To Buy or to DIY, here is my question

I use a ScanSpeak Revelator sub. Very nice, pretty much keeps up with the ESL's.

2nd having a good look at Troels Gravesens site… lots of experience there. Check out also builders projects completed. Lots of great ScanSpeak and Seas projects. I’m seriously considering the loudspeaker 2. I would say these are moderately hard woodworking projects, especially if you are planning veneer finishes.

ps You need to be very sure you are keeping these for life… it’s pretty tough to get your money back fro a diy project.

If you have the skills and equipment to make them, I'd say go that route. Each time you listen to them or even walk by, you can think, "I made those" which is a pretty satisfying feeling. I made some Zigmahornets and while they weren't the best looking speakers, they sounded pretty good and I was pretty proud of the work I put into them.

You could enlist a professional,  builder of cabinets like Lee Taylor.  Impeccable work.  Then they will equal retail makers in and out.  Large 2 way stand cabs in cherry and black ran about $1100.  If you find a good "recipe" that also includes a proven XO and drivers, then have him quote you on a cab build (from said design).  From basic black to exotic woods avail.  That way you have a hand in it and could build the XO and do final assembly.  That is if you don't want basic flat pack MDF kits which might suffice but not "wow".

Only ever heard one pair of good DIY speakers, built by a design lecturer at uni who had worked for Lowther Acoustics and was a skilled woodworker.  I have wasted too many hours listening to rank awful DIY speakers to ever consider wasting my money. Most end up on the scrap heap whilst the owners build yet another pair they believe will be wonderful. If DIY speakers could be made by amateurs at a 1/4 the price then someone would soon apply an economy of scale and build them for sale for 1/2 the price.  This is commonly undertaken as a business by many smaller buy direct manufacturers who buy in drivers, make cabinets and sell the result. Never heard one yet to rival an equivalent 'branded' speaker. But if that is what floats your particular boat, spend your life in the shed.