When it comes to speaker building, what best defines the term "DIY"
 

In the commercial world, a company will typically design a speaker and put their name on it, but won't actually build it(Or parts of it) themselves. So the question is this. Is a design still considered "DIY" by most enthusiasts, if you don't build the cabinets, but choose all the design parameters and then put everything together yourself? After all, we don't make the wires, drivers, passive or active(most of the time)components or terminals. There is no one I admire more than someone who builds their own beautiful cabinets, but is that truly required to earn the name "DIY"? Opinions?

Thanks for interesting link to link to book. I've long contemplated this "desert island" challenge.

What difference does DIY definition make? If the question is, what criteria to apply in deciding to make it yourself... a better question.

British taxes once made a big distinction between factory products and kits - for example a Lotus from the factory and a Lotus Super-7 Kit and HiFi stuff too. Geez, with all the Heathkits I made, pity no such distinction here.

B.

IMO the emphasis should be on the DO. It is all very well speculating on the perceived benefits and drawbacks of different approaches to dealing with audio issues, and healthy debate can clarify vision of what is achievable. However to qualify as DIY for me, I should see a tangible result. Implementing a given design qualifies. If there is some refinement of an existing design approach, even better.
This is in the realm of engineering R&D not DIY
No IMO. There are many reasons for involvement in DIY. For me, the desire to own equipment that performs well beyond the standard set by commercial products that I can afford, is my primary reason for DIY. If I was much richer or desirable products were much cheaper, I would probably not build speakers, despite the satisfaction I get from DIY. There are plenty of commercial products I would be quite content with. I just can't afford them. I use them as a target for my DIY efforts.

Fascinating. Thanks. I'm purchasing it on Amazon kindle right now.

Another big thanks for the link. Gotta get that book. :up:

Well I do not mine the magnesium ore used in the drivers.

Does that count as diy ;)

Just checked out the S19. Beautiful, functional design. Way better looking than the Linkwitz Orion, in my opinion. The (dual) waveguide tweeter is a better idea too(For matching the midrange dispersion at the crossover point). Wow!

umm

Ok, I'll grant you that.

Like many many other things in life, but completely true to the name, it ultimately depends on where you want to place the threshold.