Recession Buster($59 per pair)...

[yousuredo2]

I have seen these listed on other forums and wondered what everyone here thought about them.
they appear to be a good deal for the money.
I would like to see someone that has the ability,
to mod these with a bass bin in a tower...
or maybe a Center channel...
MTM/TMM/TMW...
possibilities seem endless...

http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=8525

There are several threads about this all over the net.
here is one at P.E. Tech Talk

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?t=209250

any Ideas, thought, comments ?
chris

[Gusta]

Both links seem to be broken.

[Tsloms]

http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=35_428&products_id=8525

Use this link. They look to be an excellent deal for the money. I am looking at using them just because of their low price and what looks to be pretty good quality.

[yousuredo2]

Links should be fixed Now sorry...

[evilskillit]

I ordered a set of these, for the price why not. It'll give me something to do on a rainy day. I'm going to see if they'll work as computer speakers. If not I'll gift them to somone to use as surrounds, they'll have to be better than whatever probably came with their theater in a box.

[Xander]

Wow, I'd love to get a pair of them. I'll see if I have any money left after some bill paying....

[HareBrained]

I ordered a set of these, for the price why not. It'll give me something to do on a rainy day. I'm going to see if they'll work as computer speakers. If not I'll gift them to somone to use as surrounds, they'll have to be better than whatever probably came with their theater in a box.

Elsewhere, some enterprising and talented people determined the BSC to only ~2db (instead of the full 6db) which makes them great for near-field and close-proximately placements. The vented box is a bit large for desktop placement, and you'll have to put the port on the front but it's doable. The sealed has the same footprint but you lose almost an octave of bass. Neither compromise offsets the value this kit offers.

[evilskillit]

Right now I have the Klipsch promedia 2.1 PC speakers. I'm going to try disconnecting the Klipsch satellites and connecting these things instead. In which case sealed would probably be just fine since the Klipsch promedia sub plays up to 100hz. However if I decide to instead use them for quiet listening in the bedroom ported would be better. But then again the cabinets will cost relatively little to build so If I build them one way and change my mind I can build different ones.

[fjhuerta]

I'm getting them. I'll probably mod the crossover a bit - lower the FR and stuff...

For $60, how can anyone go wrong?

[HareBrained]

I'm getting them. I'll probably mod the crossover a bit - lower the FR and stuff...

For $60, how can anyone go wrong?

Do you really want me to list them? :B

Why not get 2, they're small? :banana: Imagine your disappointment when someone puts up a TMM or MTM design and you're stuck with only one set. It seems a wait to spend the pesos to have them shipped from Wisconsin (practically Canada) and just get one set. It couldn't be that much more to ship 2.

[maximumshow]

Would these be any good for use as monitors? I have a need for a pair of decent, but budgeted speaker for near field listening.

[fjhuerta]

Do you really want me to list them? :B

Why not get 2, they're small? :banana: Imagine your disappointment when someone puts up a TMM or MTM design and you're stuck with only one set. It seems a wait to spend the pesos to have them shipped from Wisconsin (practically Canada) and just get one set. It couldn't be that much more to ship 2.

Do you know how I felt when I thought "Hare has a good point here", and discovered that Madisound has already shipped the kit???

:E

Well. the kit was already $120, S/H included. Considering our parity , I suppose that was my upper limit, anyway.

[yousuredo2]

Does anyone think any of madisounds Woofer "specails" [Cheap Price] are worth pairing with these...?
If so, I was hoping to get it all shipped at the same time.
Let me know please.
thanks chris

[chasw98]

Parts Express has fired back with their "Recession Buster" offer. You can get a pair of the BR-1's for $99.00 plus shipping, including cabinets! SKU 300-642.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-642&utm_source=Retail&utm_medium=Email_Newsletter&utm_content=Sound+Stimulus+Buy+Now+021209&utm_campaign=email021209

With shipping to 33063, the price rose to $130.00. Then, of course, you would have to spend the money on the additional parts to do the Dennis Murphy upgrade, wouldn't you?

Chuck

[yousuredo2]

Darn it...
If they would only offer it with out the Box...
That looks like a good little speaker too...
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...

It also says frequency response is to 43 hz...
wonder how true that is...?
chris

[fjhuerta]

Which tweeter is better, the Vifa D25AG77 or the Dayton Silkie?

[exojam]

Well my parts from Madisound arrived today. Now all I need is the cabinets which should be ready in a few weeks and I will have some new surrounds to add in.

[Xander]

It looks like Parts Express is joining in. They have a pair of monitors (with cabinets!) for $100

[Brian Bunge]

Darn it...
If they would only offer it with out the Box...
That looks like a good little speaker too...
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...

It also says frequency response is to 43 hz...
wonder how true that is...?
chris

The entire parts list for the kit (with part #'s) is listed on page 2 of the pdf manual on the PE site. You can add up the price of the parts and see what they cost without the enclosures.

BTW, I'm baaaack! And have moved back to GA/Metro-Atlanta!

[Bent]

Welcome Home Brian.

[chasw98]

Just make sure you check out Dennis' 'mod' for this little speaker before buying individual parts. Might make it an even better project.

http://murphyblaster.com/content.php?f=pe_br1.html

[yousuredo2]

His Mod is for the Unshielded vs...
does it matter that this is the BR-1s(shielded vs...)

and brian once you get settled I would Love the opportunity to meet up...

EDIT
I aint even half way done with the indiv. componets and already at $125...

[brianhutchins]

Does anyone know if either one of these speakers are a better match than the other to CJD's MTM's, which I have 3 of for LCR. I was going to build 4 of his MT to match but for these price's I might just get 4 of these and call it a day. They don't have to be perfect, but if there not even close I'll skip it.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

[Brian Bunge]

His Mod is for the Unshielded vs...
does it matter that this is the BR-1s(shielded vs...)

and brian once you get settled I would Love the opportunity to meet up...

EDIT
I aint even half way done with the indiv. componets and already at $125...

That sounds good! Remind me where Hiram is? It's been awhile!

[jkrutke]

Just a bit of info, Mad's recession buster was a special purchase and is not a permanent addition to their line. So, get them while they are hot...

The crossovers were actually purchased stock from a different wall mounted design, then modified by them as best they could without inserting pricey components. It would not have been cost effective to replace any inductors, which is why this is a minimal BSC design. With all the copper in typical crossover inductors, this was the way to savings in this kit. Still, this design is probably suitable for close-to-wall or bookshelf usage.

These are great drivers, and well worth it for the drivers alone for those who would like to roll their own crossovers. The quality and performance of the drivers is several steps above what's available in the BR-1 kit.

For those who care about my opinion: In my eyes the BR-1 kit is probably just barely worth it for $100, however at the normal price I'd sooner just pop over to Crutchfield for a low end Polk or Infinity commercial system. Unless of course it's purchased and built for the educational value, the BR-1 is a great way for kids to "see what's inside".

[exojam]

Do you foresee any benefit in replacing the caps and resistors on the standard crossover? Thanks.

[Dean100]

Do you foresee any benefit in replacing the caps and resistors on the standard crossover? Thanks.

If you go over to Zaphs website, you will get his opinion on higher priced crossover parts. Along with a ton of other great info!

[exojam]

I was not talking super higher cost stuff, just the components listed in their premium crossover.

[alias2]

Would these be any good for use as monitors?
I have a need for a pair of decent, but budgeted speaker for near field listening.

The short answer as they have minimal BSC is yes, /alias2.

[fjhuerta]

These are great drivers, and well worth it for the drivers alone for those who would like to roll their own crossovers. The quality and performance of the drivers is several steps above what's available in the BR-1 kit.

Thanks for the info, John! I suspected they were.

Now, who will be the first to build an Über - RB, therefore creating the ultimate speaker paradox?

[evilskillit]

Well it depends on what you mean by an Uber RB. Sure that would be the RB that sounds the best, but what alot of people who bought the kit would probably look forward to more would be an Uber RB being something that sounds the best while being able to only add to the existing crossover or at least scavenge the most parts from the crossover there for creating a minimal cost increase. Afterall, I'm sure I'll have fun with them, even if, maybe especially if, I turn them into nearfield monitors for my computer. But I wouldn't have bought them if they weren't $59.

[fjhuerta]

I'm thinking about a wide baffle, a modified crossover...

Then again, that wouldn't be an RB anymore, I suppose.

[jumpfroggy]

I'm really curious how these compare to the ZBM4's as nearfield monitors. They definitely seem to have a lot more bass around 50-100hz, and a less flat FR. I suspect that the increased bass output may be detrimental in a nearfield/near the wall/2ft listening distance scenario. However, these are also cheaper than the ZBM4's (about $60 vs. $100). Thoughts? Is it still worth going with the ZBM4's? I realize the comparison may be subjective (especially the value part of things), but it'd be nice to get some thoughts on the two.

[fjhuerta]

If the crossover wasn't specifically designed for the RB, but adapted from another speaker, I'd suppose the ZBM4 is a better deal.

The thing about the RB is that the drivers are great! I'll probably start building them next week, as the RB-WB's (Recession Buster Wide Baffles).

[evilskillit]

Even tho I know better than to do this I'm going to ask a noob question and get the expected answer.

Has anyone made these a 3way yet? I could use a set of decent living room speakers. Right now I'm using the Dayton BR1S kit and it is ok but I'd like something that is better in every way. I know I could build the RB ontop of a bassbin as a 1 piece floor standing speaker and use 2 plate amps but maybe this is my time to take a stab at figuring something out, if someone else hasn't already.

I was thinking of trying to do these as a passive 3 way. Having the mid and Tweet in a sealed upper cabinet and mounting something high up in the lower cabinet and porting it. To get really good bass I was looking at using something like the Tang Band W69-1042J 6"x9" Subwoofer, or 295-480 Dayton SD215-88 8" Shielded DVC Subwoofer or 264-854 Tang Band W8-740P 8" Subwoofer but at this point I'm just sort of guessing. Would any one care to give me the response I'm expecting. Either that or point me in a direction to get started and the process shall begin.

Btw, if you're thinking "A 6x9? WTF?" I was just thinking that it would allow me to keep a narrow front baffle. Other than that I don't know if using a 6x9 in home audio is just silly or not.

[fjhuerta]

You'd have to redesign the entire crossover....

[evilskillit]

Can't say I didn't see that answer coming. I'm giving it a shot. Downloaded speaker workshop, trying to figure out how to get as much driver data in as I can using the manufacturer specs. I know it won't be accurate but it will let me fiddle around for a while at least but there is alot of work to do just to get that far

[ThomasW]

You'd have to redesign the entire crossover....

Not really.

You could use a subwoofer plate amp with a high crossover point. The PE SA100 has a 180 Hz crossover point. That would give you the crossover and the amp for the woofer

[evilskillit]

Yeah that would be a pretty easy route to go and I had thought of that. That may very well be what I end up doing.

As someone who is interested in getting more involved in DIY where would be a good place to start to try doing this by redesigning the crossover? Is it possible to take a stab at it using Speaker Workshop without actually measuring the drivers. I know the result won't be completely accurate but I'd like to start with some simulations before I start dropping money on a microphone and whatnot.

Where is a good place to get started learning how to do this, or does anyone already have measurement files posted somewhere online that a guy can just download and toy around with?

[ThomasW]

As someone who is interested in getting more involved in DIY where would be a good place to start to try doing this by redesigning the crossover?

In this instance you wouldn't redesign the entire crossover. You'd just add a circuit to roll-off the low end of the midrange/midwoofer and a circuit to kill the top end of whatever woofer you choose.

http://www.rjbaudio.com/Audiofiles/FRDtools.html

[evilskillit]

I figured you would be able to build a passive lowpass and put it on the woofer and a passive highpass and put it in front of the stock crossover but I wasn't sure if that would work or if the other network would mess with things. If I get anything figured out I'll post it up.

[fbov]

I used Roman's instructions to model the RBs and had no problem getting to a reasonable response prediction in a single afternoon. There are a lot of steps, but all are explained. Once you've got a response prediction, it seems a simple thing to add a high pass circuit to the mid-woof XO and develop a low pass for the woofer, as Thomas suggests.

Of course, I've yet to measure the completed speaker...

Frank

Edit: Once you've got the sim set up, and a circuit in place to get the desired response, it'll be obvious where to connect the high-pass circuit into the XO. This would all be passive...