + Accuton C44 + Hiquphon OWI

Ekta Grande, 2 x SS 18W/8531-G00 + 12M/4631-00 + R2904/7000 or Vifa XT25TG-30-04.

Ekta, SS 18W/8531-G00 + 12M/4631-00 + R2904/7000 or Vifa XT25TG-30-04.

Zahra, ScanSpeak 2 x 18W/8543-00 + 13M/8636-00 + D2904/9800

SP38/13, SS 18W/8531-G00 + D3806/8200 + D2010/8513

SP95, SS 18W/8531-G00 + D2905/9500

SP98-09, new crossover and cabinet 18W/8531G00 + D2904/9800

Amish 45/95, ScanSpeak 18W/8545-00 (-K00) + SS D2905/9500

18W/8542-00 +9700/9500, SS 18W/8542-00 + D2905/9500 or D2905/9700

STUDIO 101, - compact 2-way monitor from 18W/8542-00 and SEAS 27TFFC tweeter

CSM-Compact Studio Monitors, read intro, ScanSpeak 18W/8545-00 (-K00) + Vifa XT25TG-30-04

CS-Monitor, 18W/8545-00 + Vifa XT25TG-30-04

CS-Monitor 18W/8545-K00 +Vifa XT25TG

Ellam-25, 2½-way EllamXT, Compact 2½-way from ScanSpeak 15W/8530-K00 + Vifa XT25TG-30-04

Ellam Dappo, Compact 2-way d'Appolito from 2 x ScanSpeak 15W/8530-K00 + Vifa XT25TG-30-04

Ellam XT25, Compact 2-way from ScanSpeak 15W/8530-K00 + Vifa XT25TG-30-04

Ellam-9800, Compact 2-way from ScanSpeak 15W/8530-K00 + SS D2904/9800

W1500/97, Compact 2-way from ScanSpeak 15W/8530-K00 + SS D2905/9700

W1501/95, Compact 2-way from ScanSpeak 15W/8530-K01 + SS D2905/9500

AudioTechnology - Peerless - Vifa - Dynaudio

Audio Technology:

NEW: PRELUDE, ambitious 3-way from AudioTechnology 10C77 bass and 15H52 mid + ScanSpeak 9900 tweeter.

AT-SW, 2-way compact vented standmount from AT 18H52 midbass and SWANS planar tweeter.High-end speaker for diy'ers.

AudioTechnology 10C77 sandwich cone bass driver. Pre-study for new 3-W project

Dynaudio:

Koapong:15W7504 + DX25TG, 15W7504 drivers no longer available

15W7504 + Esotar T330D, 15W7504 drivers no longer available

Peerless:

NEW: NOMEX 164, new 2½-way Peerless, Peerless HDS 830875 + ScanSpeak D2608/9130 drivers.

Peerless HDS-PPB (830860) + DX25TG05-04 or XT25TG-30-04

Peerless/Vifa Center, HDS 831882 + XT25TG30-04

2½-way HDS164 + Vifa XT25TG, HDS164, 850438, discontinued

HDS134 + DX25TG-05-04, HDS134, 850488, discontinued

Vifa:

PL14WJ-09-08 + XT25TG-30-04, 2-way 11.5 liter bookshelf mini, or 25 liter d'Appolito

PL18WO-09-08+XT25TG-30-04, 24 liter floorstander

C17WH d'Appolito: C17-I, C17-II, C17-III, C17-mk4. C17 drivers very hard to find

C20WH-07-08 + Monacor DT300/waveguide. C20 drivers very hard to find

High Efficiency Speakers:

Click heading or image to go to HES speakers intro, part I

High Efficiency Speakers, intro and experiments

DTQWT, 95 dB double-tapered-quarter-wave-tube design, my reference speaker

TQWT, 95 dB tapered-quarter-wave design

Supravox full-range experiments in DTQWT cabs.

OB7, Goodmans Axiom 150 mkII + Supravox 215RTF64 + LE26 dipole panel

OB9, 2009 open baffle construction with JA8008/TW034 and Eminence Deltalite II 2515, 15" bass driver

Supravox 215GMF tweaking for better performance

Vifa C17WH d'Appolito: C17-mk1, C17-mk2, C17-mk3, C17-mk4, C17 drivers discontinued and very hard to find

C20WH-07-08 + Monacor DT300/waveguide. C20 drivers discontinued and very hard to find

Monacor SP200X + Fountek JP3 ribbon

Fostex FE126E + Fountek NeoCD3

Test of Lowther EX3.

Vintage Loudspeakers

Click heading or image to go to vintage intro

German SABA greencones, pics, links and some modelling.

Mail exchange with former Wharfedale employee
Wharfedale 1962 brochures
Wharfedale SFB, pics and comments from owners
Wharfedale Super 8 RS/DD
Wharfedale Super 3 tweeters
Wharfedale Super 8/FS-AL & North England M8, only pics, measurements to come.

JBL L100 Recreation, new aperiodic cabinet
JBL L100 Century Up-Grade Kit,
Read L100 upgraders' response to kit
JBL LE20 and LE25 tweeters
JBL LE26 tweeters
JBL L26
JBL L26-3way

Vintage ScanSpeak. W21-3804-P2A and D3804 drivers.

Tannoy 15" MG
Tannoy 10" MG

1955 Karlson Speaker Brochure

Sonab OA5 mkII speakers, Stig Carlsson's omnidirectional speaker from the Seventies

Spendor BC1

Philips 9710 Part I-II-III
Philips 9710 disassembling
Philips AD-0160-T8, world's worst dome tweeter?

Clarion by SEAS, a 1978 classic 3-way from SEAS 25 F-WBX/DD, 11FM (H130) and 1" dome (H107)
SEAS kit 503, the big SEAS 3-way of the Seventies.
SEAS Kit 303, download SEAS KIT brochure, download SEAS KIT 303 crossover.

Goodmans Axiom 150 mkII
Goodmans Axiom 150 mkII + Supravox 215RTF64 + LE26 dipole panel (=OB7 article)

Dali800 renovation, new tweeter and crossover

Vintage Russian extended range drivers, 5GDH4 + super caps. Preliminary report

Loudspeakers in general/FAQ/tips/ideas, etc.:

What it takes to make a crossover, - please read!!

Choices, How to pick the right diy speaker project. Size matters!

Large domes, part I. Test of Chario Sonnet, modified Audax TW034 and Ciare MT320 domes.

Calculation of box volume and ports. Can we calculate box volume at all?

Study on stepped baffles with little impact on tweeter performance.

Vent tuning

Tips & Ideas, Glue for crossovers, solder tag strips, flaring plastic vents, damping materials, etc.

Cabinet damping, Please check this before writing on cabinet damping.

Tweeter measurements

Tweeter distortion test

Make your own non-inductive graphite resistors!

How female vocals can make your hair turn grey

Coils for beginners.

Placement of coils in crossovers

Choosing the right point of crossover

What is an acoustic vent

Definition of frequency ranges

The importance of wiring crossovers correctly

SS 9500, 9700 and 9900 tweeters, why they are not interchangeable

Why it's not so easy to make a small mini into a 3-way.

Wide baffles - introduction - the Stradivari

Want to get started in loudspeaker building, read here?

Tweaking the Audax TW034XO-P47N dome for better performance.

Shipping drivers

Dipole study.

Fountek ribbons

Fountek JP3 ribbon replacement

The importance of chamfering driver holes. A small study.

Links to other sites:

Good article on series vs. parallel crossovers.

Want to hear what your cabinet panels sound like?

What makes tube-friendly loudspeakers

My System:

Line stage with output transformer using 7119 or 5687 tubes

Audio Mirror, Vladimir Bazelkov's 6AS7 PSE, 20 wpc mono blocks

Transcendent Phono Stage, with SILK MC transformers

300B, 8 wpc SET integrated amplifier + cap test

Garrard 401 turntable/LINN ITTOK LVII tonearm,

Garrard 401/LINN - Thorens TD124 mkII/Jelko shootout!

Thorens TD124 mkII

Speakers: DTQWT

Jungson JA88D-09, 2 x 80 watt class A solid state amp

Transcendent Grounded Grid line stage

CD player: Shanling CD-T80.
Have changed output coupling caps to silver/gold PPs and valves to WE396A. Changing the caps did the most.

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Crossover components on this website are sponsored by Jantzen Audio, Denmark. Jantzen Audio has the most extensive range of baked coils available, supplemented by a wide range of audio grade capacitors. Complete crossover kits for the shown constructions can be ordered at: contact@jantzen-audio.com.

For SEAS constructions, complete kits including drivers, crossover components, ports, terminals and cables are available.

For questions regarding the constructions on this site, please contact me at: troels.gravesen@stofanet.dk