Suggestions for a Newbie

[m1abrams]

Ok well I have been researching building my own speakers for a little while now.

My requirements for the system are primarly for Home Theatre so a surround system is the final goal. However I do listen to a good bit of music. Should be on the less expensive side since it is my first project. Also I have a wife, so people with wives knows what requirements that entails.

I found a design that looks like it may fit the requirements I have of being not very expensive, easy to build and can be used in a HT environment.

http://www.madisound.com/audaxhometheater.html

I know I could buy the kit with the cabinets, however I think I want build the cabinets myself. I will probably just plan to build one pair of speakers at first and see how well I handle that, then move onto the others. Thinking the rear surrounds being the first pair to build.

Here are my questions:
1. Does this look like a good project for my requirements?
2. Can a person without much woodworking experience handle this? (I have built a sub box for a car, that turned out rather nicely)
3. What wood working tools would I need besides a router, table saw, and drill?
4. Any woodworking suggestions, tips are welcome.

I am an Electrical Eng. so the crossover networks I can get with no issues and have the tools for that side of the project. It is the woodworking part that I am less comfortable with, but really want to get into.

[coolkhoa]

IMO the Audax system is a fine choice, should be good for beginning woodworking too.

[philiprst]

I am just beginning to assemble the components to make this system after looking around for a while. Almost all of the comments I have seen say that this is a good solid design for a reasonable price: I bought all the drivers for the five speakers for less that $300. One of the things I like about this design is that the crossover cost is quite reasonable; he uses mostly 18ga inductors and exploits their DCR in his design. The crossover components cost around $200 so, for me, the total cost will be in the $600 range for five speakers. Very reasonable.

If you go this route you might want to take a look at zalytron; they have the audax midwoofers on sale at the moment and can also supply the crossover parts The cost of the crossover components is in the same ballpark. PE also had a $10 deal of the day on the tweeters a couple of weeks ago but I have no idea how often those deals come around again.