[Poleary]

Hello everybody. I’m new to the forum and new to the audiophile world in general. I wanted to get a set of really good speakers and do it once but was shocked at the prices. I started to get interested in building my own instead as I felt by adding my own labor I could get better value. I landed on GR Research and felt the XLS Encore speakers provided very high performance and value for money. I have ordered the kit and am waiting for it to ship ( tweeters currently backordered).  I did get the enclosure flat pack and have been working on that. Last weekend I assembled the enclosures. This weekend I routed and sanded all of the seams. Next weekend I will add a mahogany veneer. So far this has not been difficult even though I have never done anything like this.

I’m sure I will be doing a lot of reading here and may have some questions but just wanted to say Hi.

P

[mlundy57]

Welcome aboard

[Tyson]

Smart to get the box and woodwork done first, then when the tweeter arrives you can just assemble the electronics and go.

[Poleary]

I felt I may as well make myself busy while I wait.  The tweeters being out of stock may have actually helped me take things slowly. As this is my first time building anything like this. I am able to carefully think and go slowly so the final result will look and sound great.  These might be famous last words but I don’t want to keep buying better and more expensive equipment. I want these speakers to be great and to last.  Also, I’ll have the conversation starter of having built them myself

[Tyson]

You are a man after my own heart - get the best speakers you can, then build the rest of the system around them.  And the XLS are excellent. 

One thing I would recommend (if you haven't already done it), spend a little extra and get the Miflex bypass capacitors for the tweeter.  It's not much extra $$ but it's a big jump in performance, even if you have the 'stock' crossover. 

[Poleary]

Absolutely, that is the goal. I did buy the upgraded crossover parts in the hope that the speakers would be as good as they can be the first time 

I will add a subwoofer and an integrated amplifier. This setup should be good enough for me.

P

[Hobbsmeerkat]

Welcome to AC! 

The X-LS was where I got started as well, they're still a personal favorite, even if I left them with my dad when i moved to North Texas.
they're a killer speaker, even at the base level, but they only get better the more you put into them.

Looking forward to seeing your build once we can get those tweeters back in stock.

[ralphwarren]

Welcome !!!

[Vince in TX]

I also knew very little about this stuff when I first started.   I didn't even know what "open baffle" was.   A friend picked up some X-Static kits and pointed me here because he knew I was planning to build a Home Theater.   I also started out ordering the X-LS Encores, but sadly they are still sitting in the boxes unassembled since Danny mentioned that they weren't ideal for an HT surround setup.   So I bought the A/V-1RS kits and built those instead.

Welcome.   

[mlundy57]

I started with the X-LS back around 2013. Fair warning though, it won't end with that one pair of X-LS Encores .BWAAAAA-HAAAA-HAAAA-HAAA 

[kickngas]

Welcome!  My first pair was the AV-1+'s and a center channel back in 2003.  After all these years, I finally got up the nerve (and cash) for a pair of NX-Otica's. Like you, I have received the flat packs...just trying to decide how I want to finish them.

[Poleary]

I started with the X-LS back around 2013. Fair warning though, it won't end with that one pair of X-LS Encores .BWAAAAA-HAAAA-HAAAA-HAAA 

I sure hope it does end with the X-LS. After learning the upgrade treadmill mistakes long ago when I was interested in telescopes and astronomy I hope I have inoculated myself to be able to resist.  This is why I’m very carefully considering every piece of advice offered on this forum.  As proof of my inoculation, my current “sound system” is an original Bose Wave Radio I bought in 1994. 28 years ago 😳. Still actually works great but just can’t go loud enough in my living room because of its size.

[JLM]

Welcome!

Having a blank slate is an advantage.  Recommend starting with active monitors (loudspeakers with amplifiers built in).  Several advantages: 

- one channel of amplification feeds each driver directly for optimum synergy

- low voltage crossover can be more sophisticated and cheaper to build

- cheaper (no need to buy separate speaker cables and power amps)

- manufacturer matches amp to the individual drivers, versus customer guessing

- typically more dynamic, better imaging, and deeper/more powerful bass

Suggested active monitors:  JBL 305 Mk2 ($300/pair, 2-way design) or Kali IN-8 ($800/pair, quieter electronics for near field listening, 3-way design).  Either I'd be happy with long term.

[Poleary]

Thanks JLM. I seriously did consider active monitors and looked at a few brands. Definitely less wires and boxes which is one of my goals. Ultimately, I decided on the XLS and will compromise with an all-in-one amplifier.  Neutral sounding speakers was high on my list of requirements because of the type of music I listen to.