Speaker n00b seeks advice (building b22 as speaker amp)

[fierce_freak]

I've decided to put together a B22 as speaker amp, but when it comes to speakers, I'm pretty clueless. I'm building it single-ended, so I can expect 18wpc. That seems wimpy compared to a lot of other amps, but the math, from what I can tell, says that should be enough for reasonably efficient speakers in a medium sized room. What kind of speakers am I looking at with this kind of power?

[hYdrociTy]

I thought 18wpc was a "conservative" rating given for it? I bet it puts out a bit more than that.

[fierce_freak]

The conservative figure for wattage is 50wpc for balanced operation. 18wpc is it for single-ended, I think.

[hYdrociTy]

Are you the horny type?

Single driver fullrange would be great.

[fierce_freak]

lol, I suppose I am I was figuring I'd probably need to use some fullrange drivers for their efficiency.

[jinp6301]

budget and what type of speakers are you looking for?

[fierce_freak]

I really don't know what type...I really know almost nothing about the speaker world. Budget is pretty small right now, so I'll probably pick up something cheap in the interim...eventually, maybe $1k a decent beginner pair.

[hYdrociTy]

If you have access to wood tools you can build a basic one with fostex drivers. Stuff like the BIB is cool, and if you don't have the tools you can always try to get others to help. n_mahler is building a cicada so maybe talk to him about it. phergu_25 on headfi has neat pair he's built and is most likely finished now that runs on this tube amp that has similar output to the se beta. Pm him for pics and stuff.

http://melhuish.org/audio/DIY.html has a bunch of ideas

[fierce_freak]

Sweet, thanks hydrocity.

[n_maher]

So are you asking how to configure the beta or what speakers would be appropriate? I'm a little confused based on your first post and the thread title.

[Dusty Chalk]

Stupidest name for a speaker company ever

[aerius]

Stupidest name for a speaker company ever

Dulcets have issues, way too coloured and do bad things to acoustic guitars, MM deCapos are nice but I'd rather save up for Living Voice Avatars. The carbon driver in the deCapo can get a little wonky if pushed, and bass just doesn't have enough weight & dynamics. Haven't heard the rest of their lineup yet.

[fierce_freak]

So are you asking how to configure the beta or what speakers would be appropriate? I'm a little confused based on your first post and the thread title.

Sorry for the confusion...I've got the amp-building part handled. It's the actual speakers that I don't know too much about

[Dusty Chalk]

Dulcets have issues, way too coloured and do bad things to acoustic guitars, MM deCapos are nice but I'd rather save up for Living Voice Avatars. The carbon driver in the deCapo can get a little wonky if pushed, and bass just doesn't have enough weight & dynamics. Haven't heard the rest of their lineup yet.

(a) The Suprema's are supposed to be nice; ( I think they're still worth a listen. I don't know too many high-efficiency loudspeakers that like being pushed -- that's not their forte. They like to be driven well at reasonable volumes. I've never heard someone describing any high-efficiency speaker as, for example, "rock and roll".

Except maybe JBL's.

[fierce_freak]

I'm getting a pair of Silver Iris 15" coax drivers out of a trade...probably not the greatest thing in the world, but it will do for now, especially given my speaker n00bness. I'll have to come up with a baffle for it, though D:

[aerius]

I'll have to come up with a baffle for it, though D:

It's called "cut a hole in a sheet of plywood".

[fierce_freak]

haha, yeah, my stupid ass will find a way to fuck it up, though

eventually i'll want something a bit better looking (fiancee approval factor), so I'll have to come up with something decent at some point, still probably simple though (use lots of that acoustically transparent cloth stuff).