To Buy or to DIY, here is my question

@chorus , by all means! If you are looking for point source speakers DIY is the best way to go with a few caveats. I would stick with drivers that have the same radiation characteristics. Putting a ribbon tweeter (line source) in a point source loudspeaker is going to significantly change the frequency balance with even small movements in the room. Keeping the drivers phase and time correct is not easy and frequently results in some very complicated crossovers which are impossible for the novice to design. You can stick a basic crossover in there but you will not get the best imaging. You can not do this well without a calibrated microphone system. Depending on luck does not work well with speaker design. If you do not want to get involves with DSP you will have to get very inventive. But, that is the fun in it!

If I were to do this without DSP I would keep the drivers in separate enclosures as small as possible even open (except for the woofer). This will allow you to move them relative to each other. Using the calibrated microphone you can measure the group delays and move the speakers to get them all time aligned which if you are lucky will also get them phase aligned. This should be done outside to avoid reflections that can confuse things. Once you get the locations figured out you can mount them in a framework maintaining those relative locations ala Wilson.

If you have no skills are lazy or have no time then off the shelf is what you get. If you have skills an open mind and are craving something unique then DIY is the way to go. Kits are fine but it's not like going your own way. And those who say DIY can not look good are only interested in what the mass market gives them. Anything that's different is perceived as wrong they crave the boring imported rectangles and cubes. A toaster must look like a toaster.

I did this. My Take

1) I wouldn't even consider going down this path without a proved speaker design from a reputable designer.

2) It is more about the integration of the speaker drivers and the voicing of the crossover than just picking drivers you like. The drivers may be the easiest part.

3) The box is a big deal and you do need to have good wood working skills.

4) The crossover soldering is also harder than you think, I had the advantage of having someone at work who does it for a living do it for me.

My story is I used Troels Gravesen's designs. I think most see him as the best. I made 3 different speakers, bookshelves (Scanspek), center(Seas), and the Faital 3C-15. Bookshelves and Center took 3 months each, the Faital more like 5 months. My woodworking joints were impeccable, they need to be. I also spent a lot of time on finishing so they would be acceptable in the home.

I never thought in my life I would have such a good sounding system, honestly. The bookshelf/center is meant for the family room entertainment center, I have them in the garage and I am in there every night for an hour looking for an excuse to stay out there, they now have about 1000 hours on them and they get better and better. The 3wc-15's are absolutely amazing, I just melt into the music and can sit there for 3-4 hours at a time.

If you are committed, have a great attention to detail and it is important to you, do it. If you really do a good job and use good veneers, you can make them look pretty nice, you can also send to a cabinet mater for finishing if WAF is an issue. I built a paint booth in the garage and was able to get a really nice finish.

If you do it, let us know how they come out.

A lot of deep thought coming to the surface-Thanks!

Some excellent experience sharing as well!!

I have some skills and I am lazy by nature.

I am communicating with Madisound to get

some initial advice. 

Jonk- Enjoyed your response. Thanks.

Mendel- Now I'm spinning a little.