Custom-built Speaker Boxes B&W

That’s a nice set of bookshelf speakers you made there. :)

-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.

Lots of clearance cuts! Nice job.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Great Job. and Welcome.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

This is a nice set of speakers. Well done.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Great looking speakers. mike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

Nice job. I used to design and build speaker systems with custom cabinets—its what led to my woodworking hobby. I would use something a bit more substantial than 1/4 inch for the back. You may get too much unwanted vibration. If you know some of the characteristics of the driver (free air resonance, etc), you can use some of the available software products out there to optimize your box design.

-- GSY from N. Idaho

Nice looking speakers. I don’t know about speakers, but from a little research with guitar amps, pine makes a good enclosure, nice sound.

-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com

As a one-time professional speaker designer, I second the suggestion for a thicker back. I would also add vertical and horizontal braces on the inside. Cabinet vibrations are bad news for home speakers, but desired in guitar speakers…

Otherwise, nice job and I LOVE that you used in-walls for it. Innovative solution for what you have on hand!

-- Scott, Austin-Texas...

Hey Big Guy, you did a nice job on the speaker enclosure, BUT—you need to replace the
back with the same 3/4 birch ply. Also, what about a port to let the bass out?
If you replace the enclosure back, how about including a picture of the raw speakers and the
inside of the box? All the speakers I own are home made.

Just a fyi, you can get speaker refoaming kits to replace foam that has deteriorated and save a lot of money
instead of replacing the speakers.

Enjoy your sound

-- The wood is good.

Speaker boxes really should be made of a heavier material than plywood… Plywood has a tendency to vibrate. The best speaker boxes are made of MDF and have a veneer to pretty them up. MDF isn’t the best woodworking wood, but it is the best for sound quality.

-- San Diego, CA US Navy

Thanks TheHarr – I really made those on the spur of the moment trying to use what I had at hand – the sounds is far from great , and these ARE amazing speakers (by themselves), maybe one day I’ll replace the boxes – and I’ll do it with MDF – so Thanks for the idea interpim! right now it just can’t climb to the top of the priority list. who knows, maybe by the time I get to it – we’ll own our own house, in which case, these speakers will be installed in the wall as they are meant to be used.

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

UK-based Bowers & Wilkins is among the finest manufacturers of drivers and speaker systems in the world; and they’ve enjoyed that lofty status for decades.
When I built my four-way home system (tweet, dome midrange, 6” woofer in one box sitting atop a separate 12” woofer) 1-1/4” MDF was used throughout, the kind used for laminated kitchen countertops.
Only a circular saw was used. I used System West two-part epoxy, no metal fasteners of any kind.
Visited Constantines in the Bronx, NY and they let me sort in the back of the store for choice walnut veneer.
With MDF this thick, you can round and shape it into various curves, exotic lines, etc.
Plus you can butt joint everything with the veneer covering a multitude of sins.

Happy woodworking…and happy listening.

good job

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

very cool