To Buy or to DIY, here is my question

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.

Thanks for sharing the different resources. Very Helpful.

 

For those who ask "Why Try A Build" ? 

Some of the best systems I have heard were home made

using combinations no one ever tried. 

 

I hope not to keep them for life as that would mean

I am leaving sooner than I'd prefer to.

 

Accept that resale on anything I make will be 20 cents/dollar.

I am recently retired so my time is worth about $2/hour.

 

There is a lot of trial and error, science and years of experience

when you buy from a speaker maker. So what do I have?

Friends, connections and time.

 

My idea of a DIY is choosing the people who will advise

me how to have it built.

 

I did build some Speakerlab cornerhorns once. My power tools were

a $10 craftsman drill- no that was not a variable speed model-and a

$20 craftsman skill saw. Those speakers had 2 1/2 4' x 8' sheets of high density

particle board in each side.

 

Today my tools are the phone & the internet.

 

Re those concerned with my WAF situation can relax.

 

I drove to GR Research with my old speakers so Danny

could rebuild the XOs. While I was there I heard his Open baffle

NX speakers. I would buy those now except for a couple things.

He can't deliver any now and I have dogs so speakers 3 feet

into the room are not a practical idea.

 

There are always those standing by with a pin to pop your bubble.

I actually had a couple folks here routing me on. Thank you.

I will keep you posted as things progress.

 

 

I’ve never seen a commercial speaker mention or show locking 45 miter joints but building an entire cabinet with this complex joint is a learning curve for sure.

All JBL joints are hand fitted lock mitered and wood welded. See link below numbers 33 34 35 36

http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/jbl/reference/general/1973-insight.htm