ZillaAudio.com

Open Baffle Speakers on the cheap

2011-03-09T07:38:00.000-08:00

These Open Baffle Speakers were made using inexpensive components from PartsExpress. The tweeters use the smallest Dayton waveguide plus a cheap piezo super tweeter (the same waveguide used on the ZillaTweeter supertweeter). The piezo doesn't sound as good but does the trick if budget is limited. The midrange is the now discontinued Pioneer B20 full range driver. PartsExpress sells a substitute by GRS but they do not sound quite the same (the GRS is more forward with less bass). The woofers are 15" Jamo buyouts. Their specs suited open baffle designs and worked great! Just find a large diameter woofer with a high Qts (.75 or higher is my estimate) and pair it with a good subwoofer amp. This way you can alter the woofers output and crossover frequency to match with the main driver of your choice.

This was a fun project that turned out really well. My son loves them!

2010-11-08T09:10:00.000-08:00

Flat speaker wire allows you to run speaker cable around your home without having to hire an electrician to make holes in your walls and ceilings. Running flat speaker wire under carpets and along baseboards can look totally unobtrusive, neat and clean. ZillaAudio.com sells high quality flat speaker wire for use in your home or office. It's 16 gauge copper wire offering audiophiles the quality they require while remaining concealed. Visit www.ZillaAudio.com for all your speaker wire needs.

2010-10-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

The Pioneer B20 fullrange driver, also known as the BOFU, sounds good stock. Removing the dustcap improves the sound. It's something you can easily do with an Xacto knife and some patience. Removing the dustcap improves the sound by reducing the muffled vocals and pushing the overall presentation forward. The sound is slightly brighter and less dull. Visit www.ZillaAudio.com to find out more about modifying the B20 fullrange driver.

You can purchase phase plugs at www.planet10-hifi.com.

Super Tweeter kit at www.ZillaAudio.com

2010-10-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

The ZillaTweeter super tweeter kit found another home atop a Klipsch Cornwall. Adding sparkle and air to the top octaves of just about any speaker is the goal of a super tweeter. This super tweeter comes with three different capacitors to alter the crossover frequency to your preference plus the volume control allows you to further fine tune and blend the ZillaTweeter into your existing speakers. Find out how you can add dynamic, detailed treble to your audio system. Visit www.ZillaAudio.com to learn more about the ZillaTweeter super tweeter.

Patio Speakers at ZillaAudio.com

2010-09-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

Patio speakers are weatherproof speakers that go outside. They are connected to a stereo amplifier and provide musical enjoyment on your patio, deck, pool and can be mounted on your boat too. They are made from weather resistant materials able to withstand harsh weather. Outdoor patio speakers come in different shapes and sizes. Sometimes they are painted to match the color of your exterior but usually come in white or black.

Landscape Rock Garden Outdoor Speakers

2010-08-24T12:41:00.000-07:00

An even larger selection of brand name landscape rock garden outdoor speakers are available at ZillaAudio.com. These durable rock speakers are perfect for your backyard, patio or deck. There are many styles and colors to choose from to compliment your landscape design. Shop our online store at ZillaAudio@blogspot.com.

ZillaAudio.com

2010-08-23T18:57:00.001-07:00

Visit www.ZillaAudio.com for the latest in loudspeakers. Choose from a large selection of famous brands including Bose, Polk, JBL, Klipsch, Cerwin Vega, Dayton Audio and more!

Pioneer B20 wide range driver on open baffle plus the BOOMer open baffle bass kit

2010-01-20T16:39:00.000-08:00

The Boomer is an open baffle speaker kit consisting of two 15” pro sound woofers, a dedicated amp with volume control and variable crossover from 50 to 150Hz and the cables needed to connect everything to your existing amp. The amp provides the key to blending this kit with many different types of drivers. Intrigued by open baffle designs I simulated 8” drivers on open baffles to see how low they would go in the bass. Most did not make it much past 200Hz with any real strong output below that frequency on a 20” baffle. The Boomers stand 48” tall by 20” wide. They each contain one 15” woofer that sits close to the floor leaving the rest of the baffle to sport drivers of your choice. The ones I have used so far and believe are excellent choices are the Wild Burro Audio Betsy, the Pioneer B20 and the TangBand W8-1808.

The Pioneer B20 needs a tweeter. The ZillaTweeter is the best tweeter I have heard with the B20 producing a more live sound than hi-fi sound most domes produce. This is an inexpensive way to get amazing sound without any excuses. I really enjoy the Boomer + the B20 + ZillaTweeter. Overall, the sound is characteristic of the B20 being warm and mellow. These speakers are not overly detailed but the open baffle design does seem to bring out the most the B20 can deliver. There are no box colorations and the B20 seems to relax a bit more than when I have it in a cabinet.

The Boomer provides a platform allowing these types of drivers to excel. The natural roll off below 200kHz only helps. Blending the 15” woofers works beautifully with the amplifiers volume control and variable frequency control. It’s only a matter of time before your system is perfectly matched to your room and your taste. I fiddled with the controls a few days and found turning the volume knob to about 10 o’clock and setting the crossover at about 75Hz provided great performance in my room. The bass can totally overpower a room but can be turned down for more civilized listening. Once dialed in you will experience the benefits of open baffle, full range drivers and bass only large diameter woofers can produce. Boxed speakers will not satisfy the way these do. If space permits and you really want to be transported to the venue, I cannot recommend building a pair of Boomer open baffle speaker kits and partnering them with your favorite wide or full range driver.

Insulated direct burial outdoor speaker wire

2009-07-20T17:12:00.000-07:00

Insulated direct burial outdoor speaker wire from ZillaAudio.com provides customers with the perfect solution for their outdoor speaker and audio installation. Install with confidence using this great solution specifically designed for outdoor use. Use by the pool, on your patio, deck or yard. Bury this wire underground or in conduit for years of listening pleasure that will last as long as your house. Thick 14 gauge cable ensure long lengths will not compromise performance. Visit www.ZillaAudio.com for all your outdoor speaker and audio needs.

Speaker wire, what should I buy?

2009-06-14T13:27:00.000-07:00

Speaker wire can be very subjective. Many audiophiles believe speaker wire can make a tremendous difference in the quality of sound achieved with your stereo music system. ZillaAudio.com believes this is true to a degree. We feel there is a diminishing return on your investment. What we have done is select what we feel are the best wire and cabling options for your home stereo needs. Our direct burial outdoor speaker cable is ideal for outdoor use (especially with our excellent outdoor speakers). ZillaAudio direct burial outdoor speaker wire is run from the inside of your house to the outside. It’s thicker than other outdoor speaker wire at 14 gauge so long runs are not an issue and its waterproof properties protect your wiring from rain, snow and flooding. This quality, rugged outdoor speaker wire is buried under your lawn, runs hidden thru your bushes and protects your investment. ZillaAudio also has a great selection of regular speaker wire for your home stereo too. Stranded 12 gauge copper wire may be the best sounding wire regardless of price. You can go thicker or thinner but 12 gauge is regarded as ideal for audiophile applications. 12 gauge gives you the fullest sounding bass response without losing any midrange or treble detail. Going thicker, for example 10 or even 8 gauge can mar the high frequencies. Going thinner 18 or 20 gauge for example, may reduce the powerful bass notes but provide great highs. All wire is a tradeoff so before spending too much to gain nothing or even lose, consider our 12 gauge, copper stranded speaker wire as a high end alternative to expensive brands like AudioQuest, Cardas, Vampire Wire and others. With our wire you will save money and hear all the details hidden in the pits of your CDs or the grooves of your record collection. Our flat speaker wire is perfect for running in places where you can’t get inside walls or just don’t want too. Run flat against the baseboard or against the trim and enjoy a nearly invisible look without the extra construction expense. The sound is great with this cable too. And finally, our four conductor (4C) cable is designed to run inside your walls and ceilings. We use it all the time to connect your amplifier or receiver to volume knobs throughout your home. Many of our volume knobs are made in the USA and work perfectly with this architectural cable. If you have any wire or cable questions for your home stereo needs, don’t hesitate to contact us at www.ZillaAudio.com

Wire, wire, wire!

2009-05-31T16:50:00.000-07:00

Wire, wire, wire! Finding the right wire for the right application is not always easy. Whether it’s direct burial outdoor speaker wire, in-wall speaker wire, flat speaker wire or simply high quality stereo speaker wire, ZillaAudio.com has a great selection. Visit www.ZillaAudio.com and see which wire best suits your needs.

Consider adding sound in your next landscape garden design

2008-08-07T15:20:00.000-07:00

Adding sound and music to your garden landscape design is easier than ever! TIC and Dayton make great looking rock garden speakers that disappear into your garden design. Once positioned all that needs to be done is run wire to a stereo. I recommend using direct burial speaker wire. It can be buried or simply run thru the garden without worry about shocks or fire hazards. To view more outdoor rock speakers check www.ZillaAudio.com and contact our speaker guru, Jeff Feith.

Ceiling speakers for your basement and the rest of your house.

2008-07-26T06:48:00.000-07:00

If you have a basement where children play you know how easily things can be broken. Many of my customers have been replacing their more traditional stereo speakers with ceiling speakers in their basements. Why? Because they are totally out of the way. Ceiling speakers sound great. The three sizes we carry at ZillaAudio.com are 5-1/4 inch, 6-1/2 inch and 8 inch models from Dayton Audio, Goldwood, etc. represent the best values in the industry. Compare to other well known brands (for example, Bose, Klipsch, Polk, etc.). Our ceiling speakers are selected for their excellent sound quality and durability. Our ceiling speakers are favorites among hobbyists, contractors and DIY'ers all over the world. Getting your speakers out of the way in your basement also allows you to take advantage of maximum space. This is true for the rest of your house where space is a premium. Ceiling speakers can be used anywhere. In your bathroom, den, kitchen, living room, etc. without upsetting layout or using space for unwanted speaker cabinets. Ceiling speakers at ZillaAudio.com are highly recommended for their performance and durability. If you have any questions about installing ceiling speakers or running wire to ceiling speakers don't hesitate to contact Jeff@ZillaAudio.com.

Outdoor speakers for your backyard.

2008-07-26T06:25:00.000-07:00

There are so many outdoor speakers to choose from, rock speakers, indoor outdoor speakers, waterproof speakers, patio speakers, pool speakers, speakers for your deck, landscape speakers, omni-directional garden speakers, stone speakers, wireless speakers, etc. When I speak with my customers I always ask them "How will you listen to music at your house?" Are you entertaining large groups or quietly enjoying your Jacuzzi? Oftentimes, mistakes are made when buying outdoor speakers. If your backyard is large, scatter outdoor speakers throughout. If you have a small area, like a hot tube or small patio, setup your outdoor speakers close by so you can enjoy intimate listening without having to turn up the volume. If you have any questions about installing outdoor speakers, running wire to outdoor speakers or want to discuss the best solution using outdoor speakers, your garden design or garden landscape at your house, contact our outdoor speaker guru, Jeff Feith at Jeff@ZillaAudio.com.

In Wall Speakers offer convenience and performance!

2008-07-15T08:44:00.000-07:00

Everyone loves good music in their home but not everyone loves large speaker cabinets cluttering up their living space. ZillaAudio.com has an excellent selection of quality in-wall speakers that sound amazing. They are a great alternative when you do not have space for larger speaker boxes. Perfect for home theater, wall speakers mount in front, behind and on the sides, out of the way. Some customers use wall mounted speakers throughout their entire house. In wall speakers can be connected to multi-room stereos, whole house stereos or individual systems. Their ability to hide away unnoticed until music is turned on makes them very flexible. Great for new home construction, in wall speakers mount out of the way leaving room for decorative touches. Contact Jeff@ZillaAudio.com to discuss your next in wall speaker project.

Patio Speakers: Add sound to your patio, deck or backyard with waterproof speakers

2008-07-14T08:03:00.001-07:00

Enjoying music outdoors has never been easier! Patio speakers are protected from rain, sleet or snow and provide musical satisfaction for family and friends. Weatherproof/waterproof plastic enclosures, heavy duty brackets and binding posts allow patio speakers to be mounted outside wherever you want music. Music can be enjoyed in your backyard, deck, pool, patio or anywhere people gather. If you are planning to setup speakers outside your home and want to discuss your options contact Jeff@ZillaAudio.com

One stereo, music everywhere: How one stereo receiver can fill your house with sound

2008-07-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

Getting music into every room in your house can be done in different ways. To do this using only one receiver, you need a multi-speaker switchbox. A speaker switchbox connects to your receiver allowing multiple pairs of stereo speakers to be connected. The circuitry inside the speaker switchbox protects your receiver (or amplifier) from overloading or burning up. Once setup, all you need to do is run wire from the speaker switchbox to the different speakers. Some of my customers have speakers outside in their backyard, on their patio or deck, by their pool, in their living room, bedroom and kitchen. All of these speakers share the same stereo receiver. Typically, speaker wire is run from the speaker switchbox to volume knobs mounted on the wall in these rooms (living room, kitchen, etc.). There are also exterior volume knobs that are waterproof and stay outside. These volume knobs allow you to raise and lower volume in each room or area of your house independently of one another. Enjoying music at home has never been easier! Contact Jeff@ZillaAudio.com to discuss the way you want music in your home. Or call ZillaAudio.com (516) 351-1032.

Rock Garden Speakers for your landscape: You don’t see them, only hear them.

2008-07-09T10:20:00.000-07:00

Rock garden speakers enhance your backyard with music. Once setup and installed they provide musical enjoyment for the whole family. They are great during parties or just for relaxing and enjoying the sun or playing with your kids. These speaker rocks can be connected to an existing stereo receiver. Simply add a speaker switchbox to turn them on or off. Also, speaker volume control knobs can be added at specific locations, for example in your kitchen, to easily raise and lower the volume without having to go to your stereo. There are new wireless TIC rock speakers available as well as traditional wired versions. Visit www.ZillaAudio.com to learn more and buy rock garden speakers for your home.

Outdoor Music Mania!

2008-07-07T18:56:00.000-07:00

Looking to fill your backyard with sound? ZillaAudio.com has a great selection of speakers for your patio. Enjoy patio audio and patio stereo on your deck or at your pool. If you are looking for creative rock speakers, outdoor stone speakers and hidden speakers for your garden landscape or need outdoor party speakers, you will find ZillaAudio.com's select group of products provide outstanding value and appeal. Enhance your home with outdoor speakers from ZillaAudio.com

Dayton Audio Ceiling speakers available at ZillaAudio.com

2008-06-29T19:45:00.000-07:00

Dayton Audio Ceiling Speakers ship free from ZillaAudio.com. We are dedicated to your satisfaction. Dayton Audio Ceiling Speakers represent amazing value for your home audio needs. Easy to install and great sounding speakers are hallmarks of Dayton Audio. We have had nothing but excellent results when installing Dayton Audio Ceiling Speakers in a kitchen, den or thru the entire house. Sound quality is full and rich. We have not seen a product any less than excellent from Dayton Audio.

Dayton Audio Subwoofers are now available at ZillaAudio.com

2008-06-29T19:35:00.000-07:00

Dayton Audio Subwoofers are available at ZillaAudio.com! Contact Jeff at Jeff@ZillaAudio.com or call (516) 351-1032.

Backyard Home Theater at ZillaAudio.com

2008-06-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

Available NOW as ZillaAudio.com is a unique, hi performance, backyard home theater system. It has everything you need to setup and amazing movie experience in your backyard or anywhere you want to watch your favorite movies. The DVD player is built into the projector for ease of use. The speakers are great indoor-outdoor patio speakers by Dayton Audio and can be used anywhere inside or outside your home. They come with brackets to mount onto walls inside or outside your home. The video projector, DVD player, portable digital amp, indoor-outdoor speakers, wire and all the cables you need to hook it all up are included. This is one of the best ways to enjoy movies indoors or outdoors with your family and friends. A portable, easily storable movie screen is also included and is 80 inches in diameter.

Dayton Audio

2008-06-23T19:59:00.000-07:00

Dayton Audio makes an amazing speaker! They have a great following from people in the know. Their products are always excellent especially when you consider how much they cost. Great values! www.ZillaAudio.com is ramping up to sell Dayton Patio (indoor-outdoor speakers), Dayton In-Wall speakers and Dayton Ceiling speakers. Shipping is free as we continue to upload these new products.

Wireless rock speakers by TIC

2008-06-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

Wireless rock garden speakers are coming soon to ZillaAudio.com! I will be testing them soon to see how they perform. TIC rock speakers are usually excellent quality. I will keep you posted.

Audio Discussion and More...

2008-01-10T15:45:00.000-08:00

This blog is dedicated to improving the lives of people who enjoy good music and good sound. Speakers and other associated equipment discussed with the focus on enjoyment, improving your systems and building systems in your home or business.