I just bumped into this thread and I would like to address something about DIY in general.
For some it still seems to be a bit of an idea that DIY is always lower quality product or something.
Especially among certain reviewers (just in general, not in particular this forum).
I would like to remind the fact that the main difference between DIY and commercially available loudspeakers or audio equipment in general, is the fact that commercial products product have to bring in money to pay wages and other additional costs.
Actually I have seen quite some projects over the last 15 years that exceed any commercially available product by many miles.
Some made it to a commercial product, some never did.
As an electro- acoustic consultant, I come across many, many different companies.
Some well established, some are just new start-ups.
Let me put it this way, some have a very "interesting" vision about audio and acoustics.
I have seen (very) "high-end" products, selling for quite a price, that I very personally would label as nothing more as (cute) an hobby project.
(and in some cases barely being able to meet any safety and EMI regulations).
The main point is, that a commercial loudspeaker is a lot more than just only audio quality.
Think about production, consistency, marketing niche, labor and the involved wages.
Even something simple and cheap as soldering a crossover board, which a DIY'er can do in his spare time, can be a major issue in cost-price and labor for a commercial product.
Also looks are a really big thing. Something that looks nice is great and there is nothing wrong with it AT ALL.
But it doesn't add anything to the audio quality. (well, people who know a thing or two about psycho-acoustics might argue that, lol
)
As a response to what price-range, I have also seen VERY known manufactures using parts (speakers, tweeters, amplifiers etc), that would most people consider as being "cheap" if not very cheap.
So as always the saying "don't judge a book by its cover" really is in place here.
With all the "Klippels" and "spinorama's" these days for all those commercially available products, the observant viewer or reader would maybe come to certain conclusions when it comes down to price/performance/build quality.
If we want to collect objective data, price shouldn't be a starting point to begin with., by saying not to consider something because "it's to cheap" or "to expensive".
I don't even think the price should be known by the reviewer who is testing the products, except in the end after reviewing.