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?
I did hear a significant widening and raising of the soundstage this morning when trying a number of new panel placement angles(off axis rotating away from my listening chair). Very happy with the results.
..and I think I have a final design, considerably trimmed back from yesterday. Trim is extended from stock by 1/2 inch. With the round-over it'll be effectively less than that. Just enough to show some wood trim around the grills. But..finishing the SVs comes first.
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This company located in Australia, has 2 high end electrostatic kits available. I haven’t heard them, but they’ve been around for quite a long time, and I read some discussions about the end results on forums, and they are universally well regarded.
https://www.eraudio.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=128
And there is this guy, who DIY's electrostatic speakers from scratch. He posts on various audio forums. People who have heard his speakers rave about them. https://jazzman-esl-page.blogspot.com/
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https://josephcrowe.com/blogs/news/er-audio-esl-panel-full-test https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/er-audio-esl-panel-kit-review.373940/
Or one could source the Panels to commence the Build of something that functions along the lines of the Emia Design. A Prudent search could get 4 x Treble Panels and 8 x Bass Panels for $1200 - $1500 The Base Electrics will add a few hundred, but the Power to be used will be difficult to put a cost to. It is a design that shares similarities produced by Tim De Paravicini a very long time ago, it was being demo'd this design that set me on the road of 57 Owner ship as good as 30 Years ago. |
