Sure it can definitely be a good idea as well as a fun project.
DIY Speaker Kits, a good idea?
Looking at the high quality of drive units in DIY loudspeaker kits like from Madisound, GR Research, SEAS, etc., it easily looks like a sonic bargain.
However, the typical audiophile mantra is to demo for yourself to find what subjectively “resonates” with you. Can’t do this with a kit. But a kit could be a sonic jackpot for one on a tight budget. Also seems fun to build.
What’s your opinion?
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@duramax747 Thank You for your reply. Not the same as you have done, but along similar lines. There was a want to distinguish between Marine Quality Plwood 700Kg m/3 - MU 25 900Kg m/3 - P'holz 1400Kg m/3 All made quite differently in relation to compression of Veneers and adhesion method for Veneers. The comparison was for a same model DD TT Plinth. Identical TT's >Tonearm >Cartridge was used with the same audio system. The findings are a description very similar to your own. The Panzerholz proved to be extremely attractive in use. The End Sound being just how it should be when compared. Individuals who supplied TT's and Plinths all use Panzerholz Plinths today. The owner of the P'holz Plinth moved on from a 25mm Thick Board to one that is 32mn Thick. |
My feelings are that the best reasons to go DIY is for the fun of it. The worst reasons are because you started pricing components out and now are thinking "Well I can get the same parts as brand X for 1/20th the cost..." If you aren’t really jazzed at building and learning along the way you are not going to be happy. Having said that, Audiogon needs more actual builders and less arm-chair builders. The more people we have with hands on practical experience the better overall our hobby will be. So, yes you absolutely can get into any particular type of speaker for a lot less than commercial speakers in many cases, but if you aren’t already thinking about what you want in a speaker made just for you I think you are missing out and always run the risk of building a speaker kit based on how much money you save. I am a victim of this often. I see golf clubs which are $5,500 off for Labor Day and I immediately want to buy them. I don’t even golf. At all. If you do want to investigate this further head on over to DIYaudio or the Parts Express forums where the hard core builders hang out. |
As a long time DIY’s, I would say that kits are an excellent way to go. From a sonic standpoint, the end results well end up sounding like a commercially available speaker at several times the price (5X is not unusual. That difference will drop a bit if you buy kits that include flat packs. If you can live with the cosmetic results, and the lower resale, DIY is the way to go sonically speaking. My current (hopefully my last* They use Aurum Cantus Aero Stricture tweeters, Accuton ceramic mids, and 2 8" woofers per speaker. I have about $3000.00 invested, but the end results are easily comparable to speakers at around $12-$15K. Full disclosure, These are not mine, I haven’t decided on the finish yet.
Other sources to check: Troels Graveson - one of the best designers out there, Has many great designs. His high end level designs are pretty special. CSS SpeakerHardware.com - Source of several of Curt Campbell and Jim Holtz’ kits and flat packs. This is where I got my Bordeaux flat packs. Speaker Design Works - Campbell’s and Holtz’ own site. Their new Anthology II are fantastic. Just a small step below my Bordeaux. Javad Shadzi is a fantastic designer. His Helios CM designs are a extremely good.
*yeah, I've said that before. My previous pair of speakers, the late Jeff Bagby's Kairos and woofer modules were supposed to be my last. |
) DIY project is a pair of Curt Campbell’s and Jim Holtz’, "Bordeaux" designs. They are semi-open baffle. 
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