Looking to build a 5.1 system

[ojrules]

I'm fairly good at making "stuff", and have a above average knoledge of speakers (if we're caling you guys experts), and have a long summer coming up. My dad is looking to get a 5.1 surround sound system sometime in the future, or possibly just a 3.1 system, ( just something to get some decent sound out of).. However he probably doesnt want to spend over £100. How feasible would it be to build (assemble the actual speakers, choose individual drivers etc) and purchase a suitable amplifier for say under £70 for a 3.1 or under £100 for a 5.1?... One other thing i notice in high end 5.1 systems is how small the drivers are, and i was wondering whether this is from the acoustics of the box's. the quality of the drivers, or both? and also how feasible would this be to re-create?

[KelvinS1965]

Not wanting to dampen your enthusiasm, but you'll probably find that it will cost you more than £100 just to buy the parts as you don't get the bulk discount that the manufacturers do.

What might be more cost effective would be to scour the classifieds sections of this forum as there are always people upgrading and selling on their systems. You may pick up an all-in-one system for £100 that would still be worth most of that when you want to upgrade to something better. You could even try buying the separate pieces, but that might take longer and be more hit and miss, though likely to give a better sound over an AIO. I don't know what you mean by 'high end' having small speakers, but you canne break the laws of physics so to get true 'High end' sound you still need good sized speakers. Not wishing to offend owners, but if you meant 'Bose' then they aren't really 'high end' TBH.

Just food for thought, I hope you don't mind the suggestions.

[ojrules]

ok, thanks very much for the advise, i should probably rephrase that to medium-high end. The type of speakers i was reffering to was like these: Play.com (UK) : Sony HTI-S100 5.1 Channel Surround Sound System With 450W Total Output : Electronics - Free Delivery

i'l have a look into buying the separate peices, any idea where i could find them?

[hornydragon]

Originally Posted by ojrules

ok, thanks very much for the advise, i should probably rephrase that to medium-high end. The type of speakers i was reffering to was like these: Play.com (UK) : Sony HTI-S100 5.1 Channel Surround Sound System With 450W Total Output : Electronics - Free Delivery

i'l have a look into buying the separate peices, any idea where i could find them?

Your linking to some seriously low end kit that mass produced and sounds pants

YOu can buy drivers and DIY speaker and Sub kits but you are looking at alot more than £100 to get 5.1 for that budget you need to scour carboots etc for bits...

FOr mor einfo on DiY kits and parts see Arena Electronics Ltd SEAS Catalogue
And BK Elec
Modules

[ojrules]

are you saying its low end because of the price, or because of the speakers, or something else?

[KelvinS1965]

Originally Posted by ojrules

are you saying its low end because of the price, or because of the speakers, or something else?

Probably a bit of both, but the sound of this sort of system isn't what many on here would consider even 'mid end'. Maybe my system would be considered as mid range and typical of many 'enthusiast' setups on here, but that doesn't mean to belittle a starter system, just to clarify where it fits in the marketplace. As Hornydragon has linked to some possible suppliers of parts, that's a good start anyway (I was thinking more of the overpriced components from the likes of Maplin if you were to buy individual speakers, crossovers, etc.

I still think you'll get better VFM looking in the classifieds though and whatever you make will have little or no resale value, plus you don't know what it will sound like until you've built it.....then it's too late.

[ojrules]

ok, thanks very much.. also when you said the overpriced components from maplins, what are they likely to sound like to the amature ear? ( i already have a mono speaker project on the go, and have it "working", but its not in a box yet, ( so i know it works, but have no idea of the sound quality) .. i ask because the tweeter i have is of decent quality ( again, what i would call decent quality, aka not maplins bog standard) however the mid-woofer is a jobby from maplins.. is it likely to sound ok to the untrained ear, or should i spend the extra bob on a better cone, before i end up making the box and all

[hornydragon]

If your buying anyhting from maplins you're paying at least 30% over the odds as they are a high street retailer look at CPC RSonline for alternative suppliers of components as well as the above links. Any speaker system for 5.1 under about £1000 is entry level there are some nice entry level systems, but mid range starts at £1000+ which is still under £140 per speaker (allocating £300 to subwoofer and £700 to the other 5 if your buying components in low volume your going to pay £30 for a driver which a manufacturer pays £10 or less even if you spend as much on the bits as a fully assembled speaker you won't have the ££££££ CAD system to design the cabinet you can buy designs maybe even find some online but to get good perfromance you need to accrautely machine the cabinets. I'm not trying to put you off but with such a limited budget I think even with lots of free labour and design you will struggle to produce anything that sounds signifcantly better for significantly less budget. A bit like buying all the parts for a Car and putting it together yourself.......Even Biug tuning places start with an assembled car then strip it and rebuild it to new specs they don't start with a sheet of steel.

[ojrules]

ok, thanks very much, i've had a look on richer sounds at the speakers, and separtes, and while they look nice, and im sure they're very nice, ive probably got better things to spend money on, and il probs pop for a cheap "entry level" system. One other thing i would say is that i would suggest that above £1000 it is really enthusiast systems, rather than mid range systems, if you think about actual ammount of sales, the vast majority are going to be from you high street retailers, most of which don't sell the far priceier units.

[hornydragon]

Originally Posted by ojrules

One other thing i would say is that i would suggest that above £1000 it is really enthusiast systems, rather than mid range systems, if you think about actual ammount of sales, the vast majority are going to be from you high street retailers, most of which don't sell the far priceier units.

DEpend son what your classing as "ordinary" remeber this is an enthusiasts forum but alot of people who have systems have them installed 5.1 isnt mass market by means but the cheapest will always be most common.