anyone ever DIY powered monitors?

[45acp]

Due to some changeups in our band, we are now needing 2 more monitors. We can borrow 2 from our now gone singer for a while until we can get something else.

We are all short on funds and I had an idea to build a pair of 12/horn monitors... using some stuff we have laying around I can do the pair for $250-ish.

We already have a pair of barely used Carvin 12's, older USA made british series 8 ohm. I found a set of 2 way crossovers (4000hz) and our guitarist has a couple of sheets of 1/2" birch leftover from a previous project.

I need amp suggestions. Currently im thinking this- [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] separate amps would be nice but not necessary... I can build the amp into one and run the other off it. Tweeters im thinking these- [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Im open to any and all suggestions. These will be typical wedge floor monitors with only vocals, guitars and drums (NO kick) running through them.

 

[nick98338]

I would only caution you to examine the design of your crossovers. I was doing some reading on this subject, last night. You need to make sure that your speakers' impedance matches the expected impedance of the crossover. Also, some crossovers have pads to compensate for speaker sensitivity imbalance. Or, the other way around, the crossover may not have pads that your drivers may need. Building boxes is easy. Putting all the stuff in the box is not rocket science. The crossover stuff is a little complex. I'm not gonna tell ya what to do. I'm just saying'... check the crossover.

 

[Eric Moesle]

I'd be a bit concerned that if the natural EQ curve of your regular monitors doesn't match up with the sonic qualities of these "custom" monitors, you might find it difficult to control feedback without separate EQ's for each.

That's why its best for all monitors to be the same.

 

[mrbell321]

True DIY powered monitors:

Or, at least, DISE(Do it someone else)
That guy on the bike in front is powering everything.

 

[45acp]

I would only caution you to examine the design of your crossovers. I was doing some reading on this subject, last night. You need to make sure that your speakers' impedance matches the expected impedance of the crossover. Also, some crossovers have pads to compensate for speaker sensitivity imbalance. Or, the other way around, the crossover may not have pads that your drivers may need. Building boxes is easy. Putting all the stuff in the box is not rocket science. The crossover stuff is a little complex. I'm not gonna tell ya what to do. I'm just saying'... check the crossover.

Thanks. These are 2 way crossovers out of an old set of Klipsch stereo speakers. Don't remember much about them other than they had 8 ohm drivers.

I'd be a bit concerned that if the natural EQ curve of your regular monitors doesn't match up with the sonic qualities of these "custom" monitors, you might find it difficult to control feedback without separate EQ's for each.

That's why its best for all monitors to be the same.

Maybe we've been lucky, but we've ran different monitors for years and never had any problems. Two Yamaha's, a Mackie 450 and cant remember what the other one was

True DIY powered monitors:

Or, at least, DISE(Do it someone else)
That guy on the bike in front is powering everything.

Sweet idea but a little primitive even for the dives we play.

 

[Steve Dallman]

I'd do it. That plate amp should work well with a couple monitors. My only concerns are the other components.

The British series Carvins are either Eminence versions of Vintage 30's or Greenbacks. They will be a little raggedy in the higher regions (2K to 4k where they drop off.

I'm guessing the crossovers are 12dB/octave...and I could be wrong. They give the power handling using 18dB crossovers. With 12dB you lose power handling.

I'd prefer to see horns that could be crossed around 2k, and get rid of the frequencies that will be questionable for voices with that speaker.

You definitely will need/want crossovers for the tweeter that has high end rolloff for the woofer.

But try what you have, want, and make adjustments after you hear what you have.

I made 4 monitors for church years ago that served us well for 20+ years. I copied a design I liked for the cabinet, used pretty generic Eminence 12's, and a horn that was pretty ubiquitous back then...around 4X10" and was seen in many PA and monitor cabinets.

I crossed the tweeter around 2k at 12dB and used a simpler 6dB for the woofer, but a bit lower as the slope was gentle and there was a 2k spike I wanted to control.

They ended up flatter than I would have guessed and performed great. I did add ferro-fluid to the tweeters a couple years in that smoothed the tweeters noticeably.

Go for it. Just do it.

 

[seamonkey]

That dayton is dated, heavy, lacking features, Needs extra bracing to install, and you need to account for the internal volume it takes up. There are much better plate amps but you really can't buy them cheaper than the cab makers can sell them for.

DIY for self-powered speakers, or "Power Amps" is just not economical these days.
You can't buy the parts the manufacturers use any cheaper than they can.
They also build in "DSP" and Limiters that for DIY is complex.

IEM for monitors is also a popular. Making cabs that can double for other uses is important.