[cyberidd]

Ok, so I have been looking at building my own speakers for a little while now, but I don't know where to start. I have had very little experience with DIY in the past, so please stick with me on this. First of all, I don't know where to find instructions, what would be the easiest style, and what supplies I would need. I was thinking it would be really cool to try to put together a ribbon speaker, but I don't know where that fits on the difficulty scale. Anyway, if anyone has advice for what to build, and how to do it I will be very grateful.

 

[fraseyboy]

I tried doing that once. It was only after I'd cut all the wood into correctly sized pieces that I realized shipping for the parts was something like $100.

I gave up.


Parts-Express.com - Speakers, Speaker Building, Home Audio and Video, Pro Audio, Electronic Parts & Accessories PARTS EXPRESS, Speakers, Speaker Parts, Guitar speakers, Bass speakers, Woofers, Drivers, speaker upgrades and replacement speakers. Emine has lots of speaker parts and I think there's guides on how to build certain speakers there too. And kits.

 

[Ishcabible]

Try these: My Voigt Pipes

I plan on trying it sometime this summer.

 

[DocHamm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ishcabible /img/forum/go_quote.gif Try these: My Voigt Pipes

I think Voigt Pipes are very cool. I've looked at several single-driver designs and hope to build a set of those for myself later this year. I think this design is good starting one. Especially for first timers and people who don't build often, like me.

 

[Billyk]

I always thought these would be a decent setup, in my price range and my abilities. If I did not have so many pairs around...

 

[mattcalf]

What would be their application?
What amplication do you plan to use?
Single driver, two/three way design?
Are they going to be used with a subwoofer?

There are these questions and more that you should consider, a great place to start answering these is at DIYAudio.
I might warn you, as with this hobby it's quite addictive. I have about 8 drivers sitting in my room waiting for design and building. And a few more projects in my head!

EDIT: Links

FrugalHorns
Awesome designs with many options
End game!!!

 

[TopPop]

This is a good place to search, or here, too.

 

[DocHamm]

There are plenty of great DiY speaker sites. Check out diyspeakers.net and Wayne's Speaker Building to add to your growing list of links.

For some real fun, check these out ...
DiY Coffee Cup Speakers

EggShell Speakers

 

[Lazarus Short]

Back in the "old days" a lot of people built their own speakers, and I built two pairs myself, and modified others. These days, your best route might be to score a pair of vintage speakers at a thrift store, which have good cabinets and blown/damaged/rotted drivers. Better drivers can be had far cheaper than new speakers. My current speakers are all new except for the cabinets, and sound great. I also have a pair of nice Altec Seven cabinets, but have no need to make a project of them. Anyone living close by could have them for a song, but Winnipeg is a bit far.

 

[Uncle Erik]

If you want to build ribbons, you will want Justus Verhagen's book. I build these in 2002 and they still kick a lot of butt. Back then, it cost me about $200 for all the materials.

Another DIY project I really love is the ProAc Response 2.5 clone. These are superb speakers, just wonderful sounding with great bass.

Currently, I'm working on putting together the Orion + over at Linkwitz Labs. These sound tough to improve on - I think they might be my last pair of speakers.

 

[Pale Rider]

Ages ago, I built a set of ribbons based on a Jack Caldwell design using a double height set of Strathearn ribbons in an angled enclosure with a set of isobarik 12 inch Dynaudio woofers on each side. Very large and PITA to move. But It was a very enjoyable setup. Ah, those were the days. Van Alstine and Carver electronics in the middle and Ariston w/ Black Widow arm AVA modified Grado cartridge. Listened for hours and days on end, with interruptions every 20-25 minutes of course for flipping vinyl.

But the Voigt Pipe looks like a great way to get back into DIY. Any thoughts on a really good full range driver to build around?

 

[LFF]

I have never built anything myself that's worth bragging about but I do plan to make my first DIY speakers this year. The materials should run about $900 - $1200 but according to some people I trust, they should outperform anything from $10,000 and up.

 

[krmathis]

My speaker rig have DIY speakers, built by me some 12-13 years ago.
It was quite fun building it all, and I also think they gave great value for money.

13" Audax in separate cabinets, then top box' with 6" and 1" from Seas. Mundorf MCap and air coils (transformers?) for the filter.

 

[mattcalf]

I'm in the cabinet/filter stage for an Audax/Seas combo at the moment, krmathis.

Good to hear you're enjoying you're build as I can't wait for mine!

 

[jrosenth]

Even go with some basic fostex/DIY with recommended ported boxes for simplicity - madisound has spec/docs

yes, they need a shaping filter so they are not shouty - but that's a simple circuit

Or if you're using something like computer audio, say with foobar, then go buy a cheap sound meter at radio shack and use an EQ module to do room correction and account for the baffle step without having to build any circuit (literally just a driver, box and wire)

-

pipes are cool though - i had Tekton build be a yellow pair for some fostex 127 and love them to death