I finally built my first set of speakers this past week (for reference that was actually July 2021). I got the C-Notes flat pack kit from Parts Express. I had been thinking about it for a while but held off because I had never soldered before and my woodworking skills aren't exactly great. It turns out my fears were unfounded and it was actually a fairly easy process that was a lot of fun. I had to buy a couple more wood clamps so I had 4 total, and a couple more could have been used. If you plan carefully it would probably have been possible to get away with just 2 clamps maybe, but it would have also taken a lot more time. At the same time don't fall into the trap of thinking you need 20 clamps just because you saw some video or pictures of someone showing off. I also had to buy a soldering iron, I just picked up a cheap kit since I'm not sure how much soldering I'll do in the future. Soldering for the crossover itself was super easy, and only a tiny bit more challenging to attach the copper wire connecting to the various components.
I think the speakers sound great, though I don't really have any equipment to validate that or any real experience with what a truly good speaker should sound like. In any case I think they sound detailed and not harsh. Definitely a step up from the Edifiers in just about every way.
Since I started this blog post, I actually followed up with a Classix II build that turned out phenomenal. I completed the classix on January 3rd, 2022. I do still need to paint/finish the cabinets on both sets, but that is on hold until the spring. I've also found I have a bad connection on one of the terminals in the c-notes, so at some point I'll have to try to fix that. Also, I want to get some polyfill for the c-notes to see if it helps them fill out a bit, compared to the classix they sound hollow and bright.
I'm also in the process of building some speaker stands. Maybe I'll do a more detailed post on how I built those, and a final review of the classix.
Next up I need to try out some other amps though I think my Aiyima A07 is more than adequate for me. After that I will likely either build a sub or start looking at room treatments.
I don't want to turn into an audiophile snob, but the combination of woodworking and electronics feels like a sweet spot that is keeping me engaged far longer than most hobbies (and its only really been 6 months).