• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Any recommendations on diy speaker build kits?

Phorize

Major Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Apr 26, 2019
Messages
1,533
Likes
2,060
Location
U.K

BWard

Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2021
Messages
20
Likes
17
The new Philharmonic Audio model, Affordable Accuracy + , is a kit I bought and put together a couple of months ago. It's very easy to assemble. The cabinets and crossovers are assembled for you. It took me about 1/2 an hour to put these speakers together. $350 a pair plus shipping.
The law of diminishing returns hits real hard with these. I've had probably 50 pairs of speakers over the years, some costing several thousand dollars and these speakers give you the best VALUE for money I've ever experienced. In fact these are the best value for money of ANY audio product of any kind I've ever owned or heard.
The quality of sound from these is incredible. Honestly, when you fire these up,
you won't believe the quality of sound they produce.
So I would say these are the "perfect DIY speaker".
https://philharmonicaudio.com/aa.html
 

BWard

Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2021
Messages
20
Likes
17
I wanted to add that the tweeters used in this kit retail on Madisound for $102 EACH! You don't usually get this quality of a driver in $2000 a pair speakers. It's a Morel tweeter and it's the best sounding tweeter I've heard in any speaker that doesn't cost crazy money.
When you fire these speakers up you'll laugh in disbelief that you got this quality of sound for $350.
With audio products I almost always have felt that I didn't really get my money's worth and that I over paid. With these speakers I felt like I ripped off the manufacturer; like I paid way too little. Trust me, I've NEVER felt that! Truly an incredible bargain.
 

Kachda

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Forum Donor
Joined
May 31, 2020
Messages
903
Likes
1,578
Location
NY
I wanted to add that the tweeters used in this kit retail on Madisound for $102 EACH! You don't usually get this quality of a driver in $2000 a pair speakers. It's a Morel tweeter and it's the best sounding tweeter I've heard in any speaker that doesn't cost crazy money.
When you fire these speakers up you'll laugh in disbelief that you got this quality of sound for $350.
With audio products I almost always have felt that I didn't really get my money's worth and that I over paid. With these speakers I felt like I ripped off the manufacturer; like I paid way too little. Trust me, I've NEVER felt that! Truly an incredible bargain.
Are they good for a desktop setup?
 

milan616

Active Member
Forum Donor
Joined
Feb 25, 2021
Messages
140
Likes
141
Are they good for a desktop setup?

I'm using them in a desktop setup and loving them, but ...

I wanted to add that the tweeters used in this kit retail on Madisound for $102 EACH! You don't usually get this quality of a driver in $2000 a pair speakers. It's a Morel tweeter and it's the best sounding tweeter I've heard in any speaker that doesn't cost crazy money.
When you fire these speakers up you'll laugh in disbelief that you got this quality of sound for $350.

... that said Dennis has said the kit is no longer available due to component price increases. Even if he open sourced the crossover design I'm not sure you could build it near as economically. $102x2 tweeters, $27x2 woofers, $75 cabinets is $333 before factoring in crossover costs and securing some of the Eco-core used, and any shipping. The last crossovers I built of Dennis' design was about $70 for two for the Pioneer FS52 and the AA+ kit electronics to my eye looked a bit higher quality/more expensive.
 

BWard

Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2021
Messages
20
Likes
17
I feel extremely lucky that I got the best value bargain in all of audio. Shame he can longer make them. Although even if he charged $550 I'd still consider that a bargain.
 

milan616

Active Member
Forum Donor
Joined
Feb 25, 2021
Messages
140
Likes
141
I feel extremely lucky that I got the best value bargain in all of audio. Shame he can longer make them. Although even if he charged $550 I'd still consider that a bargain.

Same! Hopefully the post-pandemic world will see inventories and prices return to somewhat normal levels.
 

dped90

Active Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2022
Messages
178
Likes
23
Location
NY
If it wasn't for Madisound's reputation-AND the fact that most if not all of the crossovers in their speaker kits are pre-assembled-then kit speakers would not be a zero option for me. I can read schematics and solder just fine but this would be a 5.2 system (though the two pairs of subs will be pre-built), I just don't have the time and stamina for doing all of those assemblies. However, I have zero woodworking skills and tools. so unless I can find a reputable cabinet builder here on Long Island to make the pairs of floor standing and stand mount speakers and CC speaker I'm screwed; excuse the pun.
 

617

Major Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Mar 18, 2019
Messages
2,404
Likes
5,296
Location
Somerville, MA
If it wasn't for Madisound's reputation-AND the fact that most if not all of the crossovers in their speaker kits are pre-assembled-then kit speakers would not be a zero option for me. I can read schematics and solder just fine but this would be a 5.2 system (though the two pairs of subs will be pre-built), I just don't have the time and stamina for doing all of those assemblies. However, I have zero woodworking skills and tools. so unless I can find a reputable cabinet builder here on Long Island to make the pairs of floor standing and stand mount speakers and CC speaker I'm screwed; excuse the pun.
Meniscus has a lot more kits than madisound, fyi.
 

dped90

Active Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2022
Messages
178
Likes
23
Location
NY
Meniscus has a lot more kits than madisound, fyi.

True, but none that I found here have pre-assembled crossovers. https://meniscusaudio.com/ Again, the big problem is a cabinet builder who can work from Madisound's cabinet plans. Chatting with them today they said these guys have the experience. https://www.instagram.com/denton_wood_workers/?hl=en

And they've also built flat pack kits for Danny Richie's kits https://gr-research.com/speaker-cabinets-flat-packs-assembled-and-finished/ So flat packs from Denton maybe the only DIY speaker option unless I can find someone just as capable and affordable locally.
 

617

Major Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Mar 18, 2019
Messages
2,404
Likes
5,296
Location
Somerville, MA
True, but none that I found here have pre-assembled crossovers. https://meniscusaudio.com/ Again, the big problem is a cabinet builder who can work from Madisound's cabinet plans. Chatting with them today they said these guys have the experience. https://www.instagram.com/denton_wood_workers/?hl=en

And they've also built flat pack kits for Danny Richie's kits https://gr-research.com/speaker-cabinets-flat-packs-assembled-and-finished/ So flat packs from Denton maybe the only DIY speaker option unless I can find someone just as capable and affordable locally.
mensicus will build your crossovers for a nominal charge.

Speakerhardware.com will make cabinets for you. They actually sell some very good kits, some of which are the same as meniscus.
 

dped90

Active Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2022
Messages
178
Likes
23
Location
NY
mensicus will build your crossovers for a nominal charge.

Speakerhardware.com will make cabinets for you. They actually sell some very good kits, some of which are the same as meniscus.
All of this is good to know, thanks. Meniscus also has a forum http://www.diyspeakerforum.com/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=33ddf0002de24732ef3f3c46adcbe56e
What happened to Madisound's? https://www.madisound.com/diy-loudspeaker-forum/activity.php

I guess it's Leland who builds Duke LeJuene's and/or Jim Romeyn's sub boxes. https://jamesromeyn.com/speakers/subwoofers/debra/ How affordable to build the five boxes I would need is another matter.
 

mtmpenn

Active Member
Forum Donor
Joined
May 26, 2020
Messages
134
Likes
218
All of this is good to know, thanks. Meniscus also has a forum http://www.diyspeakerforum.com/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=33ddf0002de24732ef3f3c46adcbe56e
What happened to Madisound's? https://www.madisound.com/diy-loudspeaker-forum/activity.php

I guess it's Leland who builds Duke LeJuene's and/or Jim Romeyn's sub boxes. https://jamesromeyn.com/speakers/subwoofers/debra/ How affordable to build the five boxes I would need is another matter.

I recently build a kit from css (www.css-audio.com) which included a flat pack.

Another option, maybe -

Is there a local maker space with a CNC router? If so, you might find someone who would build the cabinets locally for a reasonable cost.
 

dped90

Active Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2022
Messages
178
Likes
23
Location
NY
I recently build a kit from css (www.css-audio.com) which included a flat pack.

Another option, maybe -

Is there a local maker space with a CNC router? If so, you might find someone who would build the cabinets locally for a reasonable cost.j
Lumber prices are insane (no doubt largely thanks to all of the hording that the feds and states did nothing to stop), https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/full-range-speaker-kits/fostex-bk-16-folded-horn-kit-pair/ I think this is the only flat pak from Madisound. https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/cabinets/lx521-linkwitz-lab-flat-pack-cabinets-–-pair/

Yes, a local cabinet builder with a CNC machine is exactly what I should be looking for, and can probably find, even here on Long Island. I'm just praying that the fees per speaker won't be much higher here than from the above builders, regardless of lumber prices.

Comprising my 5.1 system will be the pre-built powered subs, the CC speaker, a pair of floor standing and a pair of stand mount speakers. This is not necessarily the floor stander that I would be going with https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/pdf/Sasandu-User-Manual.pdf , but if it was how do i get file for the builder to load into his CNC machine?
 
Last edited:
Top Bottom