Compact Floorstanding SpeakersCompact floorstanding speakers are usually my recommendation if your room-size allows placing them properly. Just make sure you don't set them up too close to side and rear walls to achieve good imaging and a solid soundstage.Probably one of the biggest advantages over bookshelf speakers is their ability to produce a deeper, tighter bass without distortions at peak levels. Larger cabinet sizes do not force loudspeaker engineers to make unnecessary compromises. But floorstanding speakers do not necessarily have to look bulky like a phone booth. In order to maintain their internal volume, they can be built taller or slimmer and deeper, too without sacrificing sound. You see, I'm somewhat biased towards floorstanders :) I think they simply make sense from an economical viewpoint, too. First, a few extra inches of wood cost only marginally more. You need cutouts for the drivers anyway so you won't incur extra costs. But you do get a solid, jiggle-free cabinet. This pays over the long haul. Remember that a bookshelf speaker still needs a stand for optimal performance which adds to your total DIY cost. And I have found many owners of decent floorstanding speakers to be extremely satisfied with bass performance. Often they felt not in need of adding a subwoofer. Kit Price RangesFloorstanding speaker kits are available in various designs and price ranges from approximately $600 for entry-level (and I'm talking about true audiophile quality!) kits up to $1500 for the ultimate sonic experience.
What Does a Kit Contain?Kits contain tweeters, ribbons and woofers from manufacturers like Seas, Visaton, Aurum Cantus, Eton or Audax that are typically found only in higher priced ready-made speakers. Crossovers, damping material and speaker terminals are often included.Cabinets are usually not included in the kit price although some kit vendors like Madisound or CS Audiocomponents have begun offering really nice-looking ones at reasonable prices. Alternatively, why not have someone build them for you or simply cut the wood panels to your specifications? It's never a problem. I wasn't too experienced working with wood, too and had the wood panels professionally cut and machined for a fair price.
Compact floorstanding speaker kit recommendations:I have picked the following kit models that you might want to consider for a DIY compact floorstanding speaker project. My criteria was simply an excellent price/performance ratio and helpful after-sales support.Zoller Imagination One (from $360/pair) 2-way compact floorstanding speaker with >92dB sensitivity Zoller Imagination Two (from $600/pair) D'Appolito design speaker with >94dB sensitivity, bass-reflex enclosure These compact speakers engineered by legendary Manfred Zoller are still an insiders' tip for budget audiophiles but easily receive my best-value recommendation. Listeners have compared these floorstanding speakers with ready-made speakers costing 5 times their price! Both kits employ a combination of 7" cellulose/kevlar drivers and a quality silk dome tweeter. Because I personally own Manfred's "Temptation Reloaded" kit, I can assure you that you definitely cannot go wrong with his speakers. Visaton VOX series (from $730/pair) These speaker kits made by German manufacturer Visaton are known for their flexibility and nice sound. They also have nice, friendly support people to help you succeed with your speaker project which is an asset for beginners. Selah Audio Peridot (from $950/pair) Rick Craig does a masterful job of implementing the best drivers from Seas, Scanspeak, Fountek and he also runs an open forum on AudioCircle where you can read customer feedback. ConclusionsBuilding compact floorstanding speakers is the way to go for best price/performance and excellent sonic results. If you need my help or know how these speakers sound, whether they fit your needs or where you can audition them in your area, please e-mail me.
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