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?

kennyc

@devinplombier More Off Topic

The Local Vehicle Garage I use for maintaining a Vehicle, has a Proprietor who has a keen interest in renovating and modernising Scooters from a vintage era such as  - Vespa - Lambretta Models.

In the UK, Italy and even from China, there are supporting services available that have a strong footing in the activity. There can be found many ways to move these forwards with onboard tech' if sympathetic restoration is not too concerning.

A Three Gear Change Scooter with a Max' Speed of 35 MPH, when entering the market if 50' 70's, is today a Five Gear Change, with over 100 MPH able to be achieved. I am confident 125 MPH was suggested can be attained depending on the engine rebuild selected.

When looking at the Design and those little, I mean little wheels, and knowing these Scooters are able to be used on Public used roads. One can only think anybody extending their MPH beyond 30 MPH has a death wish. 

Man in Mancave comes up with their design for the fastest Scooter ever, and the follow up is a queue of Boys and their Toys wanting in on the act. 

Mind You the fleets of Uber Delivery Workers on Electric Bikes in a City are with a selection of bike owners with modified Electric Bikes, which are easy able to hit 50 MPH, these things are rarely seen pottering along, the usual use makes the bike a  silent assassin, especially with the typical user not caring to stop at a Red Light. Crossing roads is a new skill to be relearned and followed like never before. 

 

I did hear a significant widening and raising of the soundstage this morning when trying a number of new panel placement angles(off axis rotating away from my listening chair). Very happy with the results.  

 

..and I think I have a final design, considerably trimmed back from yesterday. Trim is extended from stock by 1/2 inch. With the round-over it'll be effectively less than that. Just enough to show some wood trim around the grills.  But..finishing the SVs comes first.

@atulmajithia 

 

On the assumption that this thread addresses DIY speakers in general, and apologies if I am slightly off-subject:

Has anyone here dabbed in a DIY kit for Electrostatic Speakers? I am tempted to build one, but have never built any DIY speaker yet, conventional nor ESL. I’d like to hear of which ones were built and the building experience as well as the sound compared to commercial ELS speakers.

 

This company located in Australia, has 2 high end electrostatic kits available.

I haven’t heard them,  but they’ve been around for quite a long time, and I read some discussions about the end results on forums, and they are universally well regarded.

 

https://www.eraudio.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=128

 

And there is this guy, who DIY's electrostatic speakers from scratch. 

He posts on various audio forums. People who have heard his speakers rave about them.

https://jazzman-esl-page.blogspot.com/

 

 

https://josephcrowe.com/blogs/news/er-audio-esl-panel-full-test

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/er-audio-esl-panel-kit-review.373940/

 

Or one could source the Panels to commence the Build of something that functions along the lines of the Emia Design.

A Prudent search could get 4 x Treble Panels and 8 x Bass Panels for $1200 - $1500

The Base Electrics will add a few hundred, but the Power to be used will be difficult to put a cost to.

It is a design that shares similarities produced by Tim De Paravicini a very long time ago, it was being demo'd this design that set me on the road of 57 Owner ship as good as 30 Years ago.  

https://www.stereophile.com/content/emia-re-visioned-quad-esl-57-loudspeakers-garrard-301-turntable-schroeder-and-schick