For the love of...kits?

My first kits were a Hafler DH500 amp and DH100 preamp....did the kit to save a few bucks, and learned a lot. Later on I modded the power supply of the amp by increasing the filter capacitance of a couple of amps.

After I inherited my Dyna 70, I later added the VTA PCB mods from a kit...great mod, great instructions, great results.

My first speaker mods were adding plumber’s putty around the steel frame of the woofers on my Energy Pro 22s. Later on I upgraded the caps and wires, then went on to build several complete speakers from scratch.

DIY, kits, and mods are excellent learning experiences, and can result in much improved sound for the money. It also helps you see the equipment for what is is, and get past the bias and blind belief in brand names...they’re often just a marketing tool and logo.

@corelli The Analog Ethos website and product line looks really great. There is real consideration for the newbie. I really like the comparison page and the approach to straightforward instructions. Have you built or heard these amps? At the moment, I don't have sensitive enough speakers to really tempt me -- but this would be the trigger that keeps me moving toward a second pair of very sensitive speakers.

 The AN and Falcon kits are expensive! The less expensive Falcon speaker is 83db and...15ohms! Interesting combo.

Everyone has their definitions of what they consider "expensive." To my way of thinking, a speaker kit for $1.4k is not as tempting as one for $200 or even $600, given what one might buy used for $1.4k. I realize that part of the idea is the fun of building something, but as a strictly economic comparison, the falcon and AN kits miss the point, a bit, for me. Of course, AN stuff is inordinately expensive, but that seems only partly due to their quality and partly due to the economics of the U.K.

No mention of Parts Express kits?  Their Morel kits, Ardmore and Solstice, are more affordable than Falcon’s. The Dayton Audio Samba and Orian are much more affordable. 

@hilde45 I have not built any of the Analog Ethos kits but would not hesitate one moment to go with one of these kits.  The el34b kit (upgraded version) would be my first pick. Very reasonable cost. Great customer support.  I think this would pair beautifully with a full range driver kit.  I know it would pair well with Omega speakers.  Omega used to offer their drivers for sale before.  You ought to contact Louis and see if he still offers these (if you are a good wood worker).  Madisound offers good speaker kits as well.  A couple of these have cabinets.  Lastly, I have read good things about Lii audio.  They make a very efficient fullrange 15 inch driver for an open baffle speaker.  That would be a fun project to challenge your imagination and an easier build than a cabinet.  Plus you could coordinate the design to match the Analog Ethos amp.  Now that would be a doubly fun project and suspect it would sound just as great as it might look!

@crustycoot and @corelli 

Thank you both for those additional ideas. I'm saving this thread!