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

Heard good things about Mark Audio MOAP drivers.  Any opinions here?

Available at Madison Sound.  

My first high-end speakers were a pair of Bozak Concert Grands back in the late 1970s.  Hand build, hand-rubbed finish.  Beautiful looking and beautiful sounding.  Tri-amped.  

Very satisfying.  I moved on because we purchased a different home and the room was not fit for those monster-size speakers.

I've been building speakers for the last 40+ years with varying degrees of satisfaction.  Recently built a speaker that has outperformed every one of its predecessors.  No more building.  

"@kennyc Also seems fun to build.What’s your opinion?"

 

imo, If you are doing this from scratch - have the tools, curiosity, and motivation to build -vs- buy, it can be rewarding if you are the type of person who generally likes to tinker and build things.  If this is the case, enjoy the process and the journey.  

If you have never designed or built anything like this before, and have very high expectations on how it turns out - its worth spending up a little more [first time] buying a proven kit with the right drivers and crossovers, with cabinet plans, or explore cabinets you can purchase through the product designer if desired.  

 

@duramax747 stated "  We made some Panzerholz versions of this cabinet in which we pinned (doweled) which makes it much easier for enduser to keep square while they glue/clamp up. "

Now you are in the area for Materials Selected where Kaiser Speakers are with producing Cabinet Construction.

Please let more be known if you have seen differences in the quality of End Sound through adopting this material type. 

https://www.monoandstereo.com/interview-with-rainer-weber-of-kaiser-acoustics/

I myself am very tempted to use P'holz at some point as a Baffle for a Speaker Design.

I have gone this route and built what I think are pretty darn good speakers using Dayton Audio and Morel components, and a professionally designed crossover, but now I want something new and they are nearly impossible to sell, even for a fraction of my outlay. So there’s that.