There’s a “rule of thumb” in the DIY speaker community - commercial designs will retail for about 10x the retail cost of the drivers in a build. The drive units in mine retail at about £730, my crossover components are considerably better quality than those found in most commercial designs and baltic birch ply is considerably more expensive than the mdf/particleboard used in most designs. Once you get into fancy veneers, things get really silly. Retail price would be in the region of £10k a pair.
I have a friend who is a very talented speaker designer - he set up his own company making and selling mid to high-end speakers. They’re highly regarded in the audio press. Although, that in itself isn’t a great endorsement. He bloody well knows his stuff. Fifteen years ago, he was talking about ideas that are still considered cutting edge. Anyway, I have some inside knowledge and insight and my numbers are about right.
Speaker components —
Low Frequency: 15” bass driver (416-8B) [GPA]
High Frequency: radial phase plug driver (802-8G) mounted to sectoral horn (811B)
Nominal Impedance:** 8 ohms
Crossover Frequency:** 1200 Hz with 50 watt L-pad on the high frequency driver
Enclosure Type: vented
net cabinet volume: 250 liters = 8.8 cubic feet
effective volume: 270 liters = 9.5 cubic feet (with Polyfil stuffing)
tuned to 34 Hz with a 3dB down point at 34 Hz
Sensitivity:** 99 db
Frequency Response:** 34 to 22,000 Hz
Dimensions:** 40” H x 24” W x 20.5” D
The listening experience is very individual but I would be lying if I said I can go back to BOX speakers for 2 channel right now. Maybe I am biased just because I built them. I’ve heard another pair in a better room and its hard not like them.
Sadly my balcony is now built in so no more area to diy such a large project. These were like the 5th or 6 pair in world completed…I got to hear a friends pair before I built mine, and since then a few more builds have been completed here in Singapore, but still maybe only 5 or 6 pairs here. MY Orion’s were 2nd hand and factory built in the USA. But the Pluto and LXmini I have I also built myself.
It’s hard not to love them, but the WAF is a bit out for anything but the Orion’s in my house…so they get the lounge and the Lx521 are in the office that I also now share with the mrs. I think she just ignores them now.
