DIY Speaker Cabinets

Hi Ed,

Thank you for your reply. I don't necessarily disagree with any of your points. I'm asserting that the average audiophile will need to basically redesign the speaker system if they are altering the original specs of the cabinet. If they just guess at which dimensions or construction parameters to change the results will be hit and miss at best.

Best,

Barry

Barry...With returns of the respect...loudspeaker enclosures are not the perfect result of "inteligent design" but rather represent subjective goals of the designer. Most obviously there is a range of opinion regarding the best Q value. Variation of stuffing density will offset enclosure volume changes. Extra wall bracing/damping is always helpful. And most, if not all, commercial products are compromised to some extent by cost and other marketing considerations.

Thanks for the advice fellas.

I'm going to look into refurbishing and also some of the pre-built cabinets.

Matt

Hi Ed (Eldartford),

With all due respect, there is SOME possibility that a change from the original cabinet specifications 'might' have positive effects but it is far more likely that changes will result in less than optimum performance for the drivers and xover employed (assuming the original designers did design the cabinet properly) - it would be a hit and miss adventure. If the original cabinet was not designed correctly then Matt will need to completely redesign the speaker system using the existing drivers and xover. I did not get the impression that is what he had in mind.

Best Regards,

Barry

Have you considered veneering the speakers you have? It's not so hard, especially with the flexible veneers available. If your cabinets are not broken, but just dinged, you can use filler to make them smooth again, and use contact cement to attach new veneer. Remove the drivers and everything else you can first. I use the Stanley knife blades to do the trimming around the eges and holes. Take your time and remember that the sanding must be gentle because the wood is thin. You can get some pretty exotic wood, or just match the furniture in your listening room.

Excuse me for my ignorance ,but how HARD is it to cut some 3/4 MDF on a table saw (45's and all mitres)and glue together.Obviously you copycut the originals to the TEE.Veneering needs some contact cement and a router to trim the edges smooth.I think it is very possible.
Regards
George

Madisound.com has a range of enclosures. They are good quality.

I disagree with Barry about how exact a copy of the original enclosure must be. Changes might be for the better. However, I do agree with him that refinishing the existing enclosures would probably be the best approach.

Depending on just what your looking for you can buy cabinets and other parts from Parts Express. Or if you want to just build another speaker you have North Creek.

I ask Jim Salk of Veracity Audio about building me some custom cabinets. He said he could with the schematics or the original cabinets. It's another option, though it won't be cheap. It maybe better to just by a pair of his speakers when it's all done.LOL

That guy can build some beautiful cabinets!!!

Hi Matt,

You would need an EXACT duplicate of the dimensions and construction of your present cabinets to equal the intended performance by the speaker's designer. You might be better off refurbishing your present cabinets and covering them with wood veneer.

Best Regards,

Barry

Hi, I had some cabinets made for me for a speaker kit once. They were amazing. Most good speaker cabinets are made of MDF for the density, then have a veneer on the outside.

If you want to build them yourself, try this

http://www.northcreekmusic.com/Publications.html#Cabinet_Handbook

If you want someone else to build them try Lee taylor, he makes excellent cabinets, but they may not be cheap.

http://www.taylorspeakers.com/

Good luck

Frank Steele
Owner
www.puresilversound.com