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Choosing DIY kit

Would be better if you simply specified a target budget as not sure what you paid.

For value, subwoofers are tough to beat. Sure you just don't need to work on subwoofer integration?

As you might guess. an Amiga is very comparable to your current Totems. For that matter, the Amiga specs are rather generous regarding bass extension and output.
 
Would be better if you simply specified a target budget as not sure what you paid.

For value, subwoofers are tough to beat. Sure you just don't need to work on subwoofer integration?

As you might guess. an Amiga is very comparable to your current Totems. For that matter, the Amiga specs are rather generous regarding bass extension and output.
Probably no more than $1500 but prefer closer to $1k.

I am trying to work a deal for a pair of used CSS Audio 1TD-X with the superior cross over, but not sure that's going to work out. Ultimately I want to build the kit myself but if the right deal came along I might take it.
 
Solstice just gets in there but might have to wait for a sale to get close to $1000.

There is some more discussion in our DIY section. Will help as i can. Time for dinner rn.
 
here is a start...

 
There is a bit of a price difference between the Amigas and the rest of the list but it seems like they are generally a well liked speaker...
I'm not sure about this statement. The Amigas are more that the Torri's by a good amount, but the TD1-X is more than the Amigas by a good amount.
Of the ones you listed, the TD1-X are the best, using far superior drivers. Paul Carmody (Amigas) and the guys at CSS are excellent speaker designers, so you don't have to guess about much.

Looking at "kits" that come with a flat pack is very limiting. There are a LOT of good DIY designs if you can build your own cabinets.

The Neil Blanchard Designs MLTL-6 seems to be well liked but the frequency response is kind of choppy:

I can't imagine any designer publishing in-room measurements, they would be meaningless, as pointed out in another thread. But since the designer doesn't provide any details about the measurements (which only go down to 100hz) and doesn't provide any off-axis measurements/directivity information, then it is his own fault for people to question the speaker. No way would I pay for the plans without a lot more information provided (even though looking at the drivers and measurements they likely sound fine).

I also am wondering if I should put a limit on how much I spend given the modest components of my system. I would love to hear everyone's opinion.
Yes, don't spend more than $2,000-$3,000. :p
But otherwise, your gear is fine, build the best speakers you can afford and upgrade the other stuff over time.
 
1. Fun project. 2. Sounds like you can get more for your money.

I've built both the Amigas and the Mechano23's discussed in this thread. I like both, but if you want bass the Amigas are objectively better for low end.

I would never recommend someone build DIY speakers just to save money. Unless you value your time as free, you'll end up spending more than commercial speakers, and (unless you are already a cabinet-level woodworker already), end up with something more homespun and less polished.

So if reason #1 ("fun project") is your main reason, great.
 
....Unless you value your time as free, you'll end up spending more than commercial speakers....
Unless he taking unpaid leave from work to build the speakers, his time is free. "Opportunity Cost"

But I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum of many at ASR...I would always recommend DIY as it is easy to outperform commercial speakers that must achieve a profit margin. Commercial speakers under $1,000 are usually wrapped in black vinyl or something else boring, so not sure you need cabinet-level woodworking skills vs a can of flat-black spray paint.
 
Of all the recently reviewed speakers on ASR, these look the most interesting to me.

They don't go quite as low as the TD1-X, and neither go as low as the Amigas, but they are going to go "low enough" for most use cases.


 
Unless he taking unpaid leave from work to build the speakers, his time is free. "Opportunity Cost"

But I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum of many at ASR...I would always recommend DIY as it is easy to outperform commercial speakers that must achieve a profit margin. Commercial speakers under $1,000 are usually wrapped in black vinyl or something else boring, so not sure you need cabinet-level woodworking skills vs a can of flat-black spray paint.
I really embrace then edges of high quality plywood. If it's made out of high quality baltic birch ply I will likely put on clear poly or lacquer. If the cabinets are MDF I will paint them bright red or use bright red tinted coating (like duratex).
 
What is your motivation for a DIY kit instead of factory build speakers?

Good question. Often sale, used or factory seconds can easily exceed DIY value.
 
Is it me or do many of the kits use better parts and/or have a more linear frequency response?
"Kits" are usually a way for vendors to make money.
CSS kits use CSS drivers.
Parts Express kits use drivers that PE sells, and often their own Dayton Audio drivers which offer higher profit margins.
Madisound kits use drivers that Madisound sells.

An exception was Meniscus Audio which specialized in kits which used all kinds of drivers by a large variety of designers, but the owner retired and shut down.
 
That hasn't been the case for awhile.

Agree, most DiYers do not get the driver pricing that OEMs do (notably if they are doing any major volume).

One of my benchmark's is Ascend Acoustics. The Sierra LX is $1500/pair. The woofers alone would cost the DIYer $400 before shipping. Yes, you might save on cabinetry, but they are doing volume there too. The DIYer has to have equipment to make a cabinet or sub it out. All added costs that most tend to readily overlooked. If you really want to match up, Also, they have invested in a Klippel and get SOTA performance. DIY kits tend to lag the general market and so not likely you will see a comparable performing kit for a while.

As have mentioned previously, you are also your own repair/support. Add a spare woofer and a spare tweeter, is easily another $300. Bigger speakers tend to have a better DIY return but SOTA designs are hard to find as most designers are focused on smaller speakers.
 
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One of my benchmark's is Ascend Acoustics. The Sierra LX is $1500/pair. The woofers alone would cost the DIYer $400 before shipping. Yes, you might save on cabinetry...
1) Not criticizing the Sierra LX, as they look quite good.
2) If someone doesn't have the tools or skills to do DIY, then they probably cannot compete with commercial speakers.
But...

Sierra LX: $1,548 plus $48 shipping = $1,596

Woofers $400 (shipping is free from Madisound over $120), tweeters $185, lets say $150 for the crossover. That leaves $860 to make a cabinet with too-small roundovers.

Here are some empty cabinets with blank baffles, $543 shipped from Aliexpress.

Speaker Cab 1.png

Speaker Cab 2.png


The DIYer has to have equipment to make a cabinet or sub it out. All added costs that most tend to readily overlook....
Yes, if a DIYer doesn't have the equipment to make a cabinet, then he probably shouldn't be making a DIY speaker.... I guess all the people who say DIY can't compete with commercial speakers are correct. After adding the $2,500 for a table saw and $500,000 for a house (which you need so that you can use the table saw), a DIY speaker basically costs $503,000.
 
I definitely have the tools and likely enough skill/curiousity to make my own cabinets. I just figured since it's my first speaker build I would choose a quality kit. I also figured since most of the cabinets are CNC cut I likely couldn't beat that in terms of accuracy.
 
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