Parts Express Speaker Kits

[llanger]

Though I know virtually nothing about speaker design or engineering, I'm considering the purchase of a DIY kit from Parts Express. It is claimed they are "easy to assemble". Has anyone tried such a kit and if so what can I expect as far as sound quality is concerned? Can I assemble a better sounding pair of speakers that would be less expensive than a manufactured speaker?

 

[kfalls]

The BR-1 kit from Parts Express is very easy to build. I purchased kits for my grandsons. We built them together. I was able to show them how to solder and explain how speakers work and what crossover do. The speakers actually sounded pretty good. I bought mine on sale for around $128/pr.

I have their "Overnight Sensation" kit, but haven't started on it. It's a little more involved . They have a flat-pack cabinet kit, so oyu need to build them. The BR-1s have assembled cabinets.

 

[mace]

Can I assemble a better sounding pair of speakers that would be less expensive than a manufactured speaker?

For sure. I have not built any of P.E.'s kits, but built numerous DIY designs using their drivers and in a couple of instances, their cabinets. You have the ability to choose quality cx parts, choose between box alignments etc.

Here is a link to a place with plenty of proven designs. Check out the Modula MT.

 

[Son-of-Vere]

If you're building speakers to save money I'd recommend just buying something already built.

If on the other hand if you want something you can be proud of because you did it yourself, then by all means buy a flatpack kit. There's quite a bit of knowledge that can be gleaned from putting a kit together.

 

[mutfish]

Here are some very interesting looking kits based on using Parts Express cabinets....

http://creativesound.ca/details.php?model=WR.30

 

[mjennens]

Here are some more options. These come with the front baffle, but you can usually order the rest of the cabinet too. Otherwise, you can build your own cabinet if you have the tools. The only thing you need to assemble is the crossover. You can get plenty of help with that on this or the Parts Express forum.

http://www.diysoundgroup.com/speaker-kits.html

There are thses kits with which you can order a pre-built crossover. You can order the cabinets from Parts Express. The front baffles might be a little tougher to have made, unless it's a known design that is already out there. However, there are guys that will do a baffle on a CNC for you for a fee.
Whichever way you go, have fun with it. If you go with the BR-1s, in my experience, it likes a bit of power. Nothing huge but I ran a pair on a 20 watt/channel Nikko receiver and the BR-1s were so-so. I ran them on a much larger Pioneer and they definitely sounded better. Plus, there are upgrades on the web for the BR-1s, if you were so inclined to do so.
Mike

 

[sonex]

I second DIY soundgroup, you have choice of just parts and baffle or flat pack. Some very respected speaker designers involved with many of their designs.