Collection: Speaker Kits

NB Speaker Cables now offer speaker kits! We felt speaker kits were the next logical step in the journey of NB Speaker Cables. Between needing to further justify my hobby to my wife and what we feel is a gap in the market for audio lovers wanting to dive into the world of speaker building in Australia, we wanted to offer a range of easy to build speaker kits that almost anyone can assemble with minimal woodworking experience or even speaker building knowledge.

All kits are provided with step-by-step assembly instructions accompanied by images and a crossover schematic/diagram for those with little experience in woodworking and speaker building. The guide for our first basic 2 way is over 50 pages and 6,000 words long!

A word of caution: Speaker building is probably one of the deepest rabbits holes one can venture down. For those with a keen interest in the hobby already, you will know exactly what we mean! There is always more to learn and tweaks to be made in the quest for audio perfection. Those with experience also know, speaker building is largely about compromise and achieving objective perfection is near impossible. Just when you fix one problem, you create another! Fix that problem and you create another 2.

What we have tried to focus on is the ‘fundamentals’ to produce an objectively ‘good’ speaker. What fundamentals makes an objectively ‘good’ speaker? At the end of the day, it’s to as accurately as possible reproduce what the artist/producer intended. What makes a ‘subjectively’ good speaker? Anything you want, it’s subjective which means it’s out of our control! Our speakers use quality parts and simple designs to achieve this within a modest cost constraint.

Could our speakers be better? Absolutely, but it’s going to come at a cost. Our speakers will no doubt evolve over time if the demand is there for higher end products and with that will come a cost. But for now, we’ve started with basic kits with the goal of creating a fun DIY experience and speaker that you will no doubt enjoy and cherish for many years to come. A speaker you can point out to your non-audio loving friends and say ‘I built that’ while also being a speaker your ‘audiophile’ friends agree sounds pretty bloody awesome!

Our speaker kits come in 3 different versions:

• Plans Only: As the name implies, this contains the plans only which includes box dimensions and a crossover schematic. You’ll have to do the rest! This includes both MK1 and MK2 plans.

This is a digital download and will be emailed to you within 24 hours of placing your order. In most instances you’ll receive it in less than an hour but we’re not always by our computer to send it through so please allow up to 24 hours. We’re working on making this an instant/automatic download.

• Naked Kit: Includes a very basic kit with the speaker drivers and crossover parts with box dimensions and a crossover schematic to build these speakers from scratch.

• Includes:
  • Speaker Drivers
  • Crossover Parts
  • Crossover Schematic (digital download)
  • Box Plans (digital download)

• Specific Exclusions:
  • Cabinet/timber
  • Crossover wiring
  • Crossover board
  • Binding Posts
  • Mounting Screws
  • Gasket Tape
  • Dampening/lining
  • Coatings (ie paint, veneers, wraps etc)
  • Tools, glue, etc

• Full Kit: This kit offers all the components required to build the speaker but EXCLUDES the timber for the cabinets themselves.

• Includes:
  • Box Plans (digital download)
  • Crossover Schematic (digital download)
  • Marked out & pre-drilled crossover board
  • Speaker Drivers
  • Crossover Parts including wire
  • Binding Posts
  • Mounting screws & threaded inserts
  • Gasket tape (where required)
  • Dampening/lining

• Specific Exclusions:
  • Tools, glue, etc
  • Coatings (ie paint, wraps etc)
  • Patience

Optional Extras:

• Knockdown Cabinet: This includes CNC cut cabinet parts, ready for assembly. Not only are these precision cut to size on our CNC machine; the recesses for your drivers are cut as well as holes to mount your drivers and binding posts using threaded inserts. If you don’t have the experience or the tools to cut your own cabinets, this will make it super easy to get started.

Our cabinets come in 2 offerings, MK1 and MK2.

• MK1: Our MK1 cabinets are basic MDF cabinets, adequate to get the build done but lack a few conveniences and aesthetics of our MK2 cabinet.

• MK2: Our MK2 cabinets add a ‘backing’ plate for easy access of the crossover as well as an engraved speaker name (and optional custom engraving).

Note: Cabinets do not come sanded or painted. Once you have assembled your cabinet you will need to sand and paint/stain it.

• Hardwood Baffle (COMING SOON): This option adds a hardwood baffle (and backing plate if the MK2 is chosen). This is purely aesthetic and some extra steps are recommended to tackle the seasonal changes of hardwood but it means a much higher end looking speaker!

• Crossover Assembly: This can be the most daunting task of a speaker build. While our kits do include a marked out and pre-drilled crossover board along with a schematic for easy assembly, some may not have the tools or willingness to solder. This option adds a fully assembled crossover so that when you get to the install stage, all you will need to do is plug the terminals into the binding posts and correct drivers and you’re done!

• Engraving: Add that extra touch of personalization and have your name engraved on the backing plate of your speaker (MK2 only). This is generally limited to 30 characters but if you want to say a little more, get in touch and we can talk through some options.

Completed Speakers (COMING SOON): Not willing to get your hands dirty and just want an Australian Made speaker? Head over to our 'Speakers' page to buy the completed speaker.

Fly through of our Mercury Speaker Kit guide: