Why build speakers?

[chico1st]

OK im just curious as to the reason that everyone here builds their own speakers.

I have been building (haven't finished one yet :P ) to fit places where i couldnt buy a speaker box to meet my enclosure size, but I think most people do it for different reasons.

Prices on used speakers on kijiji are pretty nice to my untrained eyes/ears, so is it more the hobby or do you get something better for the price?

[lrntglls]

I build my speakers because:

1) I use a specific driver and the only way of getting a speaker is to build one.

2) You can build it massive...

3) No way I could afford these speakers if I had to buy them in a audio store.

4) The sound so good...

[talaerts]

Mainly for fun and a bit to "break the system" as it seems almost evident to spend big money on ready made speakers.
Even so, 2nd hand quad electrostatics (when in a good condition) are very attractive as well...

[sarte]

Well... try to find spherical FR-speakers with stereo ML-TL subs in a package that has acceptable WAF-factor... Oh did I mention I want them made from birch ply / birch and I want the damping material to be real wool....

Commercial product is always a trade-off... With DIY builds you can use esoteric designs and materials all you want.

That is why I build my own speakers. And of course probably more important reason is that I love to design and build speakers.

But you're there is no point building just another 2-way reflex shelf speaker unless you really want to use expensive materials/elements

[Bill poster]

Good question Chico

You have to think of speaker building as a long term project because invariably the first build is going to sound terrible for a reason you didnt think of or know about.

[spudfrog]

I build because I am constantly improving my woodworking skills. I try not to do the same type of build twice (or I change things up considerably). I feel like my speakers are a way to express myself, and I must say I sometimes enjoy building them more than I do listening to them.

I also have very specific (and sometimes strange) tastes, so there usually isn't anyting available that I really like and can afford.

[kristleifur]

For the sound.

[bunkie]

For me, it all started with having no money.

But, as others have said, there are a lot of reasons. What's interesting is what came out of it. In my case, the need to build cabinets led me into woodworking. Now I have a completely different hobby and skill set that just happens to intersect DIY audio. It's another one of those situations where the journey is as important as the goal.

A few years back I got into transmission-lines. Almost no one is doing commercial TL systems. DIY is the only practical way to explore avenues such as this. The same thing can be said for line arrays or open-baffle designs. There's a little mad-scientist in all of us doing DIY speakers.

[danerius]

Originally Posted by chico1st

OK im just curious as to the reason that everyone here builds their own speakers.

I have been building (haven't finished one yet :P ) to fit places where i couldnt buy a speaker box to meet my enclosure size, but I think most people do it for different reasons.

Prices on used speakers on kijiji are pretty nice to my untrained eyes/ears, so is it more the hobby or do you get something better for the price?

I enjoy it, simple as that

Best regards /Bo

[jimbro]

I'm a DIYer in general. Plus it's a hobby that dovetails nicely with my other interests - woodworking, music and beer.