DIY Speakers vs Brand Speakers — Sound Quality, Value, and Reality — Sou...

Cost vs. Value — Where DIY Wins

This is where DIY speakers truly shine.

A $700–$1,000 DIY speaker can often compete with $2,000–$3,000 brand speakers in pure sound quality.

DIY eliminates:

• Marketing costs

• Brand tax

• Retail markup

You pay mostly for sound.

But there is another cost:

• Time

• Tools

• Learning curve

Brand speakers offer:

• Clear pricing

• Immediate usability

• No building or tuning required

Verdict:

• DIY = best sound-per-dollar

• Brand = best convenience

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3. Build Quality & Finish — Craft vs. Perfection

DIY Speakers

Build quality depends entirely on the builder.

They can look:

• Basic and utilitarian

• Or absolutely stunning

But mistakes are possible:

• Cabinet misalignment

• Poor damping

• Imperfect finishes

Brand Speakers

Commercial speakers use:

• CNC-machined cabinets

• Professional veneers and paint

• Consistent assembly

You get perfect finish every time.

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4. Reliability, Support & Resale

DIY Speakers

• No warranty

• No resale market

• Repairs depend on your own skills

Brand Speakers

• Warranty support

• Dealer service

• Strong resale value

This is a major factor for many buyers.

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Who Should Choose DIY Speakers?

DIY speakers are ideal for:

• Hobbyists and tinkerers

• Budget-focused audiophiles

• Sound-first listeners

• People who enjoy learning

For best results, choose well-documented designs from trusted engineers like:

• Troels Gravesen

• Zaph|Audio

• Paul Carmody

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Who Should Choose Brand Speakers?

Brand speakers are ideal for:

• Plug-and-play users

• Design-focused buyers

• People who resell or upgrade often

• Anyone who wants peace of mind

SONY TA-F700ES

Is the flagship of the Japanese brand, integrated stereo amplifier SONY TA-F700ES (Elevated Standard). The legend weighing almost 20 kilos has components of the highest quality. Inside we find a mega transformer, huge heatsinks, transistors and filter capacitors are impressive.

The amplifier with enormous power and minimal distortion creates perfect dynamics. The signal path can be reduced to a minimum using the "Source Direct" function. A mono / stereo switch, muting and subsonic filter are also available. The highest class of applied components allows even signal correction not to degrade the sound with respect to the "Direct" function, which is clearly audible with other amplifiers. He is perfectly balanced and at the same time very energetic. The bass is tireless, fast and well controlled, accurate in the mids and highs without deformation.

Whats the best Vintage Yamaha Stereo Amplifier to invest in?

Yamaha is the largest manufacturer of musical instruments in the world, entered the HiFi audio market in the 70s. Yamaha is an example of greatness and humility as few are seen in the audio market. The vintage amps at Yamaha are muscular, with quality manufacturing and a lot of finesse, its Vintage design is a success, as often with the Japanese brand. Yamaha vintage amplifiers stand out for their very elegant sound, fine, open, mid and bass very present, although it depends on the boxes. A rich sound that does not tire. Within what are the tone controls, they have more regulation possibilities such as filters, adjustable loudness ... a small equalizer, most of their vintage amps are good, some better than others.

The yamaha cr--xx20 series receiver is generally regarded as their classic--the subsequent cr-xx40 series are supposed to be sonically inferior and aren't as sought after. The Yamaha 620 and 820 are very good budget receivers. The Yamaha CA-710 was fine, but the 800 and 1000 have a big difference: they can work in class A or class B (selectable by front switch). the CA-1000. Presented in 1974 by the Japanese brand, it is the top of the range of a series which also includes the CA-800, the CA-600 and the CA-400. Each device has its associated tuner, in this case, for the CA-1000, it was the CT-7000 Good without being exceptional in class B and really good in class A.

There is also the Yamaha CA-1010 released from Yamaha factories in 1976, and marketed until 1978. It is part of the high-end of the brand just below the CA-2010, and succeeds the CA-1000. Compared to the latter, it offers the possibility of operation in class A up to 2x 20 W, while in class AB, it delivers approximately 2x 100 W. The CA-2010, aesthetically beautiful, beautiful to listen to too. Very acceptable mc phono stage, of course, not extreme on details, but it makes up for with its musicality and open and relaxed sound.

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Yamaha vintage CA_810 integrated stereo #amplifier #yamahansseries #audiovintage #integratedamplifier#yamahaamplifier #vintageamplifier #yamahaamplifier #yamahaaudio

Une publication partagée par Khalid hadebuis (@khalidhadebuis) le 8 Mars 2020 à 12 :53 PDT

although the best receiver Yamaha made was the CR 3020. It is huge and built in the late 1970s. It weighed 90 pounds and was 170 watts.

 

Vintage Pioneer SA 7800 integrated stereo amplifier

Pioneer blue series amplifier. This is the SA 7800 model. It is a team with almost 40 years and can continue waging another 40. Super vintage amplifier pioneer made in japan built all metal, nothing plastic, the front is impressive, with very beautiful blue vumeters, all solid, even the buttons, its sound is intact is perfect, and of a quality of astonishment.

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Pioneer sa 7800 is one of the good series from #pioneer whit the 8800, 9500, 9800

Une publication partagée par Khalid hadebuis (@khalidhadebuis) le 23 Févr. 2020 à 6 :16 PST

The Pioneer SA-7800 which is one of the good series from the Japanese brand Pioneer SA 9800, the 8800, the 9500

Vintage golden age equipment from Marantz

The New Yorker Saul Bernard Marantz [1911-1997] built with his first "Audio Consolette" in 1952, a revolutionary model of pre-amplifier with separate tone controls, sold for $ 155. The MARANTZ COMPANY was founded in 1953 and launched the evolution of its Consolette under the name "Model 1" the following year. The "Model 2" (power amp) was born in 1956, then came a long series of tube wonders that still make lucky audiophiles happy - especially the Model 7 & 8b. The company was sold in 1964 to SUPERSCOPE Inc. who signed a 30-year exclusive contract with its creator. In 1980, the brand was sold to the Dutch giant Royal Philips Electronics, which marked the start of the manufacturer's analog end.

Choosing a Marantz is not easy because the range from its beginnings until the dawn of the 80s, does not include less than 180 amps, tuners, preamps and receiver-tuners ... and I do not count the record players, speakers, quad-decoders and other accessories. So where do you start? The reputation ? the budget ? stereo or quadraphonic? lamps or transistors? Receivers: The 1970s saw the appearance of the famous line of 2200 series receivers, a series now known and recognized by all HIFI enthusiasts, the 2252B, 2265B, 2285B are more powerful more expensive, better equipped, and much more powerful, the series 23 super complete devices with attractive aesthetics especially the 2325 and 2330 delivers a fabulous sound.

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Marantz model 2270, vintage #marantz

Une publication partagée par Khalid hadebuis (@khalidhadebuis) le 7 Janv. 2020 à 3 :20 PST

Quadraphonic receivers, like the 4220, 4230, 4240, 4270, these devices are very flattering aesthetically, have excellent performance, and you can use them to sound two separate rooms, with independent volume controls, like the current amplifiers offering several zones.

 

Vintage Marantz Integrated Amplifier

We cannot forget the 1060 acclaimed everywhere. If it is true that it is an excellent device, with undisputed success, in the remarkable phono preamp section.



The 1122DC, 1152DC, 1180DC series and especially the unobtainable and unaffordable 1300DC are beautiful aesthetically, and are excellent, the 1150 and 1150D are very powerful and very complete.

Vintage Marantz Preamps

At the beginning of the range, we find the marantz model 3200 which is a small success at a low price to couple with model 140. - more efficient and a little more expensive the 3600 and 3250, 3250B (which has the MC input) are recommended purchases. The 3650 and 3800 touch the high end, but are difficult to find and very expensive. the 7C (with tubes) and 7T (with transistors) in another register even if are much older remain among the most efficient; the 7T is less than 1000 €, for a 7C, we are headed for a big investment.

Marantz Vintage Power Amplifiers

The 5 most common models are, from bottom to top, the 140 of 2 x 70 W, the 170 dc of 2 x 85 W, and 240 (2 x 120 W), 250 and 250M (2 x 125 W) which form the high end.

The monstrous 500 and 510 of 2 x 250 W, The much rarer models 15, 16 and 32 are known for exceptional sound quality, and for big budgets, an 8 or an 8B, you will make an excellent investment.

Vintage technics su-7300 integrated stereo amplifier

Vintage technics su-7300 stereo amplifier offers exceptional performance Its excellent characteristics suggest a pure, natural and transparent sound that this device is the only one capable of providing compared to equipment of the same caliber. Not to mention its brushed aluminum facade and its refined style, which give it an appearance that matches the beauty of its sound rendering.

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#technics su 7300 vintage integrated amplifier

Une publication partagée par Khalid hadebuis (@khalidhadebuis) le 11 Janv. 2020 à 5 :31 PST

Pioneer SA-9100 VINTAGE STEREO AMPLIFIER

High-end from Pioneer in 1973, this big toy of some 20 kilograms has something to impress. Massive aluminum front with indications engraved in the mass, buttons and switches also aluminum and superb wooden box, there is no doubt that the quality of manufacture is of another age! Inside, the same goes with a very clean design: a very large transformer, two large power supply capacitors and the radiators and the cards for the left and right channels, on either side of this central power supply.

Pioneer SA 9100 delivers efficient power with sound, the bass is hyper nervous, tense and precise. Nothing exceeds, it is drawn with a line. The medium is also very beautiful. The strings and brass of the orchestra are superb.

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Vintage integrated amplifier #pioneer sa 9100

Une publication partagée par Khalid hadebuis (@khalidhadebuis) le 11 Janv. 2020 à 7 :28 PST

Which Luxman vintage is better?

Luxman began to rebuild a worldwide reputation as one of the leading Japanese audio brands. Luxman is an iconic brand in the history of High Fidelity, its excellent audio equipment such integrated stereo amplifiers has authentic monsters like the SQ-38FD, M-150, M-6000, L-31, SQ507X etc. in its golden age, the 70s and early 80s, which were based on circuits that linked tubes and transistors, The company was founded in 1925 by T. Hayakawa and K. Yoshikawa. Unfortunately, at the end of the last century, the brand failed to adapt to the emerging fashion of home theater and multi-channel audio. All the amplifiers that luxman made until the late 70's and early 80's are from fantastic to masterpieces from the fantastic L-30, to the fabulous also the L-100 with a real and natural sound.

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#Luxman L-30

Une publication partagée par Khalid hadebuis (@khalidhadebuis) le 1 Déc. 2019 à 9 :19 PST

The L-30 is very good, it moves the boxes with sufficient suffering despite its power, good scene and fantastic means, it has a sound that hooks the music flows in the room with an incredible naturalness and presence, controlled bass, but defined and present, Luxman L-31 has almost identical terminals.

The highly musical L81 integrated amplifier finesse and smooth rendering throughout the bandwidth. One of the most beautiful amps of his generation. This device manufactured in the late 70s is the sucessor of the L-80.

 

If you want it with radio, that is, a receiver, the Luxman R1040 and 1050, R-800 are very good, musical, pulling the valves, they are great, for their robust construction, reliability, dynamic more detailed and with a beautiful timbral.

 

KENWOOD KA-7100 Stereo Integrated Amp

Kenwood's superior tonal quality is further demonstrated by the low distortion characteristic of the KA-7100. With its professional features, such as our exclusive DC power amplifier and two independent power supplies, as well as numerous circuit innovations, the KA-7100 is a truly exceptional amplifier of incredible value.

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Kenwood model ka-7100 great #ampli #Kenwood

Une publication partagée par Khalid hadebuis (@khalidhadebuis) le 24 Oct. 2019 à 5 :51 PDT

Vintage Turntables

The vinyl records are back on the front of the stage, so we need a turntable to turn them. Why not choose a practical device, with a rather nice look, resolutely vintage and rather attractive design. A vintage turntable brings the experience of vinyl at a lower cost with a fabulous retro look.

Many models of vintage turntables take the dust in antique shops. between them are notably still well preserved by their original owner. You can even find it at a good price and in good condition on online sites. The price of a vintage record player usually varies according to its quality of manufacture and the proposed.