praxwarrier
New Member
Hello respected members,
I'm in the middle of my first major DIY speaker project here in Calicut and have reached a critical decision point.
I can't quite call myself an audiophile yet, but I'm definitely in the making! I truly value great quality music—not with excessive bass or highs, but with a rich, clear mids for vocals.
I would be so grateful for your experienced insights and a sanity check on my plan before I proceed.
Project Goal: To build a high-quality Front Left, Center, and Right (LCR) speaker setup that excels at both musicality and immersive movies. In reality, this has become a battle of the pocket vs. the heart!
The Dilemma & Background:
I initially planned a 3-way system and ordered the parts. Unfortunately, two of the three Peerless FSL0512R01-08 midrange drivers I received were damaged. The Indian distributor has been very helpful and is ready to replace them, but since that specific model is out of stock, he has offered to send SDS P830657 woofers as a substitute.
This situation prompted a detailed discussion with my designer, Albin, and we've arrived at two distinct paths forward:
Option 1: The 3-Way SDS System
* Tweeter: HiVi Q1R
* Midrange: Peerless SDS 4" Woofer (P830656)
* Woofer: Peerless SDS 6.5" Woofer (P830657)
* Concept: A traditional 3-way design aimed at dedicating a driver to each frequency range. Albin would design and implement the custom crossover for this specific combination.
Option 2: The 2-Way HDS System (Designer's Recommendation)
* Tweeter: Peerless BC25SC08-08 (which I already own and is in perfect condition)
* Mid-Woofer: A high-quality Peerless HDS-series 6.5" driver.
* Concept: A simpler, high-quality 2-way bookshelf design (approx. 22" high) focused on superior component quality and coherence. Albin would also design the crossover for this.
My Core Question & Concern:
My initial belief was that a 3-way system with a dedicated midrange driver would inherently be better for the vocal clarity and musicality I'm looking for. I was concerned that a 2-way system, even with a superior HDS mid-woofer, would be a compromise.
However, my designer strongly argues that the 2-way HDS design will be significantly better, even for music. His reasoning is that the superior quality and exceptionally low distortion of the HDS driver in the critical midrange frequencies will outperform the entry-level SDS drivers. He also points to the benefits of a simpler crossover and better "point-source" imaging in a 2-way system.
The cost difference for the full LCR set is about ₹9,500 more for the HDS path.
My Planned Amplification & Setup:
I want to provide the full picture of how I plan to use these speakers:
* For movies, I have a TDA7294-based 5.1 amplifier (5 channels on TDA7294 chips and a subwoofer channel using a bridged 2SC1942/2SA940 pair for 300 watts total), which I plan to eventually convert into a pure power amplifier driven by a 7.1
preamp/processor by adding two more TDA7294 channels. A Denon 7.1 AVR is also a possibility in 2-3 years.
* For stereo music listening, I am planning to use a separate, dedicated amplifier like a Fosi Audio BT20A Pro or a chip based stereo amp on the LM3886.
* The Front Left and Right speakers will be connected to a changeover switch to select between the movie (AVR/TDA) and music (Fosi/LM3886) amplifier inputs.
Request for Confirmation:
I am now leaning heavily towards trusting my designer and building the 2-way HDS system. I know my planned setup might seem a bit crude, but this is my first project of this scale, and after all my research, I feel I'm nearing analysis paralysis!
For the experienced builders here on HiFiVision, does Albin's logic hold up? Have you found that a well-executed 2-way with premium drivers can indeed outperform a 3-way built with more budget-oriented components, especially for musicality and vocal clarity?
Any thoughts, experiences, or confirmations would be hugely appreciated before I pull the trigger.
Thank you for your time and expertise!
I'm in the middle of my first major DIY speaker project here in Calicut and have reached a critical decision point.
I can't quite call myself an audiophile yet, but I'm definitely in the making! I truly value great quality music—not with excessive bass or highs, but with a rich, clear mids for vocals.
I would be so grateful for your experienced insights and a sanity check on my plan before I proceed.
Project Goal: To build a high-quality Front Left, Center, and Right (LCR) speaker setup that excels at both musicality and immersive movies. In reality, this has become a battle of the pocket vs. the heart!
The Dilemma & Background:
I initially planned a 3-way system and ordered the parts. Unfortunately, two of the three Peerless FSL0512R01-08 midrange drivers I received were damaged. The Indian distributor has been very helpful and is ready to replace them, but since that specific model is out of stock, he has offered to send SDS P830657 woofers as a substitute.
This situation prompted a detailed discussion with my designer, Albin, and we've arrived at two distinct paths forward:
Option 1: The 3-Way SDS System
* Tweeter: HiVi Q1R
* Midrange: Peerless SDS 4" Woofer (P830656)
* Woofer: Peerless SDS 6.5" Woofer (P830657)
* Concept: A traditional 3-way design aimed at dedicating a driver to each frequency range. Albin would design and implement the custom crossover for this specific combination.
Option 2: The 2-Way HDS System (Designer's Recommendation)
* Tweeter: Peerless BC25SC08-08 (which I already own and is in perfect condition)
* Mid-Woofer: A high-quality Peerless HDS-series 6.5" driver.
* Concept: A simpler, high-quality 2-way bookshelf design (approx. 22" high) focused on superior component quality and coherence. Albin would also design the crossover for this.
My Core Question & Concern:
My initial belief was that a 3-way system with a dedicated midrange driver would inherently be better for the vocal clarity and musicality I'm looking for. I was concerned that a 2-way system, even with a superior HDS mid-woofer, would be a compromise.
However, my designer strongly argues that the 2-way HDS design will be significantly better, even for music. His reasoning is that the superior quality and exceptionally low distortion of the HDS driver in the critical midrange frequencies will outperform the entry-level SDS drivers. He also points to the benefits of a simpler crossover and better "point-source" imaging in a 2-way system.
The cost difference for the full LCR set is about ₹9,500 more for the HDS path.
My Planned Amplification & Setup:
I want to provide the full picture of how I plan to use these speakers:
* For movies, I have a TDA7294-based 5.1 amplifier (5 channels on TDA7294 chips and a subwoofer channel using a bridged 2SC1942/2SA940 pair for 300 watts total), which I plan to eventually convert into a pure power amplifier driven by a 7.1
preamp/processor by adding two more TDA7294 channels. A Denon 7.1 AVR is also a possibility in 2-3 years.
* For stereo music listening, I am planning to use a separate, dedicated amplifier like a Fosi Audio BT20A Pro or a chip based stereo amp on the LM3886.
* The Front Left and Right speakers will be connected to a changeover switch to select between the movie (AVR/TDA) and music (Fosi/LM3886) amplifier inputs.
Request for Confirmation:
I am now leaning heavily towards trusting my designer and building the 2-way HDS system. I know my planned setup might seem a bit crude, but this is my first project of this scale, and after all my research, I feel I'm nearing analysis paralysis!
For the experienced builders here on HiFiVision, does Albin's logic hold up? Have you found that a well-executed 2-way with premium drivers can indeed outperform a 3-way built with more budget-oriented components, especially for musicality and vocal clarity?
Any thoughts, experiences, or confirmations would be hugely appreciated before I pull the trigger.
Thank you for your time and expertise!
