I wonder how many others do this. I've been hemming and hawing about my next speaker project. $5k for bass cabinets and 3-way plate amps. That's a lot of money for me. Then along comes a Stereophile review of a small-ish 3-way powered speaker that's $30K per pair and now $5k is a bargain.
Does this happen to you?
Does this happen to you?
No. Even if I was really wealthy I'd still design and build my own. With more money I could just do more like get my own CNC, which I'd also use to make guitars and basses.
Well I certainly don't mean to say we'd buy commercial... but do we ever spend MORE money on a DIY project after seeing commercial prices?? Maybe it's just me. I have trouble resisting a bargain, even if it's for something I don't actually need.
Honestly if I'm not careful a good sale could make me spend a lot of money on golf clubs, and I don't even golf.
🙂
Honestly if I'm not careful a good sale could make me spend a lot of money on golf clubs, and I don't even golf.
🙂
Commercial has pawn shop value. I lost 2 sets of competent commercial speakers 9/2020 to an unemployed housepainter for cash. Hard worker, not very talented.
I am building because he left all my home projects. Not shiny & pro looking, no pawn shop value. If you can't hear above 17500 hz, Peavey SP2(2004) are as good as Klipsch La Scala but much cheaper. My uglysons may sound as good as the commercial ones, but be unfinished MDF with ugly burlap grills. Pedestrians on the street can see my speakers up on the stands through the windows.
I am building because he left all my home projects. Not shiny & pro looking, no pawn shop value. If you can't hear above 17500 hz, Peavey SP2(2004) are as good as Klipsch La Scala but much cheaper. My uglysons may sound as good as the commercial ones, but be unfinished MDF with ugly burlap grills. Pedestrians on the street can see my speakers up on the stands through the windows.
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I used to self-justify frequently, but I'm not the one who generally has a problem with what my projects cost. I have a certain amount of "me money" and I need neither permission nor justification to spend it as long as I don't talk about it either.. 🤣 It is an accommodation that my wife and I made a long time ago in order to maintain the domestic tranquility. The one exception was a lightning strike some years ago that wiped out a lot of electronics and repairs/replacements were not funded out of my hobby money.
I figure it is also an opportunity to refine my engineering and other skills and use that excuse frequently with the wife when I am designing and building yet something else.
My primary limitations seem to be space and finding new homes for cast off gear diy and otherwise. 20 years ago my father in law and I built a pair of Onkens, the bass sections remain with some modifications, but the top end section has been changed out at least 5 times over that time.
I figure it is also an opportunity to refine my engineering and other skills and use that excuse frequently with the wife when I am designing and building yet something else.
My primary limitations seem to be space and finding new homes for cast off gear diy and otherwise. 20 years ago my father in law and I built a pair of Onkens, the bass sections remain with some modifications, but the top end section has been changed out at least 5 times over that time.
I saw the title and wondered if "commercial" here meant "drivers intended for pro audio/public address vs. for hifi/home audio" with either one destined for homebuilt speaker cabinets, but I guess not. That would be a different thread.
There are a lot of commercial bargains out there but the issue is finding one that suits. Recently as I no longer design and build, I've bought some with varying results. Even so I still prefer my own designs as they are tailored to suit my taste and application.
I've spent stupid money, tens of thousands, on this hobby and have little to show for it as I've given most away, but it's been about the journey and satisfaction. If I just wanted to listen to music I would have just bought commercial but I chose a different path even though much more expensive.
I've spent stupid money, tens of thousands, on this hobby and have little to show for it as I've given most away, but it's been about the journey and satisfaction. If I just wanted to listen to music I would have just bought commercial but I chose a different path even though much more expensive.
I absolutely compare my speakers to commercial designs and occasionally try to duplicate commercial designs. However, I don't think that comparing prices between what I build and what is on the market is reasonable because I can't afford the laboratories and R&D that a big company like Harmon can afford or a group of wealthy like minded audiophiles can finance. I quit reading Stereophile when they stopped providing technical reviews and were instead pushing products based on style and flair. I kind of laugh and tell my wife how much money I saved her by making my own speakers. I can't imagine spending $30K on a pair of speakers, but many of the speaker designs referenced here are exceptional especially when you consider price. Seriously, look at how people argue over which coils or capacitors are better, which cabinet materials are better, which amplifier is better, how to properly stuff a speaker, ... the debates are endless. Most of them are about a few decibels or couple of volts here or there. When loudspeakers start to approach what it would cost to hire a top notch jazz band I have to question the integrity of the manufacturer. But hey, some people like to show off.
I'll just add that even though I spent crazy sums over two decades it works out less than A$50 per week which is cheap for a satisfying and rewarding hobby.
Hi,
in the beginning yes, but, now my opinion is that use only as much money as you value the fun factor. I mean, resale value is likely poor and while you might get better speakers than commercial it's not granted due to many reasons. In this sense you could consider the money lost.
But, building speakers is wonderful way to learn all kinds of things from mechanical design to manufacturing and improving listening skill. Eventually getting a good sounding system is just the cherry on the top 🙂 You feel a lot more comfortable with it if you have spent time on really making a tailor fit plan, get to know your goal well and be sure it's worth it. If the investment makes your life easier and more fun it pays itself back within next 10 years quite easily and suddenly it's not too big of an investment.
Opposite would be to spend it because of trends and brands and makes and models that feel cool, and not really knowing what you are actually doing. That would be getting robbed by marketing department, thats their goal, sell stuff to consumers to consume. For example, in your case building bass bins to get good bass be sure you actually know what good bass is to you and what it takes to make it happen in your application. As an example, swapping driver brand and amplifier model and color of the box doesn't guarantee bass gets better, because room dominates. It would be different for sure, especially if you get more options to adjust, visually nicer and perhaps more SPL and bandwidth capability than before. But you could potentially get even more with less money invested with some other plan, depending on what you are looking for, your goal. So be sure to tailor fit to make it worth it.
Have fun!🙂
in the beginning yes, but, now my opinion is that use only as much money as you value the fun factor. I mean, resale value is likely poor and while you might get better speakers than commercial it's not granted due to many reasons. In this sense you could consider the money lost.
But, building speakers is wonderful way to learn all kinds of things from mechanical design to manufacturing and improving listening skill. Eventually getting a good sounding system is just the cherry on the top 🙂 You feel a lot more comfortable with it if you have spent time on really making a tailor fit plan, get to know your goal well and be sure it's worth it. If the investment makes your life easier and more fun it pays itself back within next 10 years quite easily and suddenly it's not too big of an investment.
Opposite would be to spend it because of trends and brands and makes and models that feel cool, and not really knowing what you are actually doing. That would be getting robbed by marketing department, thats their goal, sell stuff to consumers to consume. For example, in your case building bass bins to get good bass be sure you actually know what good bass is to you and what it takes to make it happen in your application. As an example, swapping driver brand and amplifier model and color of the box doesn't guarantee bass gets better, because room dominates. It would be different for sure, especially if you get more options to adjust, visually nicer and perhaps more SPL and bandwidth capability than before. But you could potentially get even more with less money invested with some other plan, depending on what you are looking for, your goal. So be sure to tailor fit to make it worth it.
Have fun!🙂
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I don’t use comparative pricing to justify an action in my DIY hobby. I hope I’m not misunderstanding what you are asking. I spend what seems comfortable and remain mindful that it’s my hobby, one of my personal enjoyments.
I build what I dream. They each have a pragmatic and functional flow that goes against the grain of many current trends in high-end. I have long felt that certain continuing trends out there in the audio scene were counterproductive to enjoyable audio playback.
The design and construction processes are great self-care periods, and keep the mind open with plenty of other deep thinking between devising solutions.
I build what I dream. They each have a pragmatic and functional flow that goes against the grain of many current trends in high-end. I have long felt that certain continuing trends out there in the audio scene were counterproductive to enjoyable audio playback.
The design and construction processes are great self-care periods, and keep the mind open with plenty of other deep thinking between devising solutions.
I suffer from opposite by comparing against Genelec, Neumann,... and the really cheap active 2 way monitors. It helps keep things grounded. If the hobby isn't fun then stop because there is no financial justification for it. Ultra-fi is primarily ornamental and about prestige. DIY speakers aren't comparable because they lack the branding which is what is adding all that value for those attracted to ultra-fi.
Show me a commercial MEH or HS horn system, I can buy at all commercially, let alone a good one.
Now, make it active and show me the commercial ones that are available.
Factory made that most people can afford? Meh...
Now, make it active and show me the commercial ones that are available.
Factory made that most people can afford? Meh...
..and they may be behind curtains to increase their acceptance 😉
I agree the temptation is there and I do spend more on diy projects. I think a lot of diy is much better than what is commercially available. I’ve seen what some companies pass off as high end products that are so poorly put together it’s unbelievable
Just my 2 cents
Nope. I started doing DIY years back to save money. Over the years the reasons have changed.
I long since stopped reading reviews of kit I can't/won't afford.
I just focus on the cost to me, the desirability of the end result, and how much pleasure building it will bring.
I long since stopped reading reviews of kit I can't/won't afford.
I just focus on the cost to me, the desirability of the end result, and how much pleasure building it will bring.
Only in casual conversations with people when I tell them I build speakers for a hobby, and they ask about cost. I tell them that to buy similar performing speakers would cost over $xxx per speaker. I tell them that some of the guys here build furniture grade boxes, but most of mine are best used in the dark!
I have been thinking of converting my 2-way to active 3-way for a while and this review certainly changed my mind as to whether it was "too much money." 🙂 From my back of the envelope calculations, if you want to make money in commercial speaker land you must charge at least 10x the parts cost, so in that sense the Grimm's don't seem outrageous. Also certain economic conditions in the US have forced me to buy all the parts now before prices increase outrageously. Cabinets won't be done until mid-June so hopefully by then things have gone back to sanity.