DIY software

**Exocer** · **05-10-06, 02:58 PM**

Since i'll have an extra receiver lying around as of a week from now, I may as well use those Dayton Da 175's I have lying around to build a pair of MTM mains. This is what I am thinking about doing.

Haven't decided on a tweeter yet. Also if down the road I decide to buid a center channel it would preferably be a WTMW design. Has anyone seen an WTMW design with the Dayton Da 175's? I do not even know if one can consider this driver a Woofer or a Midwoofer but I guess that depends on its application and crossover used?

NHT driver next to two DA 175's

**Brian Bunge** · **05-10-06, 08:58 PM**

Well, Parts Express has a kit using that driver in an MTM configuration and a Vifa aluminum dome tweeter. There's also a design on the PE Project showcase using these drivers along with the 5.25" drivers and a Vifa soft dome in a MTMWW tower and an WTMW 3-way center channel. Both of these designs are sealed IIRC.

I built a variation of the MTMWW towers with the aluminum Vifa tweeter in ported enclosures and they have very very good bass. I also built a center with the same drivers.

Here are the towers in figured cherry:

Here are my dad's in ribbon mahogany:

And here's his center:

**Exocer** · **05-10-06, 11:53 PM**

Doh, i forgot about those MTM designs...They even have kits ont he PE site with these exact drivers...Too bad the kit is4ohms. I could go as low as 6ohms with Onkyo receiver.

I definitely haven't seen that WTMW center though. That seems right up my alley.

**JCD** · **05-11-06, 07:05 PM**

Holy moly Brian, those are beautiful!

Did you veneer the outside yourself?

The obvious next question is how do they sound?

Sorry if I'm hijacking a thread..

JCD

**Tom Vodhanel** · **05-11-06, 07:52 PM**

Those really do *pop* Brian...if you could build a couple hundred cabinets a week...man...we'd have to talk...

Tom V.
SVS

**Sonnie** · **05-11-06, 08:46 PM**

Good gorgeous amighty! You really made those? Amazing!

I agree.... you could sell those Brian... you should start your own speaker company.

"Bunge Speakers"

**Exocer** · **05-12-06, 09:03 AM**

How selfish of me...So wrapped up in my own project I failed to see the beauty in those speakers

Job well done Brian, and if you'd like to help me build mine i'll pay for your ticket over to NYC

Edit:If you guys haven't already seen check out his matching sub in the Guide to DIY sub box design thread as well.

**Brian Bunge** · **05-12-06, 05:26 PM**

Thanks guys. I appreciate the compliment. As a matter of fact, these are a pair or speakers that I built for a customer (I also have a pair of cabinets in birds eye maple). My dad and I used to build custom speakers and subwoofers for customers when I was living in GA (some of you guys may have seen my website). I will probably do it on the side again (getting my woodshop setup in my garage here in FL) but it's hard when everyone wants something for nothing or are used to a handful of available finishes from someone like Tom and the guys at SVS but want you to go all out with something completely custom as far design, finish, etc. and still be competitive with the SVS' of the world. Not an easy undertaking, let me tell you!

As far as the sound, they have a nice flat response (no BBC dip) and decent midbass punch for a 3" driver. But they're really best used with a subwoofer and crossed over around 100Hz or so. They work quite well with a small 8" subwoofer. I've done full 5.1 systems like this with only the 3" driver running full range and the sound was very good. The tweeter adds some nice top end to the sound and I much prefer this design.

**Exocer** · **06-08-06, 06:06 PM**

Heres something I thought about persuing before getting sidetracked into the Nat P's

**Brian Bunge** · **06-08-06, 06:38 PM**

Your tuning is too high (60Hz?), which is what's giving you that peak in the response. I think 21L tuned to 35Hz or 28L tuned to 30Hz both look much better if you want to use this driver in a ported enclosure.

**Exocer** · **06-08-06, 09:41 PM**

Yeah, that is one reason I scrapped that design. I have a few other variations of that design with larger and smaller enclosures. The Dayton DA175 itself isn't efficient enough for me. Ultimitalely i'd end up with a similar sensitivity as my current sealed bookshelfs, the whole point of this project was to build a more efficient speaker to be friendlier on my not so powerful amp. Also, listening loud is a major priority

Edit: Brian I'll need you to take a look at my shopping cart over @ PE regarding the Natalie P crossover. It can be found over at HTguide's Natalie P sticky. I might've gotten some extra capacitors or left some out... :P

**Brian Bunge** · **06-08-06, 10:36 PM**

Well, then you should build a nice 3-way tower using them, the 5.25" driver and a tweet. Like my MTMWW or the one posted in the PE Project Showcase. Works great with my dad's entry-level Sherwood Newcastle receiver, has great bass, and plays plenty loud.

I'll take a look at your BOM.

EDIT: I looked at your PE order and responded in the thread on HTGuide.

**Exocer** · **06-09-06, 08:16 AM**

I read ur response

And I could see why the drivers would go plenty loud in those configurations. Makes a lot of sense.

**Exocer** · **06-12-06, 04:41 PM**

My Nat P's

I've ordered my BOM yesterday. I decided to use the bypass .22uF Dayton foil and film cap in addition to the Solen 1.0uF cap to make the C 11. Also decided to go with Mills resistors since I could afford it. I haven't decided whether to buy the Dayton 1.0cu.ft. enclosure or build my own. If building my own is the only option i'll go with Baltic Birch :-)

**Brian Bunge** · **06-12-06, 05:23 PM**

I've not used the PE enclosures but I have seen them in person and can tell you that they are absolutely gorgeous and well worth the money. But I really like building my own cabinets.

**Exocer** · **06-13-06, 07:33 PM**

Quote:

Brian Bunge wrote:

I've not used the PE enclosures but I have seen them in person and can tell you that they are absolutely gorgeous and well worth the money. But I really like building my own cabinets.

You're good at it too

thanks for looking over the BOM.
This is my bootleg crossover sketch

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