The Best $30 Loudspeakers?

The World's Best Loudspeakers?---Not. The Best $30 speakers?--maybe. We build and test two pair of DML loudspeakers and test them against a pair of high quality bookshelf speakers. You decide if they are as good as claimed.

[odarkCarey]

Move them away from the ceiling and closer to ear level. A good graphic EQ would be very helpful in balancing the frequency response.

[dennismartin]

I made these last year from the same video as you. I was highly impressed with how well they sound in my shop. I also used a thin piece of door skin clipped at only 1 end between a couple of 2x4s… very nice sound with different ranges

[gordthor]

DML speakers need to have much larger surface area to get more bass. However, in this comparison the gap between bass output would be significantly closer if you switched positions. Your box speakers are right up near the wall and close to the ceiling, which gives them a huge boost in bass from boundary gain. Boundary gain doesn't produce the highest quality (kinda boomy) of base, but it does significantly boost the amplitude.

[thethriftysuburbanite]

Thanks for making this project! I've followed the DML thread on Parts Express TechTalk for years and always considered making them. Your video has satisfied my urge to make them. There seems to be too much energy from the panels in the upper mids and lower treble range. My ears are particularly sensitive to that frequency range at my age. I was listening with my headphones on. Great video!

[toddincabo]

👍 Good job. If you put a thin coat of 50/50 wood glue to water on the foam panels they will sound way better. You could always hang your acoustic tile panels on their side without any major change to the sound as well to get them out of the way.

A huge benefit DML's give you is that the sound is distributed evenly over the entire room so that everywhere is a a sweet spot unlike those bookshelf's. True EPS styrofoam with 50/50 application as stated above sounds way better than XPS which is what you are using.

Hook up that big sub you have there with just the DML's and give them a go and see what you think, especially about being able to hear both channels the same no matter where you are in the shop. Also try out just the acoustic panels standalone and then the foam to get an idea of what sound you are getting from the individual pairs. Those 40w exciters at 4ohm are not going to hurt your receiver in any way. Good luck.

[Widjajaindra]

DML has a very good dispertion, just add small sub woffer. it will be excellence !

[xAnAngelOfDeathx]

I highly suggest using a sub woofer with DML's. Great video Frank, cheers.

[Giblet]

DMLs perform very well when paired with a sub, meaning the DMLs are on a 2nd or 3rd order high-pass filter: they're weird below 200Hz, so a sub must carry everything below that. They also seem to be a bit sensitive to wall reflections, and their mounting restrictions make it difficult to experiment with placement. There is a sweet spot that's defined by your unique room, good luck finding it.

DMLs are not superior to even mid-budget bookshelf speakers. That said, they are very different, and they are very cheap.

Try using them for height channels in surround applications e.g., 7.0.2 - 7.2.6 with an Atmos audio source. The DMLs' lack of directionality is perfect for surround applications.

[mooshaker]

Pretty cool Frank. Thanks for the instructional vid.

[tikaanipippin]

It may be constructive to play a mono music signal through 2 channels, one through the DML speaker, and the other through the ported speaker, and use an equalizer for each channel to balance the low and high frequencies. After all, as you note, the bookshelf speakers have been constructed to give a balanced response, which may have been tested at the design stage to give a flat response over the audio frequency range, whereas the DML have somewhat arbitrary dimensions, and are radiating from both front and back, hanging in the middle of the room as they appear to be, allowing the room space to dictate where low frequencies may reinforce or cancel out. A sound adsorbing surface behind the DMLs would improve bass quality, for little extra cost.

[audioprotaro]

nice test. DMLs need to be paired with subwoofers as they completely lack bass response.

[jeronronnunkoffunk]

I’ve just found your channel, enjoyed the detailed build out and honest perspective and concise review, I do have an idea now of what to expect and how to implement the DML speakers, I would be considering maybe a ribbon super tweeter, definitely an active crossover and a cheap used powered subwoofer, they definitely seem more open in mid range and higher mids, thanks for the candid video and review

[gordonwilloughby]

Did you make sure the speakers are phased correctly. If they are it helps the bass however that kind of speaker probably can't reproduce bass very well. I agree that a sub woofer would improve the sound with the DML speakers. The bookshelf speakers with the DML sound really good together. My computer speakers are good so I could hear the bass.

[dtachd]

- I see alot of people making videos of their DIY DMLs after the Tech Ingredients Video released with the general impression theyre terrible after speakers or they are just amused that Audio is coming from something thats not the Standard Speaker. I think if you spend enough time experimenting DTMs, as well as knowing when its appropriate to use them, they can be extremely effective over traditional speakers. Id say in some cases, they can dynamics and depth when paired Traditional Speakers them in my experiences.
- I spent a lot of time working with DMLs the last couple years. A lot of that was Trial and Error before being able to use them effectively in a Practical Alternative or Solution when doing Audio Consulting and Installations. I think the Tech ingredients Video was a little misleading and sensationalized but im glad he made the video. It created alot of buzz and opened a lot of peoples eyes to this Tech or Method of Speaker.
- Ill state some things to maybe help my Credibility/Qualification when talking about DMLs. For around 15 years Ive been an Audioe Enthusiast and worked in many areas of the Industry. From personal passion projects to consulting work. Mainly Based around Home Audio. Ive designed and built 100s of Custom Speakers using the standard "Driver and Cabinet" design that 99% of the entire industry uses and most speakers are that way for a reason. Ive also dont work in Designing and Consulting for a number of Small Recording Studios, Small Bars/Venues, and Home Theatres. Everything is factored into the equation from the Size, Shape, Materials, of Space which is crucial for the Best Estimations on an optimal Audio Solutions for the Budget and Purpose. Acoustic Treatment of the space is also a very Important.
- Anyways, That was long winded. I simply wanted to say these can do an amazing job at doing this average speakers cannot. The amount of soundstage when used for Stereo or Home Theatre purposes is mind blowing. They can completely eliminate the Single Point Fixation that traditional setups have, which is a thing where your Brain constantly fixates on the point or source the audio is coming from whether its conscious and/or subconscious, and that is how were conditioned to perceive sound sound on many levels. DMLs can make it to where youre brain cannot pinpoint or determine the precise source of audio so easily since DMLs can throw a massive wall of Audio waves to where ithe sound stage feels infinite and it gives you this feeling of being apart of or "one" with the Audio itself. So hard to describe but its a completely foreign yet amazing/transcendental experience when listening to music or watching a film. I use FMLs for my 9.1 Home Theater setup on every surround channels except for the Subwoofers and the L/R mains. Let me tell you, when things are happening, whether its action with explosions/bullets/crashing in the environment or a Thriller with all the layers and Ambience and Depth. its scary how much it transforms your space into the scene itself. Its almost unnerving.
- The best way I can describe it is if you have ever had decent headphones on and listened to "3D Audio or Binaural Audio" that are on youtube. The ones that make you feel in like your there.

[kentmckean]

If you added a sub with the DML speakers, it should work out.

[jimspc]

When soldering, tin both the wire and the tag. Then grasp the wire someway away from the solder and hold the tinned wire neatly onto the tag and reheat them together. Works every time you don't need three long as the soldering iron is cleaned by wiping on a damp sponge or rag. Never wipe the iron tip prior to putting it away, always before each joint is made to make it shine not dull and dark. If it is dull and dark add a little flux or cored solder.
But then you knew that, didn't you?

[phrayzar]

DIY DML' s are a fun project and are quite interesting. There was a lot of purchase created by Tech Industries very click baitey titled video. This technology has been around for a very long time, there is a reason that they have not become more prevalent. They will never be comparable to standard speakers, not just in the lower frequencies but also in mids and highs. The level of detail produced by decent speakers is just plainly superior. They are good for a piece of flat board, but that's about it.

[orionthehunter]

I have made several DLM style speakers using different drivers. I have also found that overall end grain balsa wood panels sound the best to me. I listen to all genres and have no issue with bass.
Sound of a traditional cone speaker and tweeter is manufactured to produce what we have been a established as sound for our ears. But in nature that is not proper representation of how sound is produced. That being said your disappointment is not justified other than the fact that your comparing apples to oranges.
I have a 4 panel set up using the balsa wood and have plenty of bass even with 2 and they fill a room from every direction. 😊

[luisochoa]

You forgot to conect the subwofer with the DML

[esquire]

I looked on the manufacturers website and they mentioned materials to use. Acoustic ceiling tiles were not on the recommended list. They were mentioned as a not optimal thing to use. I believe the manufacturer over Tech ingredients.