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?
Yes the densified woods Permali, Jabroc, Panzerholz are very similar. I have used them all including Festholz. They machine very well but Festholz makes such beautiful parts. Dial in your feed speed and approach at the correct rpm and you will not have to sand or debur your profile/edges cut when finished. This is true whether you have 3mm Pz or 100mm on the table.
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Additionally, Phenolic Plywood Board can be found at approx'900Kg /m3. I own a board of this material type. These and similar produced boards are not delignified or produced submerged in a high heat Phenolic within a Vacuum Chamber. Again other Treatments being used that separated a Resin Impregnated Densified Wood Board from other Board Types. |
"@nogaps: I myself almost bought the GR Research Super V to build. Before that could happen I was introduced to the Eminent Technology LFT-8b, an open baffle/dipole planar-magnetic hybrid loudspeaker (p-m for 180Hz and up, an 8" dynamic woofer in a sealed enclosure for 180Hz down). I’ll provide a link to the review of the LFT-8b by Steve Guttenberg below."
DANG YOU! I've been listening to a pair of LFT-8b's for a couple hours now. I picked them up this morning. On a lark, after you mentioned them, I did a quick a search and I'll be darned if a pair of 2017 vintage LFT-8b's weren't for sale in my hometown, just 45 minutes from me. Price (asking) was very reasonable. He had already sold off his power so I couldn't hear them, but..I took a flyer based on your comments and lots of research I did afterwards. That's what happens when I have time on my hands. Humping the Super V assemblies on and off the floor to the bench a few too many times (while building other parts) resulted in a rather sore back for a few days. So, while resting, I did some research and one thing lead to another. Anyway, I'm still finishing the Super Vs, but in the mean time I'm digging the LFTs, a lot. They have sand-filled Sound Anchor stands too. I have been listening to a pair of Snell Type As for a number of years. They actually sound surprisingly close to the LFTs in a number of ways. Though the LFTs take things a few steps farther. Very nice speakers. I'm driving them with a McCormack DNA-1, tube pre, Titan ACI sub, and a streamer. For the cost..these speakers are one of the best deals on the planet. They're lovely. Thx! |
@simonmoon, Hi Simon I read with mounting interest that you owned Bagby's Kairos speakers. I design and build speakers and have a friend who asked me to help with assembling the XOs for his pair of Kairos. The components were reasonable quality budget units and the resulting sound I thought excellent and feel they would respond to better quality. After owning them for 4 years he wanted to upgrade. It' a long story with me now living in a different country and unable to help so he's looking at another kit. Have you heard the "Bordeaux" speakers that you are building? If I may ask, what would these cost, what lead you to these and in what way are they better? I suggested my friend upgrade the XOs, seal the ports and augment with subs but the nagging suspicion there's something better out there raises it's ugly head. It's a disease
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