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Which Novice DIY Kit?

post #1 of 11
Thread Starter 
Here are my choices:

The Vifa studio kit from Madisound

The Seas Cygnet kit from Madisound

The D'Appolito from Parts Express

I'm really only looking for two channel stereo sound with good imaging. I will most likely add a sub and amp later on if I'm not satisfied with the low frequency response. This is my first home audio system so I wanted to keep the cost reasonable and the install simple. I'll be using these kits with an Onkyo universal DVD/SACD/CD player and Onkyo 8522 stereo receiver. I feel 100wrms per channel should be enough for any of these speaker kits. I chose these kits because they allow me to be "hands on" as far as the electronics and assembly without having to do any woodwork. I am no carpenter. I chose the Onkyo receiver and DVD/CD player due to their good reputation as being quality items at reasonable prices. Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated.

BTW. I tried to post links to these kits but I haven't reached the five post mark yet. Sorry.
post #2 of 11
Have you tried HTGuide yet?

They have some very highly regarded designs, and some new ones on the way.

http://www.htguide.com/forum/forumdisplay.php4?f=39
post #3 of 11
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the reply. There were some good projects on the link you gave me, but they are a little more labor intensive than I may be ready for right now. I don't have a jigsaw or router and am in now way a carpenter. I was looking for something with the woodworking part already done. I can solder the crossovers and speaker leads and do any additional drilling that might be required. I'm leaning heavily towards the D'Appolito at Parts Express. Do you think this is a good choice? All the data looked pretty good to me. They said it has a flat rersponse all the way down to 100Hz, but the graph showed some pretty good response lower than that. That probably doesn't matter much because I want to add a sub later any way. I was thinking of using these as mains with some 24" stands. Thoughts?
post #4 of 11
Take a look at that HTGuide link again. Several of the designs there are designed specifically to fit into ready-made Parts Express cabinets, such as these. The folks at HTGuide handle the design work, no woodworking required, and it sounds like you have the soldering covered. The only problem with HTGuide is wading through the 200 page threads looking for possible improvements that have been made to the design but not yet updated in the original post.
post #5 of 11
Well technically a little woodwork is required, but hell, you could send the baffles to a willing DIYer and he would probably do the routing for a small fee (or free if he is nice).
post #6 of 11
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the response. You're right about about the multi page threads. It seems that everyone who builds these projects comes up with a different bill of materials(BOM) or way of building them. There are so many projects and variations of those projects that it makes your head spin! But it does make me want to go out and build something RIGHT NOW. The Natalie P's really caught my interest. The MTM design looks great. I could order the cabinets from PE and find some way to make the apprpriate cutous for the drivers and the port. How hard is it to use a router or jigsaw anyway? Could I just take the cabinet to a Lowes and get the cutouts done there? If I can find a way to get past the woodworking "hurdle", I would be off to the races on these things by now. If I can't find a way around this, I'll probably just go with the D'appolito. It seems like a pretty decent kit in its own right. I just don't know if it is on the same level as the Natalie P.
post #7 of 11
It isn't hard if you have a router and a jig.

Lowes can't do it for you. Like I said, you should be able to find a fellow DIYer that would help you out, whether it is local or not.
post #8 of 11
I'm a complete novice woodworker as well. If it involves 2x4s and only 2x4s, I am okay, but anything furniture-related is not my thing (...yet). I don't own a table saw nor router. However, I have a friend at work with a complete woodworking workshop in his garage. He is going to help me with my project this spring.

Put out your feelers at work/school or whatever. Chances are you know SOMEONE with the required tools. Maybe you'll have to buy a new router bit and a circle jig, but if someone already has the tools, they probably have the know-how to help you out. Buy them some pizza and beer and you should be set.

Disclaimer: I don't have any experience with the HTGuide designs nor the kits you mention, I just didn't want you to rule out the HTGuide kits on the basis of woodworking requirements alone. They are highly regarded and deserve consideration at the least.
post #9 of 11
Thread Starter 
I may just bite the bullet and buy a router and circle jig. It can't be too hard if everyone else around here is doing it(right???). I'd hate to have to rely on someone else to do the woodwork as I'm pretty sure that this won't be my last project. The parts express enclosures have replacement baffles anyway. If I screw up, I can always replace it. I'll definitely invest in a dust mask though. I hate saw dust!
post #10 of 11
Good decision.
post #11 of 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by hawkfan View Post

I'll probably just go with the D'appolito. It seems like a pretty decent kit in its own right. I just don't know if it is on the same level as the Natalie P.


You are in the same boat with this kit. The baffles come blank and you would still have to cut the driver holes anyway.

I'd go with one of the HT DIY projects they are awesome kits. I have, and using a router is not very difficult.
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