Best DIY coaxes 2026

[PoochyBear]

I got shown this review of the new SB Acoustics coax. The verdict is "decent, but nothing extraordinary". The high distortion and less than perfect directivity was criticized.

In the comments, some people are suggesting that this is still the best coax available on the market. Is this really true? Because it looks like this SB Acoustics is far behind something like a Genelec, or even some cheaper KEFs. Is there really nothing better available for DIYers?

 

[Roland68]

I got shown this review of the new SB Acoustics coax. The verdict is "decent, but nothing extraordinary". The high distortion and less than perfect directivity was criticized.

In the comments, some people are suggesting that this is still the best coax available on the market. Is this really true? Because it looks like this SB Acoustics is far behind something like a Genelec, or even some cheaper KEFs. Is there really nothing better available for DIYers?

Have you ever seen measurements of the KEF or Genelec coaxial drivers and compared them to those of SB Acoustics?
I mean, without the finished and tuned enclosures, crossovers, DSP, etc.?
Otherwise, the comparison is too flawed.

In addition, there's the external waveguide, which also makes a difference and wasn't taken into account in the SB Acoustics coaxial driver measurements.

If you look at the construction of the KEF and Genelec coaxial drivers, you'll see they are considerably more complex to produce and develop. From a cost perspective, this is only profitable for a manufacturer with complete loudspeakers, because individual drivers intended solely for the DIY market, designed to cover these costs, would quickly exceed €1000 and would be completely unprofitable due to the low production volume.

This is also why many DIYers dismantle smaller KEF speakers with coaxial drivers for their DIY projects.

 

[Roland68]

I got shown this review of the new SB Acoustics coax. The verdict is "decent, but nothing extraordinary". The high distortion and less than perfect directivity was criticized.

In the comments, some people are suggesting that this is still the best coax available on the market. Is this really true? Because it looks like this SB Acoustics is far behind something like a Genelec, or even some cheaper KEFs. Is there really nothing better available for DIYers?

By the way, the 5″ SB15BAC30-8-COAX/aluminum looks very good to me.

Of course, it needs a powerful bass driver, and the crossover should have a very steep slope. And the whole thing is practically begging for an active crossover with DSP.

 

[ppataki]

Another great coax driver in my opinion is the Sica 5.5

5.5" coax project using Sica 5,5 C 1,5 CP drivers

After building close to 20 projects using full range drivers and subwoofers and then a two-way system I have decided to strike out one more item on my DIY bucket list: building a coax driver-based speaker I have chosen the Sica 5,5 C 1,5 CP driver for this project based on the manufacturer...

www.audiosciencereview.com

But I agree this SB looks really good indeed!!

 

[PGansz]

By the way, the 5″ SB15BAC30-8-COAX/aluminum looks very good to me.

Of course, it needs a powerful bass driver, and the crossover should have a very steep slope. And the whole thing is practically begging for an active crossover with DSP.

It does look good. I think if you crossed it over at 400hz to a woofer distortion is below 1% at 96db.

Additionally, the 6in version should be coming out soon...

 

[JohnnyNG]

It does look good. I think if you crossed it over at 400hz to a woofer distortion is below 1% at 96db.

Yeah, the Sica @ppataki mentioned above can also reach new heights when crossed as a mid:

Sica 6.5 Coaxial Speaker build

While designing Directiva r2, we considered a coaxial driver instead of the Seas DXT tweeter. At the time nothing fit the r2 target well, but one was noteworthy. Since its availability in North America was almost nonexistent, we decided to forgo it. However, as r2's passive resistance enclosure...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[ivayvr]

I apologize, my question is not directly thread related but someone may know the answer.
A local retailer is selling KEF ceiling coaxial drivers and they go as low as USD/EUR 100 for a piece. (originally pair instead per piece)
Do they absolutely have to be used in their original intended mode (in the ceiling) or they could be used on a baffle board or some sort of cabinet?

 

[ppataki]

I apologize, my question is not directly thread related but someone may know the answer.
A local retailer is selling KEF ceiling coaxial drivers and they go as low as USD/EUR 100 for a pair.
Do they absolutely have to be used in their original intended mode (in the ceiling) or they could be used on a baffle board or some sort of cabinet?

Can you please specify the exact model and the local retailer?

 

[Roland68]

I apologize, my question is not directly thread related but someone may know the answer.
A local retailer is selling KEF ceiling coaxial drivers and they go as low as USD/EUR 100 for a pair.
Do they absolutely have to be used in their original intended mode (in the ceiling) or they could be used on a baffle board or some sort of cabinet?

Any ceiling speaker can also be mounted in a baffle or enclosure.
Why shouldn't that work?

 

[Roland68]

Can you please specify the exact model and the local retailer?

KEF now offers a whole arsenal of chassis and solutions for this area.
https://international.kef.com/collections/architectural-speakers

 

[ivayvr]

They are currently not on sale. Usually around the Black Friday or Boxing Day, they get big discounts. Prices are in Canadian funds:

KEF Ci160ER In-Ceiling Speakers (UTB™ Ultra Thin Bezel + Magnetic Grilles - White - Pair) | Centre Hi-Fi

Heard but not seen, with unprecedented value and performance, KEF’s E series of architectural speakers is designed and manufactured to the same exacting standards as…

www.centrehifi.com

https://www.visions.ca/catalogsearch/result?q=kef%20ceiling&page=2

The reason I am asking if they would work is that the built in cross over network probably have specific requirements and I have no idea what is needed to adjust for the new environment. In the other hand, not all ceilings are identical....Open baffle would be an ideal solution.
Thank you for your input!

 

[Roland68]

They are currently not on sale. Usually around the Black Friday or Boxing Day, they get big discounts. Prices are in Canadian funds:

KEF Ci160ER In-Ceiling Speakers (UTB™ Ultra Thin Bezel + Magnetic Grilles - White - Pair) | Centre Hi-Fi

Heard but not seen, with unprecedented value and performance, KEF’s E series of architectural speakers is designed and manufactured to the same exacting standards as…

www.centrehifi.com

https://www.visions.ca/catalogsearch/result?q=kef%20ceiling&page=2

The reason I am asking if they would work is that the built in cross over network probably have specific requirements and I have no idea what is needed to adjust for the new environment. In the other hand, not all ceilings are identical....Open baffle would be an ideal solution.
Thank you for your input!

The required volume is relatively small, so you don't need to adjust anything.
However, I would recommend an additional bass driver.
You can find the necessary information here:
https://images.salsify.com/image/upload/s--bZ-2H1bL--/ef7178dd21cf9ce0933c1dadcb864a0a25b7329b.pdf

 

[ivayvr]

Thank you Roland!

 

[Ktacos]

By the way, the 5″ SB15BAC30-8-COAX/aluminum looks very good to me.

Of course, it needs a powerful bass driver, and the crossover should have a very steep slope. And the whole thing is practically begging for an active crossover with DSP.

Wow a diy coax driver that isn't garbage? Honestly kind of surprised.

 

[mhardy6647]

DIY coax - for some reason - makes me think of something like this.

 

[Flaesh]

It seems this thread is about coaxial drivers for DIY speakers. DIY coax - for some time now - makes me think of this desktop project; seems promising if €910 per speaker is acceptable:

KRAKATOA Quintuple 18" Point Source Full Range

... in the spirit of ASR fun, for those looking for an active full range speaker, a new one just released: https://www.bassboss.com/catalog/krakatoa-quintuple-18-powered-point-source 4-Way quintuple 18” powered co-axial point source full range Full-Range single axis point source. Vented...

www.audiosciencereview.com

(I believe that triaxial is a special case of coaxial)

ps: Prices are out of date! CLEARANCE $1,359.90 + FREE SHIPPING and TLHP selling price €983.53 IT/piece excluding delivery service.

 

[Barnaby1]

Has anyone seen these? Looks like an in-house Scan-Speak coax.

Home Page

Scan-Speak Vertrieb für Deutschland, Österreich und die Schweiz

www.ase-scanspeak.de

And they have several DIY plans based on SS drivers.

 

[Roland68]

Has anyone seen these? Looks like an in-house Scan-Speak coax.

Home Page

Scan-Speak Vertrieb für Deutschland, Österreich und die Schweiz

www.ase-scanspeak.de

And they have several DIY plans based on SS drivers.

Anyone with a little DIY experience can build their own coaxial speaker chassis to their exact specifications.

All you need is a midrange or bass-midrange driver with a phase plug and a core vent. That's the most important part done.
Tweeters are available in very small form factors, for example, 25mm domes with a total outer diameter of 41mm.
Depending on the size, the tweeter is mounted on top of or inside the phase plug.

 

[PGansz]

It seems this thread is about coaxial drivers for DIY speakers. DIY coax - for some time now - makes me think of this desktop project; seems promising if €910 per speaker is acceptable:

KRAKATOA Quintuple 18" Point Source Full Range

... in the spirit of ASR fun, for those looking for an active full range speaker, a new one just released: https://www.bassboss.com/catalog/krakatoa-quintuple-18-powered-point-source 4-Way quintuple 18” powered co-axial point source full range Full-Range single axis point source. Vented...

www.audiosciencereview.com

(I believe that triaxial is a special case of coaxial)

ps: Prices are out of date! CLEARANCE $1,359.90 + FREE SHIPPING and TLHP selling price €983.53 IT/piece excluding delivery service.

View attachment 523745

The directivity looks great, but the FR and impedance charts are a bit of a mess. They're also super ugly...