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First DIY Project Advice for a beginner


Ken98

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Hi there, I am seriously considering undertaking my first DIY speaker build. 

I will be choosing a kit.

My Total Budget for both the speakers and amp will be around $4000-$5000 (Could maybe stretch another $500 but unlikely)

 

I would like to build the best possible speakers for the price (would probably spend up to ~$3000, definitely no more than $3500, as this would mean less to spend on an amp)

As I am aware best is very subjective, and in all honesty my audio experience isn't very wide, I own the KEF LS50's (in the process of trying to sell) as well as the HD800 headphones.

 

I listen to a wide genre of music: Classical, Rap, EDM, Rock., Instrumentals, as well as your typical top 40 type stuff. (Classical, Rap and EDM are the most listened to)

 

I need the speakers to be compact and versatile I will use them in a smallish room about 15 square metres. I will most likely be moving soon to a larger place, but i would still most likely use them in an office/bedroom setup.

This rules out floor standers. A front ported design would be better in my case as It would have to be close to the wall.

In an office setup and in my current room (once i reconfigure my desk), I could have the speakers about 1-1.5m away from me. 

That said I may using them in a living/lounge room

 

I was thinking of building a kit from Rick Craig at Selah Audio, they seem to have a small but loyal following.

Out of His designs I am torn between these 2:

The Verita http://www.selahaudio.com/verita-kit    

and The Tempesta http://www.selahaudio.com/tempesta-kit

He also does a fair few custom iterations of his existing designs.

The Tempesta is a real strain on the budget though. The kits from Selah audio do come with assembled and pre-wired crossovers, I also wouldn't really consider speakers larger in footprint than them.

 

The Verita uses a RAAL 70-20XR mated with a Scanspeak Illuminator woofer (18wu) with the option for paper or aluminium coned versions

The Tempesta is a 3 way with the RAAL 70-10D, Accuton C50 Dome midrange and Scanspeak Illuminator woofer (18wu).

 

Selah Audio is based in the US, so I will have to factor in shipping costs and import fees, That said Rick Craig, gives you the option of providing your own drivers.

 

What are your thoughts on these 2 designs, I'm not very experienced with speakers so I don't really how to tell that well what is a good design or not.

 

I want something that is as versatile as possible, A flat frequency response is preferred, I also love a large soundstage and good imaging.


What other DIY speaker designs are out there and are there other designs that you guys would recommend over the ones linked above.

 

When it comes to building the actual speaker and cabinet  I will most likely be building it together with my father, I do have a little bit of  experience soldering mostly from building my own quadcopters/drones and my dad will help me with most of the woodworking.

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

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@Ken98 I'm struggling to find a kit speaker "expensive enough" for your budget, but here are some thoughts. Please note that I've not tried these:

 

Zaph Audio

http://www.zaphaudio.com/SR71.html

parts available here:

https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/zaph-audio/

 

There are also some further options here:

https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/2-way-speaker-kits/

 

And an Australian site worth looking at:

http://www.stonessoundstudio.com.au/

 

Good luck, and feel free to ask questions, we will help where we can.

 

Regards,

 

SS

Edited by Sub Sonic
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You've budgeted enough to build a world class speaker so let me ask you:  Have you considered an electrostatic speaker?  

 

ER Audio kits are very nice and not difficult to build:  http://www.eraudio.com.au/DIY_Speaker_Kits/diy_speaker_kits.html

 

And if you're up for the woodwork, there are a couple of tailored dispersion, segmented wire stator designs shown on the website below.

http://jazzman-esl-page.blogspot.com/

 

Edited by jazzman53
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I recently spoke to Paul Spencer from Red Spade Audio about their HE2 kit. It was around 1800 for the kit with passive crossover.
Really efficient design plus I've heard good things about it.
Pair this with a tube amp kit and it'll be a match made in heaven.

Sent from my HTC 2PS6200 using Tapatalk

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On 5 June 2017 at 8:53 AM, Weka said:

Many of Troels' DIY designs are available from European suppliers and I've found the shipping costs are generally lower than buying from the US. http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/Diy_Loudspeaker_Projects.htm

 

 

I've heard a well-constructed pair of Poor Man's Strads. Great sound and visually striking to boot.

Doug

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