2017 POLL: Your own DIY speakers better than commercial ones?

[JonBocani]

a 2nd poll for this 2017 beginning

A very simple question: How do you consider your own DIY speakers compared to what is offered on the Hi-Fi market ?


Multiple choices allowed

 

[turboyam]

My DIY speakers sound better to me then commercial ones.
They sound like i WANT them to sound.

 

[Zuhl]

Commercial speakers don't have a frequency response to match my room. So, no contest

 

[JonBocani]

7-options poll launched!

i think that will be very very interesting. Can't wait to see the results!

 

[POOH]

I know of nothing out there in the commercial horn world I would take over my own. The prices thay ask for multi way horns is robbery.

 

[HumbleDeer]

I think it's true that something homemade will be closer to your heart and you'll always appreciate it more as you actually put your time and money into it. If you buy something from the market it's not as close to you emotionally.

Or, at least that's how I look at it.

My 8" Tline sub might not sound very flat all along, but I wouldn't want a subwoofer to replace it now until I get my 12" going.

 

[Pano]

Is there a point to asking this question on a DIY forum?

 

[POOH]

Is there a point to asking this question on a DIY forum?

the ego

 

[Cal Weldon]

Ego? Ok, every speaker I have ever built is so much better than what you can buy that I'm surprised there are still manufacturers out there trying to compete.

How's that?

 

[starkeyg]

I would argue that many DIY speakers sound better than what you can buy for the same money in a store.

As long as you go with a good design, use as good or better parts and materials it isn't that hard as the labor is free and you don't need a profit to support your business and sellers.

 

[plasnu]

I would argue that many DIY speakers sound better than what you can buy for the same money in a store.

The price of second hand commercial speakers are comparable to that of DIY.

 

[Tweet]

Loudspeakers should be designed for the individual listening environment and seating position, commercial loudspeakers are not that specialised, DIY designs if properly designed and implemented can be and are often tweaked to the 'n' th degree until one ceases from the madness.

C.M

 

[Pano]

My ego tells me that my DIY speakers sound better than almost all commercial speakers.
Unfortunately, I think my friend's DIY speakers always sound better then mine. That drives me crazy.

 

[wwenze]

What about speakers that are made by hand but sold in audiophile shops that usually also sells vinyls, tube amps, and power cables? Do they count as DIY or commercial?

FE 103 in sealed cabinet and no EQ, sounds so awesome for $500 and that kind of size. For extra money you can add a phase plug that weighs obviously more than the cone.

 

[1audiohack]

My love of learning, building, listening and measuring keeps me heavily in DIY. My good fortune of owning several of the large format JBL studio monitors and some of their better home speakers gives me a barometer as to where I am really at on the road to great, it keeps me a bit humble.

There is not a question on the pole that really fits my journey.

Barry.

 

[TheGimp]

I build DIY speakers and amps as a hobby. I give them away to family members and friends. That way I can build more amps and speakers.

From measurements with REW and feedback from friends, family and their friends, I'm sure my speakers are better than a lot of commercial low to medium end stuff sold as "Hi-FI.

On the other hand I have no delusions in comparison to better quality speakers.

Where in the spectrum of quality does one evaluate one selves? I have a couple of sets of Klipsch Heresy speakers that are my benchmark.

My amps are the SONY STR-5800 from 1977 and my Onkyo TX NR-838.

 

[montana1]

I got into this awesome hobby approximately 1 year ago. Thanks to members like System7 and jReave; they are to blame for now being addicted to building my own speakers. Even if I had large sums of money to spend on high end commercial speakers; I still would rather build my own. I'm well into my second build (pictured below) and I'm sure more will follow.

Best Regards,
Rich

 

[BasicHIFI1]

Yes, if you take those speakers out of a plastic encosure and build your own, and work at it a bit they will sound better.

I have heard certain instruments and vocal on my DIY open baffle + 1 watt chip amp that I have never heard on any of the other systems I have listened to and some of them are rack Hi-Fi.

I am just getting started.

 

[olsond3]

I use JBL LSR-32 studio monitors as a reference. The DIY speakers I built this year were good and fun to listen to, but still not as accurate and neutral as the JBL monitors.

 

[DF96]

I'm sure on Mumsnet they have polls along the lines of "is your child much prettier/nicer/brighter/friendlier than all other children apart from your other children?". These polls will provide information with similar value to this thread.