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Howdy all,
Nothing too crazy compared to all the beautiful builds happening right now (Tek's Ardent's, cough* cough*), but I figured I would share because the back story behind them is really cool and I have been very impressed with them.
The speakers are a super-budget Jeff Bagby design. I was looking for some speakers to install in the woodshed I was building out of my covered 3rd garage stall. I had to have some tunes while I built the woodshop. Woodshop build costs + the environment meant something inexpensive and durable.
I stumbled across the Carritas on a tech talk thread and got suckered by the good cause. From Meniscus' site:
So with the speakers picked out, time to get to work.
Gluing the port to the back baffle
Instead of having the PVC pipe exit the wood, I glued it to the back and then drilled a hole and flush trimmed (lesson learned from a previous build
Now onto the the front baffle - quick shot of the driver recesses
Test fit
Gluing the sides/top/bottom together
Now baffles
Flush trimmed and pretty. Now the port makes more sense
Finished! (Painted with truck bed liner Spray Can from Home Depot)
Hung up in their final resting place (apologize for the bad lighting, that light ruins every angle imaginable)
These are what I used for mounts.
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=108&cp_id=10828&cs_id=1082804&p_id=68 39&seq=1&format=2
Setup
I have them powered off of the Zone 2 output of my Emotiva UMC-200. 2 spare channels on my XPA-5 are providing the amplification. My source is an AppleTV with an SPDIF to analog converter so that the UMC-200 can play a digital source on the TV and I can stream Spotify through the Apple TV to Zone 2. I ran wires from the amp to the garage and hung the speakers from the ceiling.
I also added an in-wall iPad mount. Additionally, the HT setup is run off of the Harmony new Ultimate Home remote, so from the iPad I can trigger on the system, launch Spotify and start streaming. It is AMAZING.
Listening impressions
I only got to listen to them for a little while before I put them up, but I was really impressed. I don't have that much experience with budget friendly 2 ways, but I do listen to a pair of Noobsters every night in addition to some basic experience with commercial offerings.
I will say that I would never have guessed the 88$ price of these guys. They really hold their weight and very enjoyable to listen to. Mr. Bagby has excellent voicing if this design is any indication. The vocals are very clear, highs articulate and bass clean. When pushed hard, they hold together well. Considering the drivers, they aren't going to replace your high end main system, but they make you grin like a big guber when you listen to them and remember their price - the ratio just isn't right. They sounded so good, I've already gotten a few of my friends/family to pull the trigger.
Definitely recommended.
Nothing too crazy compared to all the beautiful builds happening right now (Tek's Ardent's, cough* cough*), but I figured I would share because the back story behind them is really cool and I have been very impressed with them.
The speakers are a super-budget Jeff Bagby design. I was looking for some speakers to install in the woodshed I was building out of my covered 3rd garage stall. I had to have some tunes while I built the woodshop. Woodshop build costs + the environment meant something inexpensive and durable.
I stumbled across the Carritas on a tech talk thread and got suckered by the good cause. From Meniscus' site:
Description
Caritas Speaker Kit
The name Caritas is Latin for Charity. The charity is community radio station, WYCE. Thus, what we have for you is an entry level speak kit that gives two ways.
This kit fulfills a good number of needs, but before I expand in more detail, I'd like to tell you the story behind this kit.
The Premise I'm a huge fan of our local, community radio station and give faithfully during the twice yearly funds driver, but wanted to do more. Brewing in the back of my mind for the past several years was an entry level kit in which part of the proceeds would give by to the station. I knew the kit had to be inexpensive to get most builders involved and that parts had to be decent as well.
The Parts I knew the only was this would work is if I could find some quality units on the surplus market. The tweeters came first and turned out to be an easy find. The BC25TG-15 is a respected, low cost unit from Vifa/Peerless. The quirk that made this a surplus unit was that these are magnetically shielded. With CRT's extinct, the shielded driver became expendable.
The woofer tuned out to be harder to find than I ever thought. I sifted through countless units that came on the market, either find them un usable for the cabinet size targeted, the wrong impedance, or the response so bad that crossover design would be a nightmare.
I made a call to David Stephens at SB Acoustics to see if perhaps that had anything - a mistake, overrun, or cancelation. After hearing my story, David said "what do you need, we'll make it for you" SB was kind with the price too. A made to order woofer at surplus price!
Having all the drivers on hand we set out to design the network. When Jeff Bagby heard the story he wanted to be part of the process, so he chipped in and came up with a pretty simple design that works very well and keeps the parts cost low.
Here's what it will do for you. I wanted this kit to fulfill the needs of many.
The first time kit buyer wants to start with something safe and inexpensive. I know you're a bit apprehensive about spending a lot of time and hard earned money on a project that you might not be sure on the outcome.
The seasoned builder looks for that go-to kit for friends and relatives. The build is easy and the recipient is always grateful to a custom system that is hard to come by at a retail level these days. The time working on a project like this with a Son or Grand Daughter is priceless.
The school project is another great idea. We've had a number of Physics and shop teachers offer their students the kit ideas as a senior class project.
The side benefit. I bet you almost forgot. A good portion of what you pay for this kit goes to WYCE. You did something nice and didn't feel a thing!
Now is the time that I go into great detail on how great a station WYCE is and how it can benefit you as well, but I won't.
Caritas Speaker Kit
The name Caritas is Latin for Charity. The charity is community radio station, WYCE. Thus, what we have for you is an entry level speak kit that gives two ways.
This kit fulfills a good number of needs, but before I expand in more detail, I'd like to tell you the story behind this kit.
The Premise I'm a huge fan of our local, community radio station and give faithfully during the twice yearly funds driver, but wanted to do more. Brewing in the back of my mind for the past several years was an entry level kit in which part of the proceeds would give by to the station. I knew the kit had to be inexpensive to get most builders involved and that parts had to be decent as well.
The Parts I knew the only was this would work is if I could find some quality units on the surplus market. The tweeters came first and turned out to be an easy find. The BC25TG-15 is a respected, low cost unit from Vifa/Peerless. The quirk that made this a surplus unit was that these are magnetically shielded. With CRT's extinct, the shielded driver became expendable.
The woofer tuned out to be harder to find than I ever thought. I sifted through countless units that came on the market, either find them un usable for the cabinet size targeted, the wrong impedance, or the response so bad that crossover design would be a nightmare.
I made a call to David Stephens at SB Acoustics to see if perhaps that had anything - a mistake, overrun, or cancelation. After hearing my story, David said "what do you need, we'll make it for you" SB was kind with the price too. A made to order woofer at surplus price!
Having all the drivers on hand we set out to design the network. When Jeff Bagby heard the story he wanted to be part of the process, so he chipped in and came up with a pretty simple design that works very well and keeps the parts cost low.
Here's what it will do for you. I wanted this kit to fulfill the needs of many.
The first time kit buyer wants to start with something safe and inexpensive. I know you're a bit apprehensive about spending a lot of time and hard earned money on a project that you might not be sure on the outcome.
The seasoned builder looks for that go-to kit for friends and relatives. The build is easy and the recipient is always grateful to a custom system that is hard to come by at a retail level these days. The time working on a project like this with a Son or Grand Daughter is priceless.
The school project is another great idea. We've had a number of Physics and shop teachers offer their students the kit ideas as a senior class project.
The side benefit. I bet you almost forgot. A good portion of what you pay for this kit goes to WYCE. You did something nice and didn't feel a thing!
Now is the time that I go into great detail on how great a station WYCE is and how it can benefit you as well, but I won't.
Gluing the port to the back baffle
Instead of having the PVC pipe exit the wood, I glued it to the back and then drilled a hole and flush trimmed (lesson learned from a previous build
Now onto the the front baffle - quick shot of the driver recesses
Test fit
Gluing the sides/top/bottom together
Now baffles
Flush trimmed and pretty. Now the port makes more sense
Finished! (Painted with truck bed liner Spray Can from Home Depot)
Hung up in their final resting place (apologize for the bad lighting, that light ruins every angle imaginable)
These are what I used for mounts.
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=108&cp_id=10828&cs_id=1082804&p_id=68 39&seq=1&format=2
Setup
I have them powered off of the Zone 2 output of my Emotiva UMC-200. 2 spare channels on my XPA-5 are providing the amplification. My source is an AppleTV with an SPDIF to analog converter so that the UMC-200 can play a digital source on the TV and I can stream Spotify through the Apple TV to Zone 2. I ran wires from the amp to the garage and hung the speakers from the ceiling.
I also added an in-wall iPad mount. Additionally, the HT setup is run off of the Harmony new Ultimate Home remote, so from the iPad I can trigger on the system, launch Spotify and start streaming. It is AMAZING.
Listening impressions
I only got to listen to them for a little while before I put them up, but I was really impressed. I don't have that much experience with budget friendly 2 ways, but I do listen to a pair of Noobsters every night in addition to some basic experience with commercial offerings.
I will say that I would never have guessed the 88$ price of these guys. They really hold their weight and very enjoyable to listen to. Mr. Bagby has excellent voicing if this design is any indication. The vocals are very clear, highs articulate and bass clean. When pushed hard, they hold together well. Considering the drivers, they aren't going to replace your high end main system, but they make you grin like a big guber when you listen to them and remember their price - the ratio just isn't right. They sounded so good, I've already gotten a few of my friends/family to pull the trigger.
Definitely recommended.
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