Ultimate DIY speaker design?

These are shaping up to be some very impressive speakers: http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=33995

I went down that path, it's a great hobby and the result was decent. (my wife thinks that it beats a pair of 20k speakers in our local dealer...ok, that's subjective)

It was my own design. The journey was exciting and frustrating. If you build a pre-designed kit then you won't get either.

My lesson learned:

a) it's very difficult to get things right if you don't have the equipment to measure. using your ears aren't really an option. Getting software to model the response is okay up to certain extend, but KEEP IN MIND that they cannot effectively model the baffle compensation, especially a non-conventional baffle. (i.e. how the drivers react to the box's surface).

b) almost no resale value. the drivers will sell, but your cabinet and crossover are not worth anything. I'm stuck with them for a very long time.

c) expensive drivers don't necessary mean that they are easy to work with. They are more capable but you could crash and burn with them easily (think of a Ferrai)

d) you can't really communicate with other audiophiles when you are comparing equipments. There is just no point for reference. (classic question: would XYZ amp match my DIY speakers? noone will be able to answer that question)

e) I figured the cost performance is about the same as getting a used pair of high-end speakers. You can add up the cost of brand new drivers and see if you can find a similar pair in the 'gon.

Great post Kschiu. I'm on my first DIY pair and should be starting a second shortly. If you have the time, patience, and know how, DIY is the best bang for the buck going. It also opens your eyes to a lot of things too...it will blow your mind how a cabinet with only $150 of drivers can sell for a few thousand dollars here.

Thanks Face,

I suppose good bang for the buck was when I did it a decade ago

but nowadays the drivers and parts are not cheap anymore.

I had my whole cost no object 3 way cross over for a few hundred bucks; nowadays the same part will cost over 1k. (used 12 gaugae foil inductors)

Back then the King of speaker caps were the Hoveland musi caps, and nowadays the Mundorf is the king. and I checked the prices, if I want to switch the tweeter cap with the Mundorf then it will be like $200 bucks.

(back then, crazy and single, now married with children. wife won't let it happen!)

Having said that, i'm contemplating buidling a 2 way sealed for HT. Will buy a used REL as SUB.

Here's an excellent bang for the buck kit: http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=35_38_436&products_id=8644