Hello kennyc! By all means build a kit! If you choose an open baffle kit,you don't even need to build a box! In a "bought in a showroom" or from a catalog speaker, you are paying for the finish, the labor, the shipping, the dealer mark up - all those considerable expenses. About 20%. if you are really, really lucky, is for the parts that make the sound. There is an ad running in the back of the audio mags: XXXROGX speaker, kit $350 Built $2800. That speaks volumes. It costs more to get that "piano black finish" than it does to buy the drivers (at wholesale - large quantity prices). I have built the Pluto, LX Mini, LX 521-4 kits from Madisound. No conventional cabinets, easy-peezy! Truly excellent performance. Buy the best crossover parts (get them fully assembled if you can't solder). It will make a big difference. You may have heard that manufacturers tend to skimp on crossover parts. I'm always on the lookout for discarded speakers in the trash (in good neighborhoods) and thrift stores. The owners might not have thrown them out if they had high quality parts in them. The best drivers in the world cannot make beautigful muisic if the music never makes it to the driver! Use at least Mudorf KRP capacitors and 14 gauge copper open air inductors. There are better parts but a $200 capacitor does not sound 4X better than a $50 capacitor (but it might sound twice as good). I bought the same driver (5" coaxial, $175 each) used in a very well regarded speaker (reviewer said "the best small speaker I ever heard" - $3500/pair), got the manufacturerer's suggested plans for a suitable cabinet (free), got the crossovers assembled with the best parts ($110/each, Madisound), spent less the $100 for plywood and had a better sounding pair the $3500 would buy (my crossovers were better) with a painted cabinet for less than $700. 'Nuff said?
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?