Category Archives: Reasons to DIY

“Better value with a DIY project”

Geoff’s DIY Speaker Project – Part I

Audio enthusiast Geoff was looking for the perfect speakers for his listening room. After researching his options, he decided DIY was the most cost-effective and flexible option. Join him on his DIY journey!

DIY AUDIO SECRETS: Tell us about your project and why you chose to DIY…

GEOFF: We have a large listening/living room which is about 16m x 8m with 4m ceilings and L-shaped.  The current stereo setup, with small studio monitors and sub doesn’t really have enough “oomph” to fill the space, although it still sounds good.

After looking at various retail store options, I decided that (1) I don’t like black and (2) the store solutions were very expensive, i.e. over $2,000 to get something that sounds good. I then looked up ‘DIY speakers’ and found that you can get much better value with a DIY project, if you aren’t too ambitious and use a proven design.

I visited LSK (The Loudspeaker Kit) with some favourite CDs for an audition and decided that I prefer paper drivers to aluminium (not used in LSK kits but there was an all-aluminium speaker on demo). At the time of the visit LSK did not have a kit which would have been suitable for our space, although the new F6 Floorstanding Speaker Kit would have been an option*.

DIY AUDIO SECRETS: So where did your design come from?

GEOFF: After much ‘Googling’ I ended up at a well known US mail order website and asked the designer of one of its speaker kits if it would work in our room. He has been extremely helpful and suggested I look at one of his new designs which feature a “Mass Loaded Transmission Line” cabinet with an MTM configuration.

The drivers [used in my project] are high quality Dayton Audio RS180P-8 paper/fibre mid-woofers and Morel CAT378 soft dome tweeters. Drivers, crossover parts, vent tubes, speaker feet, grille kit, binding posts and wire were all from LSK: taking postage, exchange rate and, most importantly, local support into account this was by far the best purchase option.

DIY AUDIO SECRETS: What about listening to the speakers before you buy?

GEOFF: No Hi-Fi stores have a listening room like ours and in any case would not let you buy ‘on approval’. I was happy to take advice from the designer and we had many friendly email discussions. 

DIY AUDIO SECRETS: So how is the project coming together?

GEOFF: My local electronics shop assembled the crossovers for me and the cabinets are being made for us by a family contact from veneered and stained 18mm MDF. Drivers are recessed.

NB: if you’re looking to make MDF cabinets instead of buying a kit, I found only two firms in Melbourne which would cut to size due to OH&S concerns. Also, there are only one or two firms who will make speaker cabinets; not one kitchen/office/home cabinet maker would touch them.

 Stay tuned for part II and project images!

Do you have a DIY audio experience to share? Have you found similar barriers to having your own cabinets made, and what did you do to overcome them? Tell us your story by emailing [email protected]!

*LSK’s F6 Floorstanding Speaker Kit is now available.

Why DIY? 5 reasons to build your own speakers!

In this impatient, fast-paced world, everything seems mass produced, poorly made and on-demand. Quality sound can’t be defined by these contemporary boundaries but high-end costs make this dream seem out of reach for many. It doesn’t have to be this way. DIY is your answer.

1. Achieve high fidelity sound at a more affordable rate
Hi-fi products typically come with a luxury price tag. The DIY trend enables you to bypass commercial assembly and finishing, saving on manufacturing and production costs. Of course, in theory you can spend as much or as little as you want on your build project but your focus should be on obtaining quality components, in particular speaker drivers and crossover components. This way your sound quality will be kept high while the main cost of construction and finishing will be your spare time.

2. Build and sound quality is up to you
There’s nothing more frustrating than buying a complete product and hauling it home only to find it doesn’t deliver what it promised on the box or it has a manufacturing abnormality or defect. With a DIY audio project, the quality of your finished product relies on your discretion with selecting premium, compatible components from reputable suppliers and also on the care you take with your workmanship. Depending on your budget, you may wish to hire someone to design and construct your speaker cabinets, but you need to be mindful that it can be tough and expensive to find knowledgeable and willing professionals. However, if you have the right tools, this is completely unnecessary given the online support, advice and templates available. Then again, even if you don’t have these tools available, you can make use of the many quality speaker kits which can be purchased with pre-cut MDF and all the compatible internal components you’ll need.

3. Create a unique end product 
Whether the complete design or just the finishing is up to you, you have the potential to create something personal and individual that breaks the mass-produced mould. Of course, you may choose a gloss feel to replicate high-end tastes, or go wild with new crazes like sticker or photo bombing. Then again, there’s endless finishing options available to satisfy your style and budget, including but not limited to painting, staining or veneer. When it comes to the final steps, you can achieve a well executed finish for an affordable price or go for a deluxe veneer for a premium price. How much or how little you spend is entirely up to you, but we’re sure you’ll be surprised at how much cheaper it is to DIY when you look at the cost of comparable finished products.

4. The satisfaction of building something yourself
At the end of the day, there’s something grand about being able to say, “I made that.” You can bask in silent satisfaction or let it be a brag point at your next home movie night or party where you’ll no doubt hear from your audience a resounding, “That sound is amazing – where did you get those speakers?” The satisfaction that comes from building a quality product with your own two hands is hard to surpass. The added bonus is that you can secretly smirk over the fact that achieving hi-fi sound didn’t break the bank. You can think about your next audio project while you count the savings in your pocket.

5. It’s easier than you might think
With DIY becoming increasingly popular you won’t find yourself short of helpful advice and support. One of the best online sources for audio and, in particular, audio DIY is StereoNET. No doubt most people will have had some experience with flat-pack furniture or kitchens (IKEA anyone?) so if you’re considering starting your first project, why not look into purchasing a loudspeaker kit? Kits from LSK provide you with all the quality components you’ll need to build a loudspeaker (minus the veneer/finishing materials and tools) as well as written guides and video tutorials to support you along the way. Whether you’re looking to kickstart your DIY audio hobby or you’re an expert in the field, there are plenty of options out there for you to challenge yourself with. What’s more, most of the DIY audio enthusiasts out there are more than willing to share their tips and advice with you to help you along the way, and all they’ll ask in return is for you to share your build experience with them. Documenting your progress and sharing your project photos are a must!

So, what are you waiting for? Try DIY.