Hello, If been looking at lots of speakers recently, and came to notice all the ones in my price range look horrible. So I was thinking that I could make my own.

I think I have a book on out to lying about somewhere, so I'll have a look at it.

I would just like opinoins on if I should or not, what components to get and things like that.

Thanks!

It's a splendid idea. If you put some effort into it you can get extremely good results. Just remember that math is as important as carpentry when it comes to speaker building.

My dad made some speakers over 20 years ago, that are still playing today (every day). I haven't heard any speaker play electronic music as well. No matter what I throw at it, it plays it effortlessly. That includes Infected Mushroom turned up to levels that I can barely tolerate. And that music genre didn't even exist when he built them.

Okay cool thanks.

Wow 20 years! Thats a long time!

I still cant find the book

If I want it surround sound what components do I need?

Thanks!

If you are planning to build your own speakers, you´ll find these page very useful:
http://www.audiogrid.com/audio/

Regards.

The Gaby

I've made two pairs of these and i can tell you that they sound fantastic.

There are of course smaller and less costly speakers from GR Research here

I built my own speaker and loved every moment I loved it! I suggest this thread as a starting point:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=170942
A good place to find your parts is Parts Express. They also have other DIY plans to look at.

These are very high end speakers with very good schematics and many people who are there to support you. When I built these a few years ago I ended up only spending around $800-850 + labor to make a 7.1 setup. This thread goes on and on. You'll be well prepared if you spend an evening reading the postings.

Making speakers are an awesome adventure. Find something that you like and just do it.

BTW... MDF is a mess when you cut it. Be prepared!

I have made a couple speaker projects, and they all sound great. They especially match my DIY Gainclone, but that is another story.

I love TL speakers. If you have the patience to work through computer models, I highly recommend it. Look at http://www.quarter-wave.com/ You have to find a Mathcad demo, trial, etc., but it works out really well. I also use the Excel "Passive Crossover Designer" at http://www.pvconsultants.com/audio/frdgroup.htm to model the crossover. You can get speaker data from PartsExpress to model the crossover design.

My first set of speakers are hideous, but they sound great. Woodworking is not my strength. The total cost was about $150 for the pair and the bass from the 8" speakers shake the house. It is definitely a worthwhile endeavor. I think that the more thought you put into it, the more you get out of it.

I started two years ago with DIY speakers. I have built 4 pairs so far, and it would have been a lot more if had more time, money and most important, space to place all the speakers .
If it's a good idea depends on what you want - on the cheap end you can't really compete with the aftermarket stuff. Building a 5.1 set including an amp and subwoofer for < 150€ just isn't going to work.
I don't really know much about the DIY scene outside Germany, have a look at http://www.diyaudio.com , http://www.zaphaudio.com/ and at http://lautsprechershop.de (they have a english website available).
I recommend you to build an already developed kit, building you own speaker from ground up, choosing appropriate chassis, designing the crossover etc. is no easy task, you need alot of knowledge and of course measuring equipment (which is not cheap). In general DIY loudspeakers offer an extraordinary bang for the buck (IMHO), plus you have the ability to try exotic concepts (Air Motion Transformers as tweeter, Transmissionlines, Rear-loaded Horns etc...) which often cannot be found in stores. And you can customize the look of your speaker to fit your room and furniture (remember this if you ever have to fight with the WAF )

I'd have to say designing speakers is a good project. I've been thinking about doing it for awhile.

Pretty much inspired to do it from the fact that i dusted off a giant subwoofer box that my grandfather built ( for my dad's band when my dad was 17!). And it just flat out impressed me. The speakers horrible, the amps horrible. If they weren't in that nicely designed box i would ditch them. Planning to upgrade the speaker and amp one day, make that box sing/thump .

It will be alot of work, but hopefully worth it

Wow they are massive Thanks for the links will check them out!



Thanks for the links. Will check them out. Dont worry my dad or grandad will be helping me with making them as they know more of what they're doing when making things, I'd end up with pieces of wood everywhere.



Cool thanks for the links. I have the patience to work through computer models if it means the end result will be very good!. Haha wow!



Thanks for the information and links. I'm willing to spend time and money, if it means very good speakers in the end. Thats one of the main reasons I'm making my own, because I hate the look of alot of speakers. Haha at "WAF", my girlfriend probably just laugh at me, ask whats the point and say your sad, lol.

Thanks to everyone for the replies, links and everything else!