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Opinion - Every audiophile should build at least 1 pair of speakers

I think everyone who does this, even just once, would be forever changed and become an improved music listener as well as equipment hobbyist.

Whether you build a single driver speaker like the LM-1S or the 2-way desktop LM-1 (designs are free) or any other kit from


I think you would find yourself with very different biases and understanding of how parts interact, how drivers work, and how much a good pair of speakers should cost, and most likely you would have a different opinion about what a good speaker sounds like.

Would you build world reference speakers for $50 a pair? Not likely at all, but when I see audiophiles argue over thousands of dollars in speaker cables and interconnects, I think to myself, their opinions and biases about where to spend their time and money would be forever changed if they built but a single pair of speakers.

Also, of course, building speakers is fun as hell, and a great project to introduce kids to electronics. Especially girls, we need more girls who grow up to be speaker makers, amp designers and audiophiles!

Best,


Erik


erik_squires
ivan_nosnibor's avatar
ivan_nosnibor
1,052 posts
 
Amen, Erik.

From the looks of this thread, and the amount of people who might lament about how much speakers cost and/or how hard it is to get what they’re after, then, among existing audiophiles anyway, this may be the next wave...if it isn’t already.

DIY speaker building has been around forever, but everything (increasing costs in the speaker market, less disposable income these days, the overall lack of movement in the global audio market and the wide availability online of affordable, high-quality parts, materials as well as easier, faster testing methods, etc) seems to me to be pointing in this direction more and more.

Increasingly I have learned to tweak, modify and now DIY my way forward. Just accepting at face value alone the terms that manufacturers are willing to dictate to everyone has grown to be no longer an option for me. Lots of gains to be realized IMO once you decide and bother to learn how to start to buck that established trend.

And yes, I said "buck". What did you think I meant? ;>)
erik_squires OP
16,373 posts
 
I don't expect every audiophile to build top class speakers, even if purchased as a kit. But I do wish more audiophiles would build something themselves. If even 1% of audiophiles built their own speakers, our hobby and environment would be so much better.

Best,

E
erik_squires OP
16,373 posts
 
For vintage horn/high efficiency fans, found these sites specializing in Altec Lansing reproductions:

https://vintagespeakerrevival.com/

https://greatplainsaudio.com/

Really nice looking stuff!

Best,

E
ivan_nosnibor's avatar
ivan_nosnibor
1,052 posts
 
@erik

"I don’t expect every audiophile to build top class speakers, even if purchased as a kit. But I do wish more audiophiles would build something themselves. If even 1% of audiophiles built their own speakers, our hobby and environment would be so much better."

In complete agreement here, no argument from me. Just meant to be speaking for myself that that particular door I went through remains as open as ever, really.

Like you I’m convinced that even, if not especially, very modest DIY efforts price/performance-wise would have something well more to offer than any typical factory made counterpart. And that's a great learning opportunity.

Great thread.


gawdbless's avatar
gawdbless
1,235 posts
 
Audiogon should have its own section for Horn freaks and DIY geeks who think outside the box (pun intended)......jus' sayin.........................
Great post Eric!
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