Here's what I've been up to with DIY audio related work.

Disclaimer : I don't claim to be an expert nor do I claim to have so-called "golden ears". I do this for the fun, the challenge and the reward associated with DIY work. I do however enjoy music and woodworking, thus the construction and appearance of the design is as important to me as the sound. You've been forewarned !

My thanks go out to all those on the net whose unselfish contributions have helped me enjoy this hobby.

My first speaker building project dates back to 1985, when I ripped apart an old pair of 3-way "Canal Street specials" and replaced them with Radio Shack drivers. A book by Weems provided what little knowledge I had to work with, yet the resulting improvement in sound made the project quite enjoyable. Little did I realize then how bad the speakers really sounded; which in itself is a testament to how bad the original speakers were. Then again, those original no-name speakers served me well through 4 years of college and we all know how important that is !

The formation of the Bass and DIY Loudspeaker list subsequently renamed the DIY Loudspeaker list (current forum home); has brought me back into this rewarding hobby; this time with the intent on building speakers that really sound good. So I discarded the 1985 speakers at a garage sale (some guy wanted them for this garage shop) and off I went, armed this time with Dickason's Loudspeaker Design Cookbook, and lots of net advice.

Like so many hobbies and niche markets, speaker building and amateur audio in general is a world in its own; with its own magazines, clubs, suppliers and customers. And like all hobbies, the return on the time and effort spent makes the experience well worth the resources spent. In fact, this is one hobby where one can easily surpass commercial goods in overall quality at a fraction of the cost if one neglects the cost of sweat equity. With a little care, it's even possible to get one's spouse involved (if applicable). Now if I just had more rooms and stereos to drive more speakers...

01-May-2004

Note: The contents in these pages are provided without any guarantee, written or implied. Readers are free to use them at their own risk, for personal use only. No commercial use is allowed without prior written consent from the author.