HiVi-Swans DIY 3 Way Passive Bookshelf Speakers Pair - DIY Speaker Kit-Peak Power 120 Watt Home Theater Bookshelf Speakers for Surrounds or Front

Received kit several weeks ago. Very well packaged and all items were separately placed in shipping box. Started the assembly process, first reviewing contents of kit, making sure everything was there. Spot on and no concerns. First was cabinet. Plenty of advice from different Utube reviewer. Easy peasy, but web clamps assisted tremendously. Painted the boxes with a charcoal cabinet enamel. Next was crossover assembly. Took the mod 4 route (perfectionist assembly). Used a Dayton capacitor and resistors. Next was stuffing the box with included foam. Had to pause a DYI video that showed the diagram for cutting as the specs for sizing were not readily available (that I could find). Speaker driver was next, and as videos suggest, certain order to ensure fitment. Everything being hooked, the next step was listening. I was curious about all the hype these speakers have created. Well money well spent as these speakers have the clarity and depth that I have not heard before. Sutle album nuances came alive and not heard before (I know, not unique comments, but honest). These speakers excel in the vocal and upper end, while the woofer provides 90% of necessary base for music I like; Van Morrison, Bob Knofler/EmyLou Harris, Cat Stevens...you get the drift.I am very satisfied with the purchase and would recommend these speakers, even if you are not completely handy with tools since the kit comes together very well.

I did not use the black simulated wood vinyl wrap as this was to be adapted for portable use. I added spring loaded handles on top, finished the cabinet in Dura-Tex and mounted feet underneath. I like others, did the perfectionist mod with parts from Parts Express. After listening, I would not do the 3db down option, they are very smooth in the high end and don't need attenuation. I used 80mil Dynamat on the interior walls. I also added grilles in the front instead of using the supplied grills and cloth (though these are nice). They turned out GREAT! I would say this is a very good kit. I have a lot of wood working experience and these were not a challenge. All the cuts were very accurate, gluing was easy and the finished product is sturdy enough to be lugged around and they sound fantastic. Impressed with the internal bracing, nice touch. Sound is very articulate, accurate, bass is quite impressive. One odd thing is they provide a bi-amp terminal cup but unless you do your own circuit board (or use and actual wooden board like I did) the included crossover does not allow you to bi-amplify this speaker - the terminal cups look cool though! Highly recommend this kit. The drivers alone will set you back more that this entire kit sells for!

The sound quality is absolutely incredible. The highs are crystal clear. Voices are warm and natural. The lows are excellent. Each voice and instrument can be distinctly heard. These speakers will bring new life to my vinyl collection from the 60s and 70s. Streaming music (thru a vacuum tube preamp) is also impressive. This is a great do it yourself speaker kit. It comes with everything you need but the tools. Assembly was straightforward. I watched several videos beforehand so there were no surprises.Crossovers:Assembling the crossovers went without a hitch. I had never soldered components on a printed circuit board before, but I went slow and made sure each connection was good. I upgraded the crossovers with the Sehlin option 4 modifications. The additional components were available at Parts Express for about $35 plus shipping.Cabinets:I am a woodworker and built my own cabinet sides, tops, and bottoms from solid oak. The fronts, backs, and internal bracing were reused from the kit. The fronts were modified for a half-lap joint to allow for an oak boarder. The backs were just butt joined. All corners were rounded over to remove sharp edges. The fronts and backs took wood stain surprisingly well. The finished speakers weigh 22.8 lbs each.Sound:My Sony 100W x 100W receiver had no problem driving these 4-ohm speakers. The volume control was set at 15% for normal listening level for classic rock and blues in a 13 x 17 room. The sound is fairly loud even at 30% volume. I am waiting for the speakers to finish breaking in before really pushing them.

This is a really complete DIY speaker pair. Aside from cabinet refinishing and wood glue, everything is included - screws, speaker wire, crossover boards, grill fabric and mounting hardware, etc. Impressive package for the price. I was missing a gasket and contacted customer support - good response and they quickly sent a replacement. I also asked about a discrepancy in the inductor packaging compared to the assembly manual - they explained that the packing was wrong and to follow the manual values. Very helpful.Regarding the sound, I did an A/B comparison between the included crossover design and one I found on the web. Just search for this kit and you'll find the modifications. I posted the links here, but Amazon rejected that review (probably a community guideline violation). I used "mod 6" but I don't think it's very different from "mod 4," and mod 4 is easier to find. Anyway, it made a huge difference in the sound. The provided crossover was shrill and harsh - too heavy on midrange and treble. The modification smoothed things out significantly. The cost of the replacement components is small and well worth it.I highly recommend this kit for someone wanting to try speaker building. It's a very complete kit and the results can be very satisfying.