DIY mid to low end speakers. Worth the price?

I have built 5 different DIY kits and have loved the whole process. Get a good soldering system. 

GO FOR IT.

I am really impressed with the quality of the PE Overnight Sensations. Little things, but they punch way beyond what you would expect. I also built the C-Note and use them for my computer system. 

My first built was Madisound's Recession Busters but the midbasses went bad in the years I waited to build them. I originally was going to use the drivers in my car. I then paid for new replacement ones that Madisound recommended. But they weren't the same and they didn't sound right. I made the cabinets and that was fun. 

I built the CSS Torri. I had trouble with damage during shipping, and it took 2 weeks to get them. Also the binding posts the shipped were wrong. But CSS was fantastic with fixing the problems. 

I also built the HiVi Swan 3 way. Good quality stuff but their sound was meh. I didn't do the tweak that was recommended on the internet as I was mislead that the crossover change had been taken care of by HiVi. Way too harsh for me. 

But despite all the issues I have had, I will be building more. 

A tower is intimidating though. All those clamps!!! And it is just me. Get a few hands to help. 

I built the CSS 1TDX bookshelves and 2TDX center, with upgraded crossovers.  I can't speak for the Tori line, but the TDX line sounds very, very good, especially for the price.  There are plenty of Youtube reviews you can watch.

Man you guys have given me a lot to think about!

A couple of thoughts:

Most of the appeal of this would be building the hardwood cabinets. I had already drawn up simple plans for Mission (Arts &Crafts) style cabinets which would go well in the log cabin. I have a lot of beautiful figured quarter sawn white oak boards that I milled a few years ago. But it seems very clear that solid hardwood cabinets are a bad idea. And to be honest, I have no desire to work with MDF, flat packs from a kit or veneers. That’s just not fun for me. 

Since I have no problem with the Polks I already have in terms of SQ  (they are ugly as heck though) and I don’t want to work in MDF, etc. I don’t really have a good reason to build a kit at this point.

But that’s why I posted the question and I really appreciate all the responses. It helped me clarify what I want to do.

I think what I will do instead is make a Mission style cabinet for the components (NAD integrated amp, Denon tuner and a CD player).

I’m not abandoning the idea of building speakers totally. We’re thinking about building an addition on the little cabin and if we do I’ll make the current spare bedroom into a smoking and drinking room and a pair of kit bookshelves would be just right in there.

@n80 

Agreed. Polk Audio made some very interesting speakers besides the Best Buy debris they sadly became known for. 

They are driven by an NAD 316BEE integrated. They sound remarkably good together.

I would respectfully suggest that your speakers would sound even better if they were driven by a halfway decent amplifier.

How you execute the use of a material is just as important as the material itself.  Hardwoods can certainly be used...they're just expensive for manufacturers to use.  Good plywood is always an option for cabinets if MDF doesn't appeal, and you can trim with with as much hardwood as you like.