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Dayton Audio BR-1 6-1/2" 2-Way Bookshelf Monitor Speaker Kit Pair

Dayton Audio
Part #300-640

Dayton Audio BR-1 6-1/2" 2-Way Bookshelf Monitor Speaker Kit Pair

Dayton Audio
Part #300-640  
Model: BR-1
Not only is the Dayton Audio BR-1 6-1/2" 2-way monitor kit a great-sounding speaker system, it is also an effective educational tool for those who wish to explore the loudspeaker construction hobby.
Key Features
  • Low cost, easy-to-build 2-way system for the speaker building beginner
  • Includes everything you need to build one pair
  • Perfect introduction to speaker design theory, construction, and soldering
  • Fully finished enclosure allows this kit to be completed in a couple hours
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Overview

Dayton Audio BR-1 6-1/2" 2-Way Bookshelf Monitor Speaker Kit Pair

The BR-1 Makes It Easy To Build Your Own Hi-Fi Speaker

The BR-1 was designed to provide a low cost, easy-to-build 2-way system for the speaker building novice. The end result is a kit that can be assembled in a couple of hours with basic hand tools and has a sound that rivals systems costing two or three times its modest price. The finished enclosures, custom crossover boards, and detailed instructions make the BR-1 kit perfect to beginning speaker builders.

 The Dayton Audio BR-1 2-way speaker kit gives you the ability to build your own high end speakers using Dayton Audio's popular DC28F-8 1-1/8" silk dome tweeter and DC160-8 6-1/2" woofer. This kit delivers high-fidelity audio that is perfect for both casual and critical listening environments. 

Detailed, Smooth, and Warm Sound

Overall, the BR-1 delivers a smooth and detailed sound, with a wide soundstage that belies their smallish size. The tonal balance is on the warm side of neutral and is know to produce a pleasing sound with most types of music, including poorly recorded tracks. Also, the low frequency capability is impressive for a system of this size thanks to the "extended bass shelf" tuning of the enclosure, which produces an F3 of 43 Hz, and provides useful output as low as 35 Hz. This give the BR-1 the ability to produce big, room filling output, without the need for a separate subwoofer.

Dayton Audio DC28F-8 1-1/8" Silk Dome Tweeter

Featuring a treated silk dome, this tweeter delivers smooth sound, while the damped rear chamber diminishes the resonance for better clarity. Thanks to the Ferrofluid cooled voice coil, this tweeter has the ability to handle high power for extended periods of time.

Dayton Audio DC160-8 6-1/2" Classic Woofer

A non-pressed treated paper cone allows for smooth frequency response, while the high temperature aluminum voice coil and vented pole piece combine to increase power handling without compression. Longevity is ensured with the use of a rubber surround, treated cloth dust cap, and an extended bump plate.

Crossovers

The crossover filters were designed to achieve a flat overall response. The BR-1 measures on axis within +/- 2.0dB from 100 Hz -12 KHz. Flat frequency response is desirable so that all frequencies are reproduced with the same loudness over the loudspeaker’s bandwidth. 



Another, arguably more important goal is flat and predictable off-axis frequency response. A loudspeaker which exhibits good off-axis response generally has smoother in room response and provides a wider sweet spot for the listener.

Individual driver and summed system response

Off Axis Frequency Response

The graph above shows the off axis response of the BR-1 kit. 

  • Blue - Port Response
  • Black - 0 Degrees
  • Brown - 15 Degrees
  • Red - 30 Degrees
  • Orange - 45 Degrees

About the Enclosure

With most speaker kits, assembling and finishing the enclosures can be the most time consuming part of the process. However, the BR-1 kit features assembled enclosures that are finished in an unobtrusive "black ash" vinyl laminate and include grills with black cloth. All driver holes are CNC precision cut for a perfect fit. In addition, the woofer is recessed and the tweeter is flush mounted to reduce diffraction effects. This is what makes the BR-1 so popular with beginner level hobbyists, you can always end up with a professional looking speaker pair regardless of your woodworking expertise. 


The Dayton Audio BR-1 cabinet uses 5/8" thick MDF and has an net internal volume of .52 cubic feet. It utilizes a EBS (extended bass shelf) alignment and is tuned to 38 Hz with a rear mounted port which results in a F3 of 43 Hz. The box dimensions are 8-5/8" wide, 14-1/4" high, with a depth of 11", giving it a small footprint suitable for stand mounting or placed on a TV stand.

Specifications

  • Impedance: 8 ohms
  • Frequency response: 43-18,000 Hz
  • SPL: 85 dB 2.83V/1m
  • Power handling: 100 watts max
  • Cabinet dimensions: 14-1/4" H x 8-5/8" W x 11" D

Assembly Guide

This system is offered in kit form and can be assembled in about two hours. The crossover requires assembly, so beginner soldering skills are necessary. We've included a tutorial that thoroughly explains the theory and design process, making this kit perfect for educational programs. Each kit includes everything needed to build one pair of speakers.

Note: The BR-1 kit includes everything need to build a pair of bookshelf speakers, including: Drivers, crossover components and circuit boards, finished enclosures, damping materials, wire, screws, and solderless terminals.

Tools Needed

  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Hot glue gun
  • Soldering iron
  • Electronics grade solder
  • Wire cutter / stripper
  • Small pliers
  • Crimp tool
  • Utility knife

Product Details

BrandDayton Audio
ModelBR-1
Part Number300-640
UPC844632014703
Weight43.1

Product Specifications

Cabinet Dimensions (HxWxD)14-1/4" x 8-5/8" x 11"
Cabinet OptionsFinished
ColorBlack
Configuration2-way
Input Rating8 ohm
Speaker TypeBookshelf
Woofer Diameter6.5"

Specifications

Q&A

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63 Questions
Why did you choose this?
Parts Express Store

Looking for good audio speakers and interested in doing a project

John K.

Purchased before and liked the product.

WILLIAM M.

Looked like some good speakers to learn speaker construction with

Ryan PETERSON M.

Built them before and very good sound, These will be for a father son project

William Baldwin U.
No sound from woofers and quiet tweeters

I finished building my br-1's, but when I hooked them up to a 30 watt dayton T class amp, the woofers had no sound and the signal from my tweeters was low, even with the amp at max volume. Does this sound like I made a mistake during setup or should I get an amp with more wattage?
Keenan

Best Answer: It sounds like you mixed up your crossover outputs (Tweeters hooked up to the Woofer Out and Woofers to the Tweet Out). Double check your wiring before hooking up to any more amplifiers or you could seriously damage the tweets.

Joshua D.
How do these sound compared to the Overnight Sensations? Love mine, but would love something similar with 6.5" woofers.
Drexel Lake

Best Answer: Don't have any experience with the Overnight Sensations but I am very happy with the BR-1's. I have 6 of them in the theater room with two on the center channel on a separate amp, one on each side of the TV (not recomended by the experts due to interference or lobbing with a mono signal). I have not been using room correction with them since they sound best without in my 10 x 11 foot room using an 80 hz crossover.

LAWRENCE L.
are these speakers the original classix by paul carmody. If so what would be the difference between the classix 2. I have a pair of br-1 cabinets .Will the classix 2 components fit the br-1 cabinets?
alarmo

Best Answer: This speaker is not the same design or designer as the original classix. It uses a different tweeter and the crossover design is different as well.

Chris F. staff

Will the classix 2 speaker components fit the br1cabinets., as i have the cabinets

alarmo
First Question, could these be front ported? Second, if i wanted to customize the exterior on my own. Could I buy just the component kit, then use 5/8 MDF and cut it to the cabinet dimensions provided here, design them my own way and they would still sound the same?
MichaelPhile

Best Answer: I think changing the port to the front would not give you the same quality sound. But yes, it should be possible to build your own cabinet, as long as you use the same dimensions and material thicknesses. In fact, that's what I would do because the cabinets are rather ugly and their appearance belies the sound quality.

ROBERT V.
Can these speakers work as a sealed enclosure?
MichaelPhile

Best Answer: We do not recommend altering the design to simply remove the port. You could use the same components in a smaller sealed design but you will lose bass response as a result. A sealed box of 0.14 ft.³ would get to about 89 Hz.

Greg T. staff
Can these be modified to be self-powered?
mrpetemd

Best Answer: I have no doubt that these speakers COULD be modified to be self-powered, however it would not be a simple plug and go solution. There are resources online to modify "passive" speakers to "active" speakers. One thing that should be noted is that you will probably have external components. If you were to try hiding any additional components inside the speakers to make them "stand-alone", it will alter the way sound bounces inside of the cabinet. Without simulation software, there is no way to predict how the added components will effect the sound reproduction through the speakers.

Mark F.
Will adding an 8 passive radiator to the back in place of the port help take it lower with out hurting the output? I have the Ds215-PR  8" in mind. Yes I know it will be a tight fit.
Sam S.
Dayton Audio DS215-PR 8" Designer Series Passive Radiator
Dayton Audio DS215-PR 8" Designer Series Passive Radiator
Dayton Audio BR-1CAB BR-1 6-1/2" 2-Way Speaker Cabinet Pair
Dayton Audio BR-1CAB BR-1 6-1/2" 2-Way Speaker Cabinet Pair
BR-1 Kit Components
BR-1 Kit Components

Best Answer: I find the bass response with the radiator to be tighter and more responsive without being too “boomy”

lrod2344
I was thinking of buying the BR-1 component kit only and building my own enclosures.
i was curious about whether or not to put ports in enclosures.? i see that the kit does not come
with any ports. does the complete kit with enclosures come with ports ? pros/cons of me adding
the ports to the speakers.? newbie here. thanks

br
A shopper

Best Answer: I built 2 of these which i use in my digital production studio I used LMS to determine the exact Qts of the speakers I happened to get. This forced a slightly larger cabinet and a slightly lower Fb. I used the original crossovers. I built the cabinets with a double front panel, about 1 1/2 inch thick and routed out the front panel so the woofer and tweeter were mounted flush. I also rounded off the front panel and put interior braces in side the cabinet with a little bit off a fiberglass insulation attic roll on back and 2 sides of cabinet. to increase damping. About $134.00 for the components, and another $35.00 for a 4 x 8 sheet of MDF., which I cut on a table saw and put together with glue and screws. I think they sound great and make good close range productiom monitors with a good loow end down to about 40 Hz. You can certainly build your own box, and successfully revise these systems to suit yourself.

JOSEPH Z.
do these speakers accept banana plugs?
A shopper

Best Answer: Yes they do accept banana plugs.

Mike
Booklet says woofers have no mounting gasket on backside so need speaker sealing caulk, but mine do have a gasket. Do I still need the caulk?
A shopper

Best Answer: No; if the woofers have a gasket, you don't need the caulk.

KAI L.
Questions for Similar Products
Can the port be mounted on the front? This would most likely require shifting the tweeter and resulting mod of the bracing but is better for the speaker placement relative to the wall. The other option which is much easier and would do more or less the same thing is to have it exit the side of the cabinet. Would it affect the sound/frequency response if I were to shift the port as described? I am also wondering why the baffle at least is not routed around the edges? Doesn't it help eliminate unwanted reflections when the cabinet has some rounding of edges? I am also considering angling back the front baffle around the tweeter by sanding and/or cutting and sanding to achieve an effect similar to Adam speakers front baffle. Would this be worth the effort?
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