DIY Speaker Kits, a good idea?

@kennyc 

Panzerholz is a German product. I think LessLoss Audio used to sell it. 

This thread might interest you.

Bit off topic, but I moved to a new house 2 years ago after 31 years in the old one so I completely empathize with your predicament 

Re Linkwitz, not all kits use the same driver complement as the factory-built ones. There are also significant differences in amplification and electronics. Factory uses analog active crossovers whereas many DIYers use DSP.

devinplombier

Thanks for info on Linkwitz. Madisound and Linkwitz store appear to be slightly different so one needs to do their due diligence before pulling the trigger. 

I've reviewed the plans and made notes of construction changes I'd most likely make. The overall look/appearance would stay the same but how its put together with certain joinery is what is under review.

Building stuff is more about yourself than the project on the table. It will test your patience, push your abilities and see if you're willing to go out on a limb where the branches are thin, but its where the fruit is.

You will invest more time into it than estimated so your endurance will be put to the test and if you can keep your eye on the prize and put out the best product you are capable of.

At the end of the day don't we all want to become better versions of ourselves?  

At the end of the day don't we all want to become better versions of ourselves?

@duramax747 most definitely 😃

I vaguely remember someone on here mentioning cabinets CNC-milled from Panzerholz for a speaker project a while back.

Considering Panzerholz supply issues in the US, I've been wondering whether phenolic-impregnated resin panels like those made by Trespa, Richlite and others might be worth a look.

I would think density is the factor that matters most to audio applications, but I'm more than willing to learn more. Anyway, ask AI and you shall be answered: 

• Panzerholz, also known as synthetic resin compressed wood, is made by bonding beech hardwood veneers with exterior-grade phenolic resin and densifying the panel under high pressure. This process results in a density of up to 1.4 g/cm³ or 1400kg/m³.
• Trespa TopLab, particularly Trespa TopLab PLUS, has a stated density of ≥ 1.35 g/cm³. This density is achieved by using layers of wood-based fibers impregnated with thermosetting resins and a decorative surface, bonded together under high pressure.

Looks like the two products are neck to neck density-wise, which isn't too surprising given the similarities in their construction.

I specced Trespa a couple of times on projects. It mills very well with standard carbide woodworking tools. The cost was very reasonable.

@kennyc Buying Panzerholz in the UK is at the current times quite awkward, it id for the enthusiast wanting a stash like myself, to pick it up from a Supplier when in mainland Europe.

Permali EV6 which is a 50% Compression as a 25mm Finished Board is produced from 50 x delignified tiers of Veneer.

As a Cross Grain Structure this is equivalent to Panzerholz.

The Material that is being looked for is:                                                                                                 Resin Impregnated Densified Wood Board @ 1300 - 1400Kg / m3.

I have put links up to these products in the past, there are boards today that have Delignified Veneers of less that 1mm prior to compression 0.6-0.7mm.

As a Cross Grain Construction, these will have approx' 80 Plies to the 25mm Thickness and I class this increase in Plies as superior.

Increased channels for Damping / Dissipation which this materials type is known to be quite improved over many other materials, has potential to be improved over the 50 per 25mm.

I once had access to Damping / Dissipation Data for many materials, I even sent in to the guy producing the data, materials I had an Intertest in, that were not common in use in audio.   

Resin Impregnated Densified Wood Board is the killer material.

Heavily Compressed Bamboo 3xPly and Three Way Compressed @ 1100Kg per /m3 has received good reports and I have heard a Garrard 401 with it as the Plinth and that was quite special, especially as I have been an Idler Drive user for a larger period of years and used a 9 Stone Granite Plinth with my own 401.

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