Building speakers (in the future)

[Nemesis]

My best friend, the one who basically built my system, has convinced me that buying new speakers isn't the best way to go. We would build speakers, assuming he can teach me. It would allow me to learn how to put this stuff together and ultimately make me a more knowlegeable HT enthusiast. Long term that just seems better as I would spend similar money, even if somewaht more; I'd get more bang for the buck. Plus teh idea of custom speakers keyed for my unique room is too tempting.

I was wondering if anyone could suggest good components or websites. He has a speaker store we'd fo to, but it couldn't hurt to have an idea what to look for going into there.

[PolkThug]

Madisound!! www.madisound.com

They can get many drivers for you that are in high-end speakers, and they also do custom crossover work for your exact combination of speakers.

Get their catalog, its like a telephone book in thickness.

[tryrrthg]

Originally posted by Nemesis
My best friend, the one who basically built my system, has convinced me that buying new speakers isn't the best way to go.
Buy USED speakers! A much better value.

www.audiogon.com is your friend!

Building speakers is cool but takes a LOT of knowledge (and skill) to get it right. Start by building a sub, they aren't as complicated as building crossovers, etc.

[madmax]

www.partsexpress.com

They have awesome support and have a great DIY forum.

[gatemplin]

Speaker building is a great hobby but it is NOT cheaper at all. Sure maybe the first project if you buy a kit is cheaper but it is a snowball effect. It's very addictive. I suggest you at least read some DIY books too.

I'll give you another site
www.adireaudio.com

Also GR research kits are very popular and check out the DIY section at home theater forum. Almost every kit has been posted there.

Good luck.

[EricH]

I agree with Graham's point on the potential for DIY snowball effect, but I just built 3 of the Adire Kit 281's and am floored by what I got for the price. I couldn't beat this sound quality for the price, not even used. Being slightly proficient with woodworking is a definite plus, but not totally necessary. Building crossovers from a kit is easy, just do a little practice soldering first.

There are a lot of helpful sites to gather all the info you need. Here are a few:

www.diyaudio.com

http://hometheatertalk.com/httalk/index.php

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=22

And Graham is right, it IS addictive!

[cubdog]

Relating to this, I've been told most speaker cabinets even from cheap speakers are pretty decent. Can existing cabinets be utilized for DIY speaker projects saving time and construction costs. Or, will this dramatically reduce sound quality?

cubdog

[EricH]

The kit crossover designs are based on specific speaker dimensions and internal cabinet volume. I think trying to use an old speaker cabinet would be setting you up for problems. You could, however, always try it first, then build the proper cabinet afterward if needed.

[EricH]

And no, not all speaker cabinets have good build quality. Stick with at least 3/4" or better mdf/wood.

[VR3]

I find FR drivers are incredibly hard to mess up, stick them in about any enclosure, and stick some Polyfill in em and they will sound half way decent if not awesome...

MTM, TM - crossovers, all that gets real complicated...

Its fun though!

[Nemesis]

He is more than slightly proficent in building these stupid things.

And hey, the snowball effect has already happened with my HT. First a HTiB, then my HK receiver, then front speakers,...:o

[Mjr7531]

Originally posted by EricH
And no, not all speaker cabinets have good build quality. Stick with at least 3/4" or better mdf/wood.

If the enclosure is gonna be relatively big, I'm making a 5" x 8 7/8" x 6.5" enclosure with 1/2 MDF, why? It would be overkill to use any more than that, you could use bigger, but then you'd be making the enclosure bigger, and sometimes size does matter ;)
Everything in moderation.

[gatemplin]

Originally posted by Mjr7531
If the enclosure is gonna be relatively big, I'm making a 5" x 8 7/8" x 6.5" enclosure with 1/2 MDF, why? It would be overkill to use any more than that, you could use bigger, but then you'd be making the enclosure bigger, and sometimes size does matter ;)
Everything in moderation.

That's what's good about DIY. You can do whatever you want. I try to do everything extreme myself, but that's me. If 3/4" will do, make it 1.5", if 4th order is enough, make it 8th order. You can build anything you want to, the way you want to.

[VR3]

My enclosure for my mini line array, sub, and mini sats are freakin inert...

Tons of screws, nails, glue, brace, thick enclosure... vibrates little to none, more so none...

I love it!

[Nemesis]

Open season. Yeah!

I'm going to have to print this thread for future reference...:)