Rating: 
Summary: A very useful companion for the home speaker-builder.
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A very useful companion for the home speaker-builder.
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Who is this book written for?
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Highly Recommended
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Highly Recommended
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: There are better resources on the web for free
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Great for the novice
Review: I bought this without ever having built, assembled or even worked on speakers. It guided me and explained everything I needed to build an couple of really hi-end speakers.
Rating:
Summary: Still the Best Speaker Book for the Money!
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: LIttle hard to get round
Review: Maybe it's my lack of knowledge with the whole area of speaker design but I thought that the book was a little dated to start with. Additionally, I felt that the whole part on determining the characteristics of the speaker driver was unnecessary as most drivers come with this data. Perhaps pointing this out with less coverage would have been good. The book covers determing box size and vented boxes rather well but falls down in the projects section which is basically a list of ideas. I would have liked to see the book focussing more on designing boxes with multiple drivers etc. Maybe it's because the book is so dated that it like that. And please, loose the BASIC programs!
Rating:
Summary: LIttle hard to get round
Review: Maybe it's my lack of knowledge with the whole area of speaker design but I thought that the book was a little dated to start with. Additionally, I felt that the whole part on determining the characteristics of the speaker driver was unnecessary as most drivers come with this data. Perhaps pointing this out with less coverage would have been good. The book covers determing box size and vented boxes rather well but falls down in the projects section which is basically a list of ideas. I would have liked to see the book focussing more on designing boxes with multiple drivers etc. Maybe it's because the book is so dated that it like that. And please, loose the BASIC programs!
|
