From: rbs@uk.ac.ed.aisb (Robert Scott)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: DIY components
Date: 29 Jul 92 22:32:09 GMT
Reply-To: rbs@aiai.ed.ac.uk
Organization: Dept AI, Edinburgh University, Scotland

In article <1992Jul29.061926.13944@leland.Stanford.EDU> ianchan@leland.Stanford.EDU (Ian Hin Yun Chan) writes:

   Who knows what DIY components are available out there? I'm specifically
   interested in CD players (transports & DACs), amps (integrated or pre/pwr).
   and speakers (esp. subs). Are there any worth checking out? Or are the regular
   commercial stuff definitely better?
   What does the net think of Hafler pre/power kits?
   I'll summarize to the net if there's enough to summarize!
   - Ian

There is lots of DIY stuff out there of varying quality.
In the UK, it seems that DIY speaker kits are the most popular.
Mostly these are offered by very small companies with their own designs
and trade out of small workshops in the middle of the countryside.
As far as I know, there are no magazines/forums currently in the
UK discussing the proc/cons of these DIY designs except for occasional
reviews in the usual commercial hifi mags about one every 4 years.
Some of the big companies, like KEF and Scanspeak also sell kits through
some hifi retailers.

Kits vary in that you can just buy the plans, plans + drive units,
plans + drive units + networks, plans + units + networks + cabinets.

The pluses of DIY hifi as far as I can see are:

1) you learn something
2) the sense of achievement ("I made those!")
3) they are cheaper than the equivalent commercial product
4) you can finish them in any style you like
5) there are some unusual designs to try out

The are minuses too:

1) take time and hassle to build
2) plans are not usually very well written
3) no guarrantee that the result will be worth listening too

As for amps, there seem to be a lot less kits out there.
There are quite a lot of kits that don't include power supplies
or boxes which is enough to put most people off.
Building an amp requires much more skill and self confidence than
building speakers so the market is going to be less.
The best kits I've heard of hear ar the Lindsley Hood amps
from Hart Electronics and Crimson's amp kits although I don't know if
they still make 'em.
Some of the valve amp manufacturers also offer their amps as kits
which is interesting.

CD kits.
I've only seen one CD kit design and that was in a recent edition
of Elektor Electronics magazine. You bought the kit from Holland
and then assembled it yourself with a few mods suggested by Elektor.
The kit cost about as much as a budget CD player and would probably
sound the same so I couldn't see much point in building it
apart from novelty value.

All in all, I think that these days since hifi pricing is pretty
competitive and you can't be sure what you build yourself is going to work.
Coupled with the fact that it is almost impossible to get reviews on any
of ther DIY equipment then in the long run it's not worth it for most
people.

Rob Scott
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