The debate over pre-built subwoofer kits vs. building your own from scratch

I used to always buy pre-built subwoofer kits from Parts Express since they were easy and came with everything figured out. But last year I tried building my own box from MDF with a 12 inch Dayton reference driver and a 500 watt plate amp, and the sound quality blew away any kit I had used before for about $150 less total. The downside is it took me three evenings and a lot of sanding to get the box sealed right. Has anyone else found that DIY gives you more bang for the buck, or do you stick with kits to avoid the hassle?

2 comments

2 Comments

singh.blair4d ago

Bet the farm on it. That pattern shows up everywhere too, not just with speakers. Like fixing your own car versus paying a shop, or cooking a steak at home instead of going to a steakhouse. You put in the time and mess something up a couple times, but you end up with a better result for less cash. The catch is you gotta be willing to screw up and redo it. Most people just don't have that patience or free time, so they pay for the easy button.

ruby4943d ago

My first DIY speaker build took me three tries to get the crossover right, but that $200 setup now crushes my friend's $800 store-bought ones. Worth every late night of rewiring and testing.