Looking for suggestions for on-wall or even in-wall surrounds

[rumatt]

Does anyone know of designs for DIY surrounds? Preferably that would match well with the TMWW's that I might build in the future? I'm psyched to build some speakers, and I desparately need better surrounds. I'm starting to think they're a good place to start, rather than tackling the TMWW's first. :P

Here are my constraints.

- Because of the room situation, they absolutely must go on the wall, or in the wall. My understanding is that the current designs are NOT optimal to place on a wall.

- If the speakers are small enough, or in-wall, I could do 4 surrounds (2 sides, 2-rear). If they are huge boxes on the wall then I think I'm limited to two, and placed in the rear

- The rear placement is a good ways back from the couch, but I can't get the one speaker as wide as I'd like. Thus, if it's two speakers in the rear, it might be better if they were bi-poles, or di-pols, to have more sound projected along the side walls.

Any thoughts?

[rumatt]

Further ideas:

1) How about a sealed version of the Modula TM, but with wider and less deep? I know shallow speakers aren't ideal, but if they're too deep they'll get veto'd.

2) How hard is it to make a bi-pole version of a modula TM, with the drivers are projecting out at maybe a 80 degree angle. Does this require massive crossover changes?

[Habs4life]

Here is an interesting little surround design.It is meant to be mounted 16" below the ceiling with drivers pointed upwards. http://www.gr-research.com/kits/av1rs.htm

[ThomasW]

Diffuse dispersion surrounds were recommended in the days of Dolby Pro logic. These days with discrete rear channels, it's a good idea to use a monopole design for the effects speakers.

If your current main speakers are good, move them to the rear and make new mains. In the DIY speaker world that's what we call recycling...:wink:

[rumatt]

Here is an interesting little surround design.It is meant to be mounted 16" below the ceiling with drivers pointed upwards. http://www.gr-research.com/kits/av1rs.htm

Hey, that's pretty cool.

Diffuse dispersion surrounds were recommended in the days of Dolby Pro logic. These days with discrete rear channels, it's a good idea to use a monopole design for the effects speakers.

Hmm, I suppose. But that somewhat assumes you can place them perfectly. With dipoles you have a slightly bigger fudge zone before the speakers location screams out at you.

If your current main speakers are good, move them to the rear and make new mains. In the DIY speaker world that's what we call recycling...:wink:

Towers won't work in the back. I could try a Modula M/T, but they're rear ported, and not designed to go on a wall. Maybe this sealed RS150 modula MT?

[Habs4life]

Diffuse dispersion surrounds were recommended in the days of Dolby Pro logic. These days with discrete rear channels, it's a good idea to use a monopole design for the effects speakers.

Even with todays DD and DTS movie sound tracks many still prefer diffused surrounds over direct radiators.For multich music on DVD-A and SACD monopoles are the ticket.

[Inu_Yasha]

Hey, that's pretty cool.



Hmm, I suppose. But that somewhat assumes you can place them perfectly. With dipoles you have a slightly bigger fudge zone before the speakers location screams out at you.



Towers won't work in the back. I could try a Modula M/T, but they're rear ported, and not designed to go on a wall. Maybe this sealed RS150 modula MT?

Out of curiosity, why won't towers work in the back? I have my polk towers as my surrounds in my system atm.

I'm not too sure if this is recommended since the Modula's have baffle step included in the design, but couldn't you do a front firing port? I know my R15's by Polk have a front firing port.

[rumatt]

Out of curiosity, why won't towers work in the back? I have my polk towers as my surrounds in my system atm.

No, I meant in my room. There's no floor space on the one side in the back, due to a stair case landing.

Plus, my wife would kill me. :B

I'm not too sure if this is recommended since the Modula's have baffle step included in the design, but couldn't you do a front firing port? I know my R15's by Polk have a front firing port.

Yeah, I have no idea. :?? You'd think surrounds should be easier, but without a design from the pro's, I may have to just buy something. Blasphemy! :E

[ThomasW]

You'd think surrounds should be easier, but without a design from the pro's, I may have to just buy something. Blasphemy!

It's looks like Jon's going to have a few days of vacation at my place the second week of October.

If that happens, I'm pretty sure I can get him so do non-BSC designs for some of the sticky thread projects. But I guarantee he won't be doing bipole or other variants of the designs...

[Inu_Yasha]

It's looks like Jon's going to have a few days of vacation at my place the second week of October.

If that happens, I'm pretty sure I can get him so do non-BSC designs for some of the sticky thread projects. But I guarantee he won't be doing bipole or other variants of the designs...

That would be nice as I've seen plenty of people who want to mount the Modula MT's on the wall (including myself at some point). Out of curiosity, would it be possible to put a port under the mid/woofer of the MT or would that mess up the bsc? It looks like there would be enough room if the port(s) are small enough.

https://www.htguide.com/forum/showpost.php?p=178810&postcount=45

Also, a quick offtopic question, when matching speakers, does the mid play a big role in the timbre matching? My ultimate goal is to do the Modula MT's for rear surrounds, Nat P.'s for surrounds, Dayton 3 ways for fronts, and WTMW for center. I was noticing that some of the drivers for the mids were different and just wanted to make sure they'd match before I start building.

[ThomasW]

There's not enough room on the front baffle for the flared port. So build sealed or put the port on the top or bottom.

Match the tweeters.

[dawaro]

It's looks like Jon's going to have a few days of vacation at my place the second week of October

Does he still know what to do with time off?

[Outfitter]

It's looks like Jon's going to have a few days of vacation at my place the second week of October.

Hey Thomas-
If Jon gets a little vaca, where on the to do list would a WTMW with rs180 that would match the Nat P's? Add that to non BSC Modula TM and I would be in heaven!

[rumatt]

If that happens, I'm pretty sure I can get him so do non-BSC designs for some of the sticky thread projects.

That would be great, and I suspect a lot of people would build them. I've seen a number of posts looking for wall-mounted surrounds.

This thread on RS150 modula MT shows three designs for RS150 MT's. It's actually quite confusing :?? but I think I have it figured out:

Paul Oneal's RS150 MT design (RS28a tweeter) This seem to be the smallest, is sealed, and is designed to go on a wall.

cjd's RS150 MT design (Seas H1212 tweeter) Not sure if this design has ever been built.

Mudjock's RS150 MT design which is also mentioned here and here. (Seas H1212 tweeter). Finished just behind CJD's RS150 MTM in the Chicago Audiofest.