Speaker drivers+crossover $29.50+SH per speaker

[einstein4pres]

If you're interested in making your own speakers, this kit from Madisound is highly acclaimed.

Kit
Plans and specs

Kit is $29.50 per speaker + shipping or $59 per pair.


Materials are pretty cheap. Here's what you might need:
1) 3/4" or 1/2" MDF. 2'x4' handypanels should cost under $10 and make at least one speaker (probably 2, I haven't checked)
2) binding posts
3) Some wire
4) For connecting the speakers to the crossover and the crossover to the binding post, either:
4a) some solder and soldering iron would be good
4b) .250 female disconnects
5) (optional) a port.
6) wood glue or liquid nails.

There are lots of threads about this, just search for "madisound recession buster"

Alternately, you can just buy a cabinet of an appropriate size:
http://www.parts-express.com/p...cfm?Partnumber=302-703

Edit: a guy here is making boxes for the recession buster:
http://techtalk.parts-express....howthread.php?t=209396

 

[brblx]

that's a good deal. just the crossovers are nearly worth the asking price (similar ones on parts express are usually 20-30 bucks a piece), you basically get some good quality vifa drivers for free.

i thought partsexpress used to have better deals on cabinets. must be that the shipping is factored in now (for 'free').

last time i built a speaker box, 2x4' 3/4" MDF sheets were $6-7 dollars at home depot. can't beat that plus the cost of some glue and drywall screws. i've yet to try my hand at actually veneering something, through, my shit's ugly.

 

[mikeford]

I've seen amazingly good results with a pair of matched Vifa drivers in a small speaker. Makes a dandy first speaker project.

 

[ericlp]

Nice deal... Go with the 3/4" inch MDF and a sealed box, then just fill it with insulation. Buy the disconnects and the input cups from the same site and maybe even the speaker wire. Tho Home Depot 16Gage copper stranded would work just as well you would only need no more then 6' of wire. Probably only a few feet per box.

Edit:

Buy yourself a T-amp and rock on! These will make some awesome speakers! Even some good computer speakers.

 

[ivan2]

a bit small, might be a good near field speaker. can't beat the price though, it's even cheaper than to go for bass reflex full range.

 

[bloodthirster]

I would take the crossovers apart and mount them to a larger board to reduce coupling with those 2 inductors laying flat on the board. I would also replace both those resistors with 10W or 12W(mills) non inductive resistors.

 

[einstein4pres]

There are some (slightly) cheaper cabs at partsexpress for ~$120 pair
http://www.parts-express.com/p...cfm?Partnumber=302-702

Also, I'm pretty sure that there was a guy on a forum selling finished veneered cabinets for a similar price ~50/per, but I can't find a link.

The speakers small and it's effeciency isn't superlative (86 db @1W, 1m), but with 50W or so, that reaches about 103 dB @ 1m, and at 4m, that's 97 dB, which is decently loud. Though I probably wouldn't recommend these in a large room.

 

[gorbs]

mine came in the mail last week. can't wait to start this build. this is the second version of the recession buster kit as the first one sold out. a guy on the HT forum reworked the xover from the first version too. he has not posted working reviews yet but by all accounts it should be better than what was provided by madisound.

 

[mikeford]

Add a typical home theater powered sub and a pair of these should do fine.