DIY Speaker Kits, a good idea?

At the end of the day, how much is your time worth? If you are going DIY to "save money", yet it takes you 100 hours of your dedicated time over a few weeks to build them and make them look pretty, is that 100 hours worth it to you? 

@moonwatcher 

That's why they call it a hobby, isn't it? 

OP

DIY speakers? why Not. 

you get to choose the parts and design of the speaker you want. that's good reason

and you get to save money and importantly, it will sound as good as you can get

I have done DIY speakers when i was younger as I did not have the budget to buy any "branded" speaker. it was fun and you get to do what you want

However, .........

what you hear is what you want to hear, good enough, but not for me. why, because you don't know what you are missing unless you know what you are looking for. 

For me, people who DIY must contend with the end product they want to build. period, BUT, if they compare what they have done versus say the top brands of speakers in the market, then how will that fair? Note, a lot of R&D has been put into top branded and $$$ speakers. Then how can that Tech flow into a DIY box

don't think so

For me, the closest speaker I can DIY will be an Open Baffle speaker. I will buy the most optimum drivers and design a crossover (or copy) for optimal use. I will not have to contend with the speaker box design or materials used on the box.

IN the end, the final product, I must compare it with similar designs and see/listen where I am lacking or gaining. in my opinion, it's too time consuming/tiring that I rather pay for tech that is already built in the most popular speaker. 

besides, if we talk about it in forums, how will other people know how one speaker sounds if it was DIY? I will stick with a built one. 

My last point is, if you just want to build what you want to hear, then go with DIY.

just my opinion

..yikes..lots of armchair, spit-balling going on here from folks that really haven't a clue, but are compelled to say..something, even if it's embarrassing. 

As said I have heard Troels Graveson Designs and am impressed with the experiences had. 

There is seeming to be the suggestion that Cabinets are to be produced by the DIY Builder. 

This is quite askew, most DIY Produced Speakers I have heard have the Cabinet produced by a Machine Shop. 

A CNC Machine is the perfect tool to produce the parts to be assembled. 

Some CNC Services will not tie one into using the board material. 

The the option is to assemble oneself or have a professional assembly, the Matching Service can possibly offer the assembly service. 

A Basic Cabinet but well braced is approx' $400

A Complex Cabinet, with chamferring on Baffle and Bracing is  approx' $700—$900

Aesthetics are again quite an easy option. 

CheapO - Tart the Cabinets Up by ones own hand. 

Mid Range Expensive - Custom Paint Coating - 2 - 3 Coatings and Multi Coats of Laquer, or a not too rare wood Veneer. It 

Most Expensive - Rare Wood Veneer from a Cabinet Maker. 

Range of Cost will extend from $50 - $500

Drivers if acquired New and a Three Way Design will be close to $2K - $3K

Xover if Passive can easily extend from $800 to $2.5K.

A Speaker Design from TG costing approx' $4.5K - $6K using PC Triple C Wire within the Cabinet. When properly Broken In  is going to need a Particular Speaker (not any Speaker) approaching $40K to show where it has shortcomings. 

For those so inclined, here is a thread discussing a $1000 DIY speaker build (exclusive of cabinets).

The thread leans technical, but that's pretty typical of DIYaudio and also that's a start-from-scratch project. If you purchase an established kit you don't have to deal with any of that. Hope it feels inspiring!

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/the-1000-budget-build-begins.430013/