newbie wanting to build a diy open baffle

[hidilfrons]

I mistakenly posted this in the full range forum, it was suggested I re-post here, so ...

New to speaker building. My last speakers were Meridian DSP 5000, active. I liked them a lot and believe active is the way to go. Therefore my first parameter will be an active system. I am really wanting to try all active crossovers with an amp for each frequency. I am thinking the following.

1. use a mini dsp for crossovers, etc.
2. build my own class D amp based on 4*100W TK2050 Tripath D-class Amplifier Board. Get cheap bi or tri amplification . Thanks to Gainphile for both 1 and 2
3. One of the following

a. Orion loudspeaker kit
b. NaO Note kit
c. Try cloning the EP CS2.3

Right now I am leaning towards the CS2.3, least amount of capitol investment, plus I could make some quick open baffles using these speakers, just to get a sense of the sound in general. However my counter argument is that the Orion and NaO both would provide a more engineered finished product, as it is my understanding that the CS2.3's can be highly dependent upon EQ, etc. Has anyone cloned the CS2.3, how were the results? Did results depend a lot on "processing"