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.
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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@devinplombier These Polk Monitor 70s might be Best Buy junk for all I know. You may be right about the little NAD but it reviewed quite well in its day. All of this stuff was bought used for under $500 total and is primarily used for ambient background listening. But I do some sit-down listening at night and for the price and the setting I still maintain that the sound is satisfying. @knotscott I was thinking about all this last night. I have a decent band saw and could resaw some of my nice white oak and use that like a veneer on the front. I could not cut it anywhere near as thin as bought veneer but I might play around with this idea. |
I'm a rough carpenter by trade and got a bug to build some furniture, 75 gal fish tank cabinet and later a sub for my work truck. I was surprised at how well the veneers I bought survived the day to day damage inflicted to bott pieces and where's a bit of planning and skill still involved using mdf, chipper bits, and the the veneer and finish after |
Use good drivers like Scanspeak and a good crossover. If you are halfway decent in the shop your DIY speakers will be a great value and give you much enjoyment. I'm with the MDF advocates here- it is the right material for the box. A beautiful and properly applied veneer of hardwood or even an exotic wood is a great way to get that furniture look while retaining performance. I'm a fan of the GR research DIY kits, although there are a number of others that are really good. |
@n80 my apologies; I meant that Polk Audio, despite being usually associated with entry-level big box products, made some very good, sometimes highly innovative speakers - the old RTA series among others - before Best Buy even existed. If I may offer a suggestion, try driving your Polk speakers with a good-quality, high-current Class AB amp. If you like what you hear, used Class AB amps can be great bargains. Good luck!
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