Better sound ? Building a set....

[dvjorge]

Hi guys,

I don't know if this could be a good idea or not, but I am thinking to build a set of speakers.
I own a set of Paradigm Studio 100 V2, a set of B&W DM 602 S2, a set of Monitor Audio Silver S2, and a set of Boston Acoustic CR-7. So what?

Drivers from Usher, Focal, Fostex, Scan-Speak, Vifa, Seas, Peerless, P Audio, Audio Nirvana, and many more are available to buy online. Grilles, boxes, crossovers, acoustic insulation, terminals, etc. If everything is here, why to spend a lot more money buying brand made speakers. Probably any well done DIY proyect make me sale all of them.

[Woochifer]

Hey DV -

LONG time no see! With your eclectic set of speakers, the first thing I would suggest would be to at least come out of this process with center and surround speakers that match with your mains. Timbre matching is absolutely vital for optimal surround performance, regardless of what direction you want to go with your DIY project.

[kexodusc]

Hi guys,

I don't know if this could be a good idea or not, but I am thinking to build a set of speakers.
I own a set of Paradigm Studio 100 V2, a set of B&W DM 602 S2, a set of Monitor Audio Silver S2, and a set of Boston Acoustic CR-7. So what?

Drivers from Usher, Focal, Fostex, Scan-Speak, Vifa, Seas, Peerless, P Audio, Audio Nirvana, and many more are available to buy online. Grilles, boxes, crossovers, acoustic insulation, terminals, etc. If everything is here, why to spend a lot more money buying brand made speakers. Probably any well done DIY proyect make me sale all of them.

This is what I did. I bought a home theater with Studio 40 and Studio 20 v.2, Studio CC, and PW-2200 a few years back. I wanted to buy a really nice pair of Energy or Dynaudio speakers at the time for a 2-channel system in my home studio where I practice. Quite by accident my old neighbor ran into me a the hi-fi store and suggested I try building a set. He'd been doing it for years.

I thought he was crazy, when I thought DIY speakers I remembered back to the big ugly boxes you'd see the Radio Shack catalogs show. Nope.

My first project was about $800 in drivers and crossover parts and raw materials. My neighbor helped me - alot. This was a great first project, but well beyond my skill level. I used 2 Vifa wood-pulp 7" woofers and a Scan-Speak tweeter per side. Since these went in my studio, I finished them in carpet to match some of my amps and other gear - that was a bad idea in hindsight because they're ugly and I just can't be bothered to veneer them now. But wow, they sounded far, far superior to any speaker I could afford at the time, and certainly outperformed my Studio 40's. I was a believer now.

Shortly after I tried building a home theater myself, and used the EFE ar.com kit that was made by Ed Frias for the DIY forums on this site. This was an excellent beginner project for me. I replaced my Studios with these in home theater. I was quite surprised that $175in parts could outperform an $800 speaker. Later I recognized those drivers in a few models Totem Acoustic had at the time priced over $1000, so I guess it wasn't all that surprising. That was maybe 3 years ago and I've been hooked ever since. Building your own can be very affordable and fun way of achieving hi-end sound. Approach it like a hobby, the time you put in is one of the biggest difference vs buying commerical (exorbitant margins on the materials being the other). You dont' have to pay yourself an hourly rate. I enjoy puttering around a workshop and burning myself with soldering irons.

I've built a few dozen other projects since for myself, and mostly for other people. It's addictive. I would suggest that as a beginner you consider building an established, proven design while you learn the ropes. Study and understand every aspect of the design you choose, particularly crossover design.

Alternatively, the cheapest, and easiest DIY project for most beginners is a subwoofer.

Here's a few links to company/personal web pages with lots of great information and projects from very capable and well-respected designers that have been helpful to me.

http://www.partsexpress.com/speaker-building-tab.cfm
http://www.partsexpress.com/projects...e/projects.cfm
http://www.pesupport.com/cgi-bin/config.pl (this is where I go to get all my questions answered)
www.madisound.com
http://www.speakerbuilder.net/web_files/default.htm
http://zaphaudio.com/ (a bit more technical, but some excellent projects - I recommend the Seas L18 monitor - unbelievable sound for not a lot of money)
http://www.rjbaudio.com/projects.html
http://www.geocities.com/cc00541/

I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.

[Rich-n-Texas]

KEX! Go here right now!!!
Kexs hits 6K !!! Join the party....
Take your medicine like a man!

[Feanor]

...

I've built a few dozen other projects since for myself, and mostly for other people. It's addictive. I would suggest that as a beginner you consider building an established, proven design while you learn the ropes. Study and understand every aspect of the design you choose, particularly crossover design.

Alternatively, the cheapest, and easiest DIY project for most beginners is a subwoofer.

Here's a few links to company/personal web pages with lots of great information and projects from very capable and well-respected designers that have been helpful to me.

http://www.partsexpress.com/speaker-building-tab.cfm
http://www.partsexpress.com/projects...e/projects.cfm
http://www.pesupport.com/cgi-bin/config.pl (this is where I go to get all my questions answered)
www.madisound.com
http://www.speakerbuilder.net/web_files/default.htm
http://zaphaudio.com/ (a bit more technical, but some excellent projects - I recommend the Seas L18 monitor - unbelievable sound for not a lot of money)
http://www.rjbaudio.com/projects.html
http://www.geocities.com/cc00541/

I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.

So far I've built only one modest effort, but I was please with the result: a center channel built with at Vifa mid/bass and a Bohlender Graebener planar tweeter. See the crossover design here ...
http://gallery.audioreview.com/showp...&ppuser=199052
...

[GMichael]

I built a few floor standers over the years. The two I have left cost me about $150 a pair to build. Very pleased with how they sound.

[dvjorge]

The main reason I want to go with some proyect is because I read in a hi-fi magazine that Sonus Faber uses Scan- Speak drivers. Drivers from Deenmark and England are some of the best in the world. Not only Sonus Faber uses custom made drivers from other fabrics but many hi-end brands do. I believe Wilson Audio is one of them. I can't afford a set of $10 k speakers, so the only way is to build them using some of the great drivers we can buy online. I am gonna let you know when I finish with it.

Thanks.