Jeff banker
Active Member
Has anyone built any of the kits from parts express? I thought it would be a good project for my son and I. Just want to make sure they aren’t total junk.
Parts express speaker kit
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Jeff banker
Active Member
Those were the ones I was thinking of. I just wondered how they sounded.
fill35u
Super Member
Very popular, but very low sensitivity.
Lavane
Lunatic Member
I've built a couple. The Overnight Sensations do sound pretty good, but they are low sensitivity and you have to be careful with the volume especially if you are heavy handed with the bass control. The other kit I built was the BR-1's. It comes with a PCB for the crossover and the cabinets are pre-built.
You still have to solder up the crossovers, cut and glue the foam,wire it up and mount the speakers. The BR-1's sound nice. Plenty of low end and the silk dome tweeter is detailed and smooth. I've been using them at my bench system. It doesn't have tone controls and just don't need them with these speakers. I like them.
You still have to solder up the crossovers, cut and glue the foam,wire it up and mount the speakers. The BR-1's sound nice. Plenty of low end and the silk dome tweeter is detailed and smooth. I've been using them at my bench system. It doesn't have tone controls and just don't need them with these speakers. I like them.
fill35u
Super Member
I put together a C-Note center channel kit for a friend:
https://www.parts-express.com/c-note-center-channel-speaker-kit--300-7142
FWIW, there was enough room for me to move both ports to the front panel.
Fit and finish, instructions, and packing were excellent.
https://www.parts-express.com/c-note-center-channel-speaker-kit--300-7142
FWIW, there was enough room for me to move both ports to the front panel.
Fit and finish, instructions, and packing were excellent.
WaynerN
Addicted Member
What a great idea for your son! If he's going to use it in his bedroom with a smaller system, I like the suggestions of something smaller like the Overnight Sensation. Could be a set of speakers he takes to college (if he has plans, maybe too young), but would be a great father/son project. Learn how to solder, how to do a little wiring of cross-overs. My first project was an AM/SW tube receiver kit made by Graymark in my 7th grade shop class. Next thing I knew, I was building Dynakits........
GD70
Lunatic Member
I’ve heard the Tritrix. Very nice sounding speaker.
Jeff banker
Active Member
Thank you! He is 13 . And I’m self learning audio repair so I thought it would be a good project. When I came home he had the Catalog out of the box from things we ordered from parts express and showed me it. We have collected a few things since we started this so these will be used in his room. Now we just have to choose which kit.
You might also look at the HiVi/Swans speaker kit:
https://swanspeakers.com/product/hivi-swans-bookshelf-speaker-diy-kits-diy3-1/
It was also available at Amazon, but couldn't find it this morning. Edit: Found it:
https://tinyurl.com/y6325y25
.
https://swanspeakers.com/product/hivi-swans-bookshelf-speaker-diy-kits-diy3-1/
It was also available at Amazon, but couldn't find it this morning. Edit: Found it:
https://tinyurl.com/y6325y25
.
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Jeff banker
Active Member
Do you think they are of higher quality?
Lavane
Lunatic Member
If it's for a 13 year old, something with grills may be a thought. I remember being pretty rambunctious at that age. 
you can always get replacement drivers from PE pretty cheap though if one gets damaged. The midbass drivers for the O.S's are about $14 each. I had to replace one. I use the O.S.'s as test speakers at my bench. One got fried by a damaged amplifier.
you can always get replacement drivers from PE pretty cheap though if one gets damaged. The midbass drivers for the O.S's are about $14 each. I had to replace one. I use the O.S.'s as test speakers at my bench. One got fried by a damaged amplifier.
Yep, and there are all kinds of posts over the internet about how to even go farther and make improvements on them...
The original Totem Forests used a HiVi driver in the bass position, I've got a couple of them in a box in a closet waiting for a project...someday...
Copa1934
My ears are bleeding
Sadly out of stock. Just checked. Good recommendations.
Looks like one will have to get them straight from HiVi/Swans since Amazon lacks any stock, or is HiVi/Swans out, too?
