DIY versus Brand Name Speakers

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Let me state at the outset that it is not my intention to stir a hornets' nest. I simply wish to gain a better understanding of the logic that informs a decision to build your own speakers as opposed to buying them from your local dealer.

I have followed the DIY speaker projects on the forum with much interest, admiration and envy. However, I was wondering whether homemade speakers are significantly better sounding than mass produced speakers at the same or similar price? To contextualise my question, allow me to raise a few issues. A company like B&W, for example, has millions at its disposable to invest in testing facilities, R&D and skilled technicians. Large speaker manufacturers can also reap the benefits of economies of scale. If it was possible to produce brand-beating speakers in your garage, would we not have seen a massive proliferation of producers flooding the market? Does the same logic apply to other mass produced goods? Would anyone buy a DIY car or television?

[naughty]

remember that with speakers you are just building an enclosure and then assembling stuff - you wont be manufacturing the drivers or the crossover parts - and this can be considered like hot-rodding or modifying your car

so why would you want to hot-rod or modify when as you rightly point out the manufacturer has so many resources at his disposal to give you a perfect speaker BUT you have to remember that manufacturers will make many compromises in their construction based on price and budgetary constraints - thus give a particular set of drivers you can actually not make the same compromises and perhaps have them constructed to a more appropriate level to draw their best performance which can sometimes result in superior performance at a particular price range

then also consider all the middleman mark-ups and import duties and other forms of taxation that you pay - as well as expensive shipping costs for items manufactured overseas and then to top all of that there are dealer markups as well (which im not grudging cos they have to pay the rent too  ) but by going the DIY route and spending the same amount on purchasing the drivers and following some proven design or (if you are talented enough) designing your own but emphasizing the performance aspects at the same price you could land up with a better performing item easily

the other thing with DIY is more about the satisfaction of having built the item yourself - it gives a sense of satisfaction as opposed to just dropping some cash on a counter and having something delivered to your home  and its even better when the speakers sound as good as their commercial siblings 

[bbe22]

well said - lets just say commercial mass produced loudspeakers seldom have components totaling more than 12.5% of the sticker price

[NoSnipeLimit]

Best speakers I've heard is commercial speakers, but for the price building DIY speakers close enough to the same quality is my goal.
Subwoofers though, commercial subwoofers are lacking. But thats due to market. 

[siphiwe]

If I could, I would definitely build my own speakers. I constantly marvel at the projects that have been presented here. Unfortunately, I think even Julius Malema has a good chance of outscoring me on woodwork. So, I continue to marvel. As naughty has said, it would be immensely satisfying to listen to something you have had a hand in bringing to life. Considering what goes into a speaker and what we are supposed to pay for them, I think there is some truth to there being a huge markups, thus making DIY all the more appealing.

[Byrd]

I bet Jamo has even more money at their disposal to invest, and Bose even more .... Do they make better speakers? Do the economies of scale work there?

My own take on this is that the principles of loudspeaker design are well established. Very little completely unique and groundbreaking technologies are being researched by these companies. By this I don't mean simple extensions of technologies - I mean new paradigms.

As an example of what I mean by the principles are well established have a look here - http://www.audioxpress.com/reviews/media/AX201DA.pdf. What in this speaker is not analyzable? What cannot be understood and modified by anybody with a sound understanding of the basic principles?

There are guys out there - Scientists - like Joe D'Appolito - who do the research. If you google him you will note a topology "D'Appolito configuration" which refers to MTM configurations. Other manufacturers rely on his public work. B&W analyze his and others work in the field in creating their designs.

Larger companies are subject not only to economies of scale in a positive way, but in a negative way too. If I build a set of speakers, my labour is free, B&W have to pay somebody to build their speakers, transport them, sell them, keep them repaired under warranty.

Yes, you can build something for the same or less that will sound as good, but will possibly be of higher quality, however it will take significant personal effort. For some that effort is a joy - for some not.

As far as DIY car's go - AC Cobra ....

[Apocalypse Boy]

Time.... My time to me is free, so the cost of the components is my only cost, and to awnser you're question in post one ;If I were to sell a DIY speaker as a production item, one would have to charge for the " Time " spent in Production/R&D/Finishing/Tinkering hence loosing it's apeal, plus it would become work and loose the fun of the ideea


Edit , Byrd is a faster typer, so he got to the time bit

[Atjan]

I think bbe2 explains it nicely- 12% of the tag price is components and materials. Many manufacturers buy their drivers in from specialist driver manufacturers. It is for instance quite possible to get diy plans for 'clone' speakers which employ the same drivers and crossovers as a commercial speaker. You can quite conceivably build a R30 000 speaker for less than lets say R10 000.
My Monitor Audio B2's for instance uses Audax tweeters than can be had for under $20 US each. New the complete set cost about R3k.
Anyway, to build speakers you do need some skills, tools, time and the will to do it, which not everyone has. Hence, an MD, shareholders, designer, craftsman, courier, marketing dude and shop assistant can get paid. Which is probably not such a bad thing.

[GearSlave]

Make no mistake: DIY speakers aren't always cheaper than buying. Us DIY'ers inevitably pay more for drivers and parts than what the manufacturer does. That evens the score a little in the manufacturer's favour. The only reason I DIY is for the enjoyment of it. I've got no illusions that - for the money I spent on my last project - I could get a brilliant set of 'brand' speakers. Factor in things like tools, time, wife-with-mumps-cause-you-playing-in-the-garage-and-never-do-anything-around-the-house and DIY quickly loses its financial appeal. That, and you've got very little resale value should you want to do something else.

Considering the above, would I stop DIY? Not likely.

[johnc]

If you want it done properly, DIY. 

[Atjan]

wife-with-mumps-cause-you-playing-in-the-garage-and-never-do-anything-around-the-house

One's wife needs a holiday after you did a big diy job!

[Rudi]

One's wife needs a holiday after you did a big diy job!

Ross has got this one sorted I think. his wife builds the speakers.,..................................

http://www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,10748.0.html

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As always, your time and effort in responding to my question is much appreciated.

I did not realise that the materials used to build a brand name speaker constitutes such a small percentage of the overall costs. This, as pointed out above, does shift the odds in the favour of DIY speakers by some margin. Several of the responses, however, confirmed a suspicion that I had all along: much of the logic in DIY lies in the satisfaction that is derived from building something yourself. Given the fact that we live in a world where almost everything is made for us and the stunning examples of craftsmanship by DIY forum members, that sense of satisfaction is not only deserved but also empowering.

[alternativeroute]

As always, your time and effort in responding to my question is much appreciated.

I did not realise that the materials used to build a brand name speaker constitutes such a small percentage of the overall costs. This, as pointed out above, does shift the odds in the favour of DIY speakers by some margin. Several of the responses, however, confirmed a suspicion that I had all along: much of the logic in DIY lies in the satisfaction that is derived from building something yourself. Given the fact that we live in a world where almost everything is made for us and the stunning examples of craftsmanship by DIY forum members, that sense of satisfaction is not only deserved but also empowering.

Another bonus with DIY is that you fill the corners that manufacturers cut because they are working towards a target price point...

A few examples.

Crossover - you can get close to the best components
Internal wiring - as above
cabinet construction - with DIY you can add more bracing and use a real wood veneer versus a vinyl veneer...

It's fun to do... In terms of resale I have sold two sets that I built and managed each time to recoup material costs... (If I wanted to sell them with labour I would have to fugga malingi snake oil to get a price)

[Byrd]

Ross has got this one sorted I think. his wife builds the speakers.,..................................

http://www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,10748.0.html

A few years ago my Thor's were alot easier to build than I expected