[Tyson]

Tyson,

Those do not fit into the cheap and cheerful category.

Doh, sorry about that - I didn't check which circle I was in.

[SET Man]

Actives are an area I have not yet explored.  Likely I am too attached to my older Sugden integrated!

In terms of Maggies, I've owned both the MMG's and the 1.6QR's.  Loved both.  But had to sell them off (cats), and return to a more standard speaker style.  I do love the OB sound (I ran DIY open baffle speakers for 10 years before finishing the basement and needing to return to a more commercial looking speaker).

Hey!

   Yeah, to cats, Maggies are like GIANT scratching posts!

Buddy

[Mudjock]

I think there are some interesting DIY options in the under $500 price range.  If you are considering a larger speaker like Vandersteen 2CE's, you could also look at my Indium 7 that I designed as a member of Parts Express Speaker Building Design Team a few years ago.  It has acquitted itself very well against much more expensive speakers at several DIY events.  The downside is there isn't a ready cut cabinet kit.  For standmount speakers, I can think of a few that at least do some things significantly better than the Elacs mentioned earlier in this thread.  The Apollo 7 kits at DIYsoundgroup.com will easily outclass the Elacs at both frequency extremes and were very well integrated by their designer Pete Schumacher.  The Keramiska's available at Meniscus Audio also would be a tall order for any sub-$1000 commercial speaker to approach in sound quality.  The SB Acoustics ceramic woofer will certainly destroy the Elacs in bass extension and lack of distortion.  The planar tweeter and integration of the two drivers is exemplary.  Another standmount option would be the HiVi DIY 3.1 kit available on Amazon with my perfectionist crossover mod.  The 3.1 is the kit version of the $1,699 Swans M3 and the crossover mod really flattens the response (a considerable improvement IMHO).   

I would certainly be interested to hear any of those against the $500 Elacs.

[maty]

@Mudjock

But there are not graphs!!!

[Mudjock]

My project writeups (Indium 7 and the modified HiVi DIY 3.1) have graphs.  Haven't seen graphs for the Keramiskas or Apollo 7, but have heard both.

[maty]

I am sorry. I guess they are yours:

* http://projectgallery.parts-express.com/speaker-projects/indium-7/

* https://diy.midwestaudio.club/discussion/550/hivi-diy-3-1-revisited


https://audioxpress.com/article/you-can-diy-swans-speakers-diy-kits-everything-you-need-is-inside-the-box

-> [PDF] https://audioxpress.com/files/attachment/2693

[maty]

https://sites.google.com/view/sehlin-sound-solutions

My name is Scott Sehlin. I have been an audio enthusiast as long as I can remember and active in the DIY speaker building community for the last 15 years.  Welcome to my speaker page. Here you will find a number of DIY speaker project plans free for non-commercial use. The projects posted here have been demonstrated at DIY events. Most have extensive measurements to help guide prospective builders...

-> https://sites.google.com/view/sehlin-sound-solutions/indium-7

-> https://sites.google.com/view/sehlin-sound-solutions/hivi-diy-3-1-modifications

[Mudjock]

No worries... 

One of the issues with building a DIY or kit speaker is there usually isn't a lot of credible information on how it will sound and it isn't easy to go listen to it and form your own opinion.  As I got to the point in the hobby that people were becoming interested in building my designs, I realized the importance of having accurate measurements and invested the capital and time to gain that capability.  I was reassured with the HiVi DIY 3.1 project that my measurements with their stock crossover agreed very closely with their published graph. 

[ttan98]

Hi,

Mcgsxr,

I notice under your Totem Pole, there is a Bass cabinet with 12" or 10" driver, can you tell us a little bit more, eg, what model of driver and size of cabinet and ported or seal? Anything you want to add, how old and the sound? Thks.

[mcgsxr]

The stands the Rainmakers are on are the lower half of my DIY active speakers - documented here - https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=152112.msg1626483#msg1626483

They use a 7 inch woofer from CSS in a ported enclosure.

Currently not playing - just being the stands for my 2 way Totem Rainmakers.

[ttan98]

The stands the Rainmakers are on are the lower half of my DIY active speakers - documented here - https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=152112.msg1626483#msg1626483

They use a 7 inch woofer from CSS in a ported enclosure.

Currently not playing - just being the stands for my 2 way Totem Rainmakers.
[/quote

I am thinking of building something similar so a few questions, please.
Are you happy with your build? How you do find the sound? 7" woofer adequate, I suspect not. If you were to rebuild it again what you have don't different. Thks.