How to design a DIY loudspeaker

Successful speaker design begins with requirements, not components.

Step 1: Define the target

Write down:

Every design is a compromise between bandwidth, efficiency, size, output, and cost.

Evaluate:

Do not choose a driver from cone diameter and wattage alone.

Model:

Use measured parameters where possible.

The cabinet should be rigid, well sealed where required, and appropriately braced.

Account for the volume occupied by:

Use damping material to control internal resonances, but remember that it can alter losses and apparent compliance.

Select a tweeter or midrange whose usable range overlaps the woofer’s clean operating range.

Check directivity as well as frequency response.

Driver response changes when mounted in the final baffle. Measure the drivers in their intended positions before finalizing a passive crossover.

Use measured complex impedance and acoustic response.

Optimize:

Verify:

Use listening to identify priorities, then return to measurement to determine the cause.

Do not adjust several variables at once. Make one change, document it, and repeat the measurement.