Typically DIY kits offer great performance for the money, and a lot of them are really good. CSS has a solid reputation. . There’s no retail markup, so you can save nearly 50% off MSRP vs buying a new brand name at retail. The downside is resale value should you ever want to sell them, as the market is more limited.
The building experience is a rite of passage for a woodworking audio buff! Mostly only basic soldering skills required, and the critical crossover, box size, and driver selection has already been worked out for you. I would choose any parts upgrades available because it matters at some point. I say jump in and go for it! It’s a rewarding experience that’s like no other.
DIY mid to low end speakers. Worth the price?
I have been doing woodworking for a few years. I start with a tree and go all the way to the end product. I'm not particularly talented at it but I can make basic shelves, bookcases and small tables.
I am also a passive audiophile. By that I mean I have my 3 systems, I like them and don't feel the need to upgrade. My main system is at least 30 years old.
Given those two interests it seems like it might be fun to build a pair of tower speakers. They would replace the Polk Audio Monitor 70s ($180 used) that I use in my lowest end system down at my cabin. They are driven by an NAD 316BEE integrated. They sound remarkably good together.
I am looking at the Tori Tower P2 kit from CSS. It is their most basic tower kit and is configured like my current Polks. I like the idea of the CSS kits because of the 3D printed board for circuits for simplicity and since I'm not into electronics.
All of this is to ask if the CSS hardware, which is $650, would be worth it from a sound quality standpoint assuming I do everything right. I do not know anything about speaker components.
For perspective, if I have fun building them, and they look better than the Polks (which they should) and they sound better than the Polks then I will be satisfied. I mostly don't want to pay $650 for a pile of parts worth $100. Thanks for any input.
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- 34 posts total
For something different (partially horn loaded) you might look at Pi Speakers. https://www.pispeakers.com/contents.html
DeKay |
- 34 posts total