Hifi Speakers Based on the Linkwitz Labs LX Mini

thingiverse

I wanted to build a pair of speakers based on the acclaimed LX Mini Speaker by Linkwitz Labs. These speakers are renowned for their natural transparent sound and unique DIY concept. They possess some of the most realistic omnidirectional sound I've ever experienced. Since they don't have a "box," they avoid the common "boxy sound" issue - producing instead a clean (nearly) sound that's comparable to using a bare flash on a camera versus an aimed flash unit. They employ an unusual monopole design, utilizing 4-inch plastic pipe as the bass enclosure with a upward-facing 6.5-inch woofer and forward-facing full-range speaker. The tube acts as an omnidirectional 'bass radiator' rather than a typical woofer-in-box setup. The system uses a bi-amplified design with a digital 2x4 crossover to split the channels up and two T-class amps to power the drivers. I felt that this design cried out for 3D printing, which I could use to house the drivers and create a more visually appealing speaker. Additionally, I wanted to incorporate less expensive drivers, allowing the entire project to be completed at a lower cost. For comparison, the original design requires over $400 in driver costs (plus upwards of $700+ with amps and crossover), so my aim was to create a kit that would only cost $400. You can expect these speakers to present an exceptionally clean, uncolored audio field. Room placement isn't as critical with these speakers compared to many other models. They're particularly well-suited for listening to jazz and classical music, but they'll perform equally well on any genre of music. For more information, simply Google the LX Mini or read reviews online. I hope you enjoy building them and experiencing years of exceptional sound quality with your new handcrafted speakers. Please note that I'm not affiliated with Linkwitz Labs; this design is based solely on photos of the LX Mini. It's been adapted for use with different drivers, and it works effectively as is. However, to use the original specified drivers or another configuration, you may need to adjust the 3D printed part dimensions. Instructions: Important Note: To print the LARGE TOP PIECE, ensure that your printer can accommodate a platform of at least 200mm x 250mm x 200mm. Parts List: DRIVERS 2x MCM 55-1862 - 6.5" High Excursion Aluminum Cone Woofer ($24 each from MCM) 2x Markaudio CHR-70A Champagne Cone 4" Full Range ($36 each from Madisonsound) CROSSOVER 1x miniDSP 2x4 Digital Signal Processor ($115 from Madisonsound) AMPS for the Bi-Amp 2x Tripath T2021 based 25W stereo T-amps ($40-$70 each from eBay, depending on your preferences) (update: please note that these amps are not as powerful as normal speakers; to overcome this limitation, you may consider upgrading to 50W @ 8 ohm per channel amps) PIPE AND OTHER HARDWARE 2x 4-inch black ABS pipe (24-36 inches in length) 2x 4-inch pipe end caps 2x 10" x 10" mounting base boards (optional) 2 pounds of Polyfill to fill the bass tubes and reduce harmonics speaker wire (14 gauge or higher) silicone caulk for assembling the speaker Additional Optional Parts: Nice speaker terminals Paint for the tubes INSTRUCTIONS: To get the BOTTOMSTAND piece to fit snugly on a 4-inch NIBCO ABS endcap, be sure to print it at exactly 121% of its recommended scale.