DIY Loudspeaker Projects
Troels Gravesen, Denmark
Go to recent up-dates

About this website:

The constructions show here are divided into sections based on the main driver in the system. Click green (heading) to go to intro page or click projects - black - and go directly. 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; 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.

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 have done a few times and people sometimes get all sorts of funny results and I do not have time to discuss how to use the files correctly. 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 don't 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:


Speakers' Corner
- last updated 02 Dec 2009 -


Feel the audio power of the best floorstanding speakers online


For sale

New Monacor drivers for d'Appolito construction, 1600 DKK/210 EUR.

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

contact: troels.gravesen@stofanet.dk


Loudspeaker Projects:


High-Efficiency speaker constructions:

Click heading or image to go to HES speakers introduction.

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

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

Amps for TQWT and DTQWT,
some general thoughts.

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

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

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

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

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:

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 two new projects.

Dynaudio:

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

15W7504 + Esotar T330D
15W7504 drivers no longer available

Peerless:

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, part I, discussion

High-Efficiency speakers, part II,
(SEAS CA21REX, Vifa C20WH, Supravox, etc.),

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

Mail exchange with former Wharfedale employee
Wharfedale 1962 brochures
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 first-time diy speaker project

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

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?

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


Gear:

Main system:

7119/5687 w.o.t. (with output transformer) line stage

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!

Speakers: DTQWT

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

Auxiliary equipment

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

Denon DL103, phono cartridge
Dynavector DV20X (high output), phono cartridge

Transcendent Grounded Grid line stage

Thorens TD124 mkII turntable, Jelko SA 750D tonearm, Dynavector XX2-mkII cartridge

Restoration of mistreated SME series II tonearm.

Rotel RB981 power amplifier, workshop workhorse, Download Service Manual, 800KB
Not a bad amplifier at all. Input caps are crap. Insert switch for DC operation - if pre-amp allows! Currently used with 5687/output-transformer line stage in my workshop.


Previously owned equipment:

Transcendent T16OTL power amplifier, pics and comments
Copland CTA505
Audio Research SP16L line stage

LC Audio Millennium power amp
DACT 6 dB line stage
Luxman MQ70 EL34 PP power amp.

An infinite number of home-made amps, speakers, electronic crossovers, turntables, etc.
This only goes back some 10-15 years. Listing all previously owned equipment would be impossible.

Go to top


Recent updates:
Go to top

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:
Audio Technology 10C77 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.
03-08-2009:
5687 line stage finally finished! Or is it? Will it be a 7119 line stage with grid battery bias?
27-07-2009:
Vintage Sonab OA5 mkII speakers, the first omnidirectional speaker on this website.
07-07-2009:
Garrard 401/LINN - Thorens TD124 mkII/Jelko shootout!
04-07-2009:
STUDIO 101, 13 liter stand-mount speaker from SS 18W/8542-00 + SEAS 27TFFC
14-06-2009:
Jensen 1071, big 3-way from SS 26W/8861T00 + 18W/8531-G00 + D2905/9900.
25-05-2009:
Vintage SEAS 3-way from 1978. "Clarion by SEAS, 70120"
15-05-2009:
OB9, 2009 open baffle set-up. 15" bass driver and electronic crossovers!
14-05-2009:
Mark21, 2 x SS 21/8554-00 + 15M/4531-K00 + XT25TG, built by Mark/Denmark.
13-04-2009:
Center speaker from Peerless HDS 831882 + Vifa XT25TG
22-03-2009:
Jazzman, 3-way ScanSpeak with 22W/8857T00 + 15W/8530-K00 + Vifa XT25TG
16-03-2009:
Ellam-25, Ellam XT 2½-way construction, compact floorstander
20-02-2009:
CNO-25, 2½-way CNO. 36 liter floorstander.
15-02-2009:
Modification of my 300B SET amp. Valve expert gives advice, but is it audible?
12-02-2009:
MAYA, SEAS CA18RNX + T25C003, 24 liter floorstander.
31-01-2009:
SEAS TOK, 24 liter floorstander or bookshelf, CA18RNX+T29CF002 (!)
29-01-2009:
CNO-T25, CNO construction with T25C003 tweeter
29-01-2009:
CNO mkII, brush-up on a popular floorstander.
25-01-2009:
SP44, SS 18W/8531G00 + Accuton C244-8 + HIQUPHON OWI
18-01-2009:
Peerless mini, HDS134-PPB (830860) + DX25TG05-04 or XT25TG30-04
01-01-2009:
PL14-d'Appolito added to PL14-COMPACT version

View updates 2005-2008


Index: Builders' response
Go to top

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.
31-12-2009:
PMS built by Patricio, Spain.
13-12-2009:
DTQWT built by Peter/Denmark.
29-11-2009:
PMS built by Pierre and Max, France. An impressive exercize in CNC manufacture.
15-11-2009:
SEAS W12CY003 mini built by Max/Ukraine.
28-10-2009:
PMS, built by Mike Kelly/US.
21-10-2009:
Cyclop, built by Max/Ukraine.
21-10-2009:
Cyclop, built by Laurent/France.
18-10-2009:
TJL2W built by Moshik/Israel.
20-09-2009:
3-Way Classic built by Pawel/Poland.
08-09-2009:
Ekta Grande built by Wen-Shan, Taiwan.
25-07-2009:
DTQWT, built by Ilpo/Sweden
03-07-2009:
Ekta Grande, built by Martin/Taiwan
17-06-2009:
CA18RLY/22TAF-G, built by Koen/Belgium.
04-06-2009:
CNO, built by Ray/UK
02-05-2009:
Ekta Grande, built by Dennis/Denmark. Comments in Danish.
18-04-2009:
CNO, built by Tore, Norway.
10-04-2009:
PMS built by Leif/Finland, another great piece of cabinet work.
08-04-2009:
EllamXT built by Keith/US.
27-03-2009:
ATR built by Sjaak/Holland.
24-03-2009:
DTQWT built by Chris/Greece.
10-03-2009:
Response from people having up-graded their vintage JBL L100 speakers.
06-03-2009:
CSM builders' response.
01-03-2009:
3W-Classic built by Richard Kuba/Slovakia; beautiful cabs!
28-02-2009:
TQWT built by Greymyth.
26-01-2009:
TJL3W built by Fabio, Italy
04-01-2009:
Poor Man's Strad built by Kari/Finland. Stunningly beautiful cabs!
04-01-2009:
Ekta, built by Geoffrey/New Zealand

31-12-2008: SP38/13 and Vifa PL18/XT built by Yavor.
20-12-2008:
DTQWT built by HUH/Thailand
16-12-2008:
Ekta Grande built by Oleg/Russia
08-12-2008:
JBL Recreation, built by Volker/DE
16-11-2008:
CNO built by Kjell/Norway - beautiful maritime cabs!
14-11-2008:
3W-Classic built by Stephen/US.
10-11-2008:
TJL3W built by Lance/UK
02-11-2008:
SP95 built by David, US
25-10-2008:
CNO built by Andrej with review
12-09-2008:
Ekta Grande built by Koen/Belgium (beautiful cabs)
26-08-2008:
3W-Classic built by JanK/Canada
01-06-2008:
SEAS-5INCH, CA18RLY built by Mats/Sweden (pdf file).
31-05-2008:
Acapella SEas built by Avi/Israel.
05-05-2008:
TQWT built by Liudas/Lithuania.
02-05-2008:
TQWT built by John Eekels/Holland.
11-04-2008:
JA8008 project from Lennart/Sweden. A gigantic project.
08-03-2008:
TJL2W-Neo3-version, built by Johnny.
22-02-2008:
CNO built by Kevin.
21-02-2008:
Ekta built by Ken/California.
10-02-2008:
My C20 kit in the hands of Per/Denmark. Correspondence in Danish only.
05-02-2008:
Up-date on PMS-builders.
04-02-2008:
View TJL3W built by Roman/Russia
11-01-2008:
View PMS built by Albert/Canada.
09-01-2008:
W15/OWI, built by Fritz Reinman. Ever tried bloodwood?


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