DIY EZ Bookshelf Project

Early B.

Been thinking for a while about doing a pair of DIY bookshelf speakers. I have no use for them at all, so it would be strictly for the fun of it. The idea is to keep it simple and use a highly regarded design to minimize risk of **** it up. Of course, I can always go with the very popular Ed Frias design found here: http://www.madisound.com/ar_com.html

Alternatively, I can be a bit more adventurous and try this one: http://www.speakerbuilder.net/web_files/Projects/peecreek/pcrkmain.htm

Or perhaps go the cheap route and try this one: http://www.speakerbuilder.net/web_files/Projects/DBP/dbp.htm

I'd eventually upgrade the crossover components, but not initially.


My budget is $150 for the parts excluding the cabinet. Any other options?

I haven't decided if I wanted to build an inexpensive pair of speakers or just go straight to building a reference quality set with high end drivers such as Seas and Scanspeak, and include premium crossover components.

Either way, I'd like to initially spend a little extra for gold plated binding posts (no cheap plastic ones).

I'd like to build my own custom cabinets. I'd probably save some money if I do. Besides, I'd like to experiment with a combination of MDF and real wood.

heiney9

Early B, keep us posted on this project. I was looking at the same type of thing over at Madisound. I want to do it for kicks as well. I looked at some other cool desgins (can't remember where) and they got pretty pricey very quickly. If you go forward I'd like to hear about how the whole process went and what the end result was.

Personally, I'm not convinced these inexpensive kits will sound as good as a mass market speaker from a well known company. Who knows.....cause I have no practical exprience, it's just a hunch. My Athena bookshelfs sound damn good for a $100 speaker, not sure a kit for the similar cost would sound as good, who knows :cool:

Good luck

H9

Early B.

Heiny -- I expect the kits will blow away virtually any mass market speaker available at probably double its price range. The reason is simple -- with mass market products there's a helluva lot of costs that go into the final product -- marketing, advertising, distribution, etc. With a kit the emphasis is strictly on the components. Plus, you gotta assemble it yourself, so you save even more money. For instance, the drivers in your Athenas are probably $5 ea. and the crossover components are likely to be very cheap Chinese parts worth about $3. And I doubt if your cabinet is 3/4" HDF or MDF; it may even be particle board. However, if you were building a comparable speaker, the higher quality parts will result in an improvement in sound that would probably amaze you.

heiney9

Early B. wrote:

Heiny -- I expect the kits will blow away virtually any mass market speaker available at probably double its price range. The reason is simple -- with mass market products there's a helluva lot of costs that go into the final product -- marketing, advertising, distribution, etc. With a kit the emphasis is strictly on the components. Plus, you gotta assemble it yourself, so you save even more money. For instance, the drivers in your Athenas are probably $5 ea. and the crossover components are likely to be very cheap Chinese parts worth about $3. And I doubt if your cabinet is 3/4" HDF or MDF; it may even be particle board. However, if you were building a comparable speaker, the higher quality parts will result in an improvement in sound that would probably amaze you.

Makes sense....maybe I shouldn't abandon the idea. Its just always seemed to be a rather expensive experiment, even thru Madisound . I have no wood working skills or tools so I'd have to buy everything and simply follow the assembly instructions. Again....if you go thru with it keep us posted with the results.

H9

Early B.

heiney9 wrote:

Makes sense....maybe I shouldn't abandon the idea. Its just always seemed to be a rather expensive experiment, even thru Madisound . I have no wood working skills or tools so I'd have to buy everything and simply follow the assembly instructions. Again....if you go thru with it keep us posted with the results.

Well, yeah, if you gotta buy tools and stuff, then it's probably not worth the trouble. I don't have much skill with woodworking, either. I guess making speaker cabinets is a good opportunity for me to learn. I won't start on them anytime soon 'cause I've got other financial priorities. Just planning for the future right now.

heiney9

My original thinking was to build something similar to Lsi 9's in size and configuration. But by the time I purchase all the raw drivers, x-overs, binding terminals and then quality pre-assembled cabinets the price isn't really all that much less than just purchasing the Lsi 9's out right. I figured Polk probably would do it better than I could in kit form. Still intriguing and I'll let it simmer on the back burner for awhile.

H9

heiney9

This is more my speed and I'd be willing to experiment at this price point. Cabinets, for me, will be the biggest challenge. My Dad could probably help as he has the tools and knowledge to craft the enclosure. Seriously considering giving these a go. They won't be Lsi killers by any stretch, but I'd love to compare them to my Athena's in the 2nd system.

http://www.speakerbuilder.net/web_files/Projects/D3/dayton3.htm

H9

shack

I know I should start small but if I ever decide to build a speaker this is the one I will do.

Madisounds Eton 8.1 2-way floorstanding speaker

Early B.

shack wrote:

I know I should start small but if I ever decide to build a speaker this is the one I will do.

Madisounds Eton 8.1 2-way floorstanding speaker

Nah. Shouldn't be any more complicated than building a pair of bookshelf speakers, especially if you have decent woodworking skills. Go for it!

tryrrthg

Just found these (the links are to the same speaker kit):

http://www.acoustic-visions.com/~acoustic/products/speakers/complete_kits/kit_41.shtml

http://www.diycable.com/main/product_info.php?cPath=24_92&products_id=537

The midrange driver has the XBL-2 technology, same as your Atlas 15. Looks like a nice little kit to get started. I wouldn't mind trying it out sometime.

burdette

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=300-640

This is pretty well thought of over at the Parts Express forum. It uses a larger woofer than the cheaper kit you linked to... supposed to be a little 'fuller' and better able to stand on its own.

Even if you want to go with a more 'raw' design - the PE forum is a great resource. Many of those guys are into designing and making speakers like the guys here are into Polk.

VR3

Building enclosures is not hard...

All you need is a table saw with a square fence and someone who knows how to pull/accept it through the other side so the wood stays square.

The idea is you get as accurate of pieces as possible. If you make multiple cuts of the same length, cut them without moving the fence on the table saw.

Never assume something is square (the fence) always check with a test piece..

Another tip I can give you if you dont have a nail gun - I recomend clamps, and lots of them...

I am currently utilizing 6 clamps and could probally use about 4 more. But usually if you are going to just attach the panel - two clamps are sufficient, you just want to keep the sides together and from moving...

I personally thought the way I braced my current enclosures made the whole process much more simplified. because as soon as the bracing was together, so was the loudspeaker. This made putting the panels on and such a much simpler process. This also made exact measurements that much more important...

If you plan on doing a small width loudspeaker and are designing the interrior yourself/plan to add bracing - I recomend the "strip" bracing I used, it really did make things that much easier...

Woodworking isnt that hard, its only hard when you dont fix your cuts that are too short or too long... because then you have to sand it after its on there! That really sucks...

PoweredByDodge

Sid ... I checked out your site - since you're so hell bent on this Def Tech gear... I wanna give you my 2 cents on something. email me @ vince@spinellicreations.com so i can shoot you a note back.

VR3

Im almost scared.

Email is sent though.