Customer Reviews

Designing, Building, and Testing Your Own Speaker System with Projects

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I bought this book as part of a two book purchase for a reference for a home built speaker project. The info that's there seems valid but doesn't cover the title's impression. There is no real info on building speakers and the design data is a little hard to follow. There are much better resources on the web. The basic program just shows how dated the book is. I am sorry that I spent money on this...publication.

this was my first book on my quest to learn all about speaker building. it is a very good starting place. i built the "tapered line transmission" speaker that he gives plans for and was completely satisfied. this particular design (transmission line)is probably one of the most forgiving designs. i've used several different drivers in the same box with success. his later editions have much more detail and he states what drivers he uses. the edition i got was an older one that never really stated what drivers he used in his projects. the newer editions use popular drivers that anyone can find on the net. this book is a good primer. the next step is "the loudspeaker design cookbook".

This book covers all the bases in detail, assuming that the reader has at least a working knowledge of electrical theory, physics, and acoustics. You don't have to have a degree, just reasonable familiarity with the subjects. The chapters are well written, and laid out in a very logical order. The book includes many charts, graphs, and illustrations to support the text. A must read for the novice speaker builder.

I'm a big Weems fan! I bought the 1st edition ~25 years ago. I used the first edition to build dozens of Hi-Fi, Pro-Audio and Car loudspeaker systems. With my first edition getting pretty worn with use, so I recently purchased the 4th edition, and I am very pleased. There are other books, but Weems book is stell the best speaker book for the money!

The 4th edition has been edited to the fundamental information required to design loudspeakers. In addition, Mr. Weems added design information on 3rd and 4th order cross over networks and added the governing equations to determine fb, f3 and Vb for closed and vented boxes. The BASIC source code for programs to design speaker and cross overs is also provided. Yea, the BASIC code is a little dated since most operating systems don't have a BASIC interpreter these days. I would like to see the programs downloadable (preferably in VB), but I have used the source code and the equations to write make my own VB application.

Weems provides both exact solutions (for math lovers), and the "minimal math" approach as well. Either way, you need to do "some" math to correctly design a loudspeaker enclosure. Most folks, who have mastered high school algebra and can solve simple equations, should be able to use the charts and graphs and design boxes and cross over networks.

I recommend this book for everyone from pro's to beginners. For the Physicists and Engineers out there, you may be a little disappointed that the derivation of the solutions are not presented. For beginners, if the design task seems overwhelming, this book will provide a great foundation to buy a kit from one of the online retailers. Either way, if I had to choose one speaker building book, this would be the one.

Like some of the others I started with the first edition of this book it is the single best guide I have found for getting started. While now dated it is still as valid as ever since design concepts have not changed. As for those that say one no longer needs to measure driver parameters because the are now published with the drivers, think again. I have found it common that measured parameters will vary as much as 30% from those published. I personally took the formulae and created Excel spreadsheets to automate things. BTW I own several editions of Vance Dickenson's book and still consider this a better reference especially for the beginner.

I bought the 1st edition of this book back around 1981 and have built both sealed and vented systems as well as fitted existing enclosures with just the right woofer, all with very happy results. I owe it all to what I've learned from this book. Thank you Mr. Weems! But alas, the ol' book has gotten worn so I decided a couple of weeks ago to order a new copy, the 4th edition. When it finally came I was very happy to see not only did it still retain all the information and programs I've grown to trust was still there, but has been expanded. There isn't the variety of projects as in the first edition but that didn't bother me because I've learned that by the time you get around to building the "projects" the components are usually discontinued anyway.
BASIC programs isn't a problem for me but might be for some people as a lot of them may not even know what BASIC is or may not want to take the time to type them in. No need to worry though because you can order both the BASIC and Windows versions of the program through the book... If you like it, buy it.

The Bottom line is, If your just an average joe, "like me" and you want to learn how build great sounding speakers that you'll be proud of.. without being a phd, or going broke.. then get this book.

I am 55, and have been "fiddling" with speaker-building for about 30 years. I am now designing higher-fi systems and this update by Weems is the best "practical" book I've found so far. He gives good working explanations of crossovers, impedance-compensation networks, notch filters, L-pads, and some alternative, practical approaches often missing from other books. Of great value also are diagrams for winding your own choke coils, if you are inclined to experimant with that, as I am. Also a good method for measuring speaker T-S parameters without sophisticated equipment. His actual pre-designed projects are brief, so if that is your interest get a different book. Also, he gives printed computer code for design programs, which is a bit old in approach. I would have preferred he put them there as a CD or floppy and sell the book for $2 more.

The author covers a variety of subjects but too lightly to be useful. Too much effort is spent on things that are useless. For example, Testing of Loudspeakers - part of the book's title - is barely 13 pages and is so basic as to not allow tuning of cabinet design. Rather this section focuses on determining specifications that speakers already come with. Suggestion of using PVC piping for ducts and asphalt paper for damping really remove any credibility for a successful high fidelity outcome using these techniques. Pictures of a hammer over a brad and a ruler on a woofer kind of tells it all. Many pages taken up with basic programming print outs - stuff that's available in Windows format free on the internet now. Horn designs are not covered and the project section only has a couple of basic designs. That said, the author does a great job telling you how to make inductors for cross-over networks.I was done with this 200 page book in about 1 hour. Rather dissapointing.

I am a complete beginner at speaker building. I have the necessary woodworking skills but I wanted to be able to choose a set of drivers and build a box for them. I could not do that after reading this book.

Too much was written on simplistic subjects and the more complicated subjects were only quickly touched on. Rather than starting with simple mathmatical examples, the examples are intermixed with multiple options. The book left me wondering how anyone could ever wade through the hopelessy complex process and build a set of speakers.

I came across with this book in my search of free loudspeaker design code. If you are planning to code a simple program which will help you in your everyday work, like finding the right size of a box (vented or sealed) depending on the alignment tables or finding the values of a n th order filter, there is a BASIC code at the end of this book which can ease your work. Although the code belongs to an ancient BASIC compiler, the algorithm is quite useful and easy to follow. I have converted the code into C++ and ported it to HP 49G+ with HP-GCC easily. The rest of the book covers some details about building enclosures and the basics of designing a successful multi-way loudspeaker system.