Is a 3-Way DIY Speaker Kit on Amazon for $300 any Good? The HiVi Swans 3.1 Kit

Ever wonder if a DIY Speaker kit off Amazon is any good? Today we will take a look at the HiVi Swans 3,1a DIY Speaker Kit. Take a look as we go over the components, kit quality and what it takes to build it. In the end I will measure it and give you my opinion on if you should tackle this project.
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[@rmzidann]

Fantastic kit IF you go with the Sehlin’s ultimate crossover. Which is what I did, but I also upgraded all the caps, inductors and resistors (spent an extra $350). After the upgrades, one would have to spend north of $1500 to get a better commercially available speaker, but then you wouldn’t get the same quality parts in the X-over. So maybe north of $2k.

[@BoRerunn]

How much did you spend

[@rmzidann]

@@BoRerunn total was about $660. Bought the kit during the Black Friday sale for $310 after tax, the rest was for the upgraded parts.

[@thomasschafer7268]

The inductors Position is complete wrong. 90° flat to stand horizontal. Joking?

[@jamesnuzzi923]

How do I buy this modded crossover? I went on the site and it didn’t look like there was a store

[@purplerider2362]

I built these with the moded crossover. They are my favourite speakers. I’ve actually built about six sets of speakers. These are superior quality speakers. They sound so good

[@drowleya]

I made the kit about 4 years ago loved it. The bright charater was ok with some music especially accustic but too bright on some music so I upgraded the cross over and improved the quality of the parts. It was a great speaker before, now it can hold it's own much much more expensive speackers. I build the CSS kit with the upgraded cross over. spent over a 1000 on that kit. Listening to them side by side, they are very close. The CSS Critons can dig a little deeper and the swans are a bit more detailed on the top end, even with the upgraded cross over smoothing out the frequency response. The swans are more efficient. The sound stage on the CSS audos is a bit wider while the Swans seems a bit more center stage and forward. For the money, the Swans are a steel. If you can go with tha Sahil upgrade do it.

[@purplerider2362]

Those kits from css are pricey. I did happen to build these with the upgraded crossover. Overall I love them. I sold my klipsch reference speakers that I had previously got. That’s how good they are. I have them hooked up to a very humble 1100 watt amp. Emotiva dr2. I love my system. I also own a sansui 9090 and a Akai as-1030

[@josephhoward8304]

Made this kit this past summer. Was super fun and well planned out. I run them in my vintage system and they sound great.

[@impuls60]

I'd machine down the midrange flange and recess the mid too, would look so much nicer.

[@tomreidy1237]

Looking forward to the crossover video.

[@Xe054]

I built the Classix II using a kit in 2015 and I'm still using them daily. They sound awesome and it was completely worth the effort!

[@PTPerdix]

I just finished this kit as my first diy speaker set a few weeks ago, and my corners came together a little better (never enough clamps!). That said I put a roundover on the edges similar to your chamfer, did the crossover mod (v4 from the ASR forums, I think), and used un backed maple veneer (this was hard to work with and a bit of a mistake + learning experience). I just added some spiked feet this weekend as they were sitting on an old buffet and I could feel the coupling to it pretty strongly. So far loving them, but will try and get some measurements next weekend. I'm excited to see what you think with using a crossover mod.

[@halrichard1969]

Nice build on the Kit. The personal touch always a bonus. Well done.

[@donjaun540]

These speakers look awesome 😎 I hope to see how they turn out after your mods. 👍👍

[@Quetzalcoatl0]

This video comes just in time, as i'm planning to get these this year.

[@steveschwartz9771]

I also went with Sehlin’s ultimate crossover, using upgraded caps and some of the air coils that came with the kit. After going with the better crossover, have to say, very impressive!

[@aaronrobbins1458]

I respect and appreciate that you made the kit, almost, exactly as it is shipped, but since you said that it sounds bad, and that people have already created a fix, I feel like this video is incomplete, or perhaps pt. 1 of two, where pt. 2 is how to make it sound good, so nobody buys it, and makes it like you did, without also buying the components to fix it first.

[@aaronrobbins1458]

Oh yeah, sorry. Thank you so very much for doing this for us. Love the video and love your work.

[@aaronrobbins1458]

Oh, also, once you do get it working and sounding good, perhaps give us an idea of how much it would cost to buy a comparible pre made speaker. I still am unclear how good these are, or could be, dollar for dollar.

[@Toid]

That’s a great point. I’m unclear with how good they are as well. Unfortunately, until I design crossover, it’ll probably remain that way. I will say this, the parts they chose are very high-quality. When the crossover is redesigned, I will try to answer that question

[@quikspecv4d]

The Swan M3A mk1 powered speakers is these drivers but are built into a beautiful real wood cabinet. Each speaker has its own amplifier and they are dsp time aligned. They sound and look fantastic! I think Swan only makes the mk2 now though that has different drivers.

[@6-Iron]

Tolex is good for covering speakers as well. It comes in all sorts of funky patterns and colors.

[@Aletsch]

That's a fantastic set of components for the money, particularly considering it packs in a dome midrange *and* ribbon tweeter. Overall its screaming out for being followed up with a R2 kit to iron out the noted tuning and assembly kinks, and maybe tweak that strange mid placement just a smidge in the vertical and recess.

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

The simple chamfer on the front makes a big difference. That's a good looking speaker! Curious, what type of vinyl did they supply? I did a vinyl veneer on a speaker set once, and it wasn't easy to do. Seams are tricky! Thanks for another video, I enjoyed it!

[@Toid]

Honestly, I’m not really sure how good the vinyl veneer was. But Justin did a HiVi kit with their vinyl veneer, and had a really hard time with it. I decided just to skip the route altogether.

[@davecahill6579]

Great paint job but I gotta say the high volume level for the music inserts was annoying

[@drexellake4051]

Love mine with the crossover upgrade.

[@BostonMike68]

That looks like a hell of a deal for that speaker. I started designing my own speakers last year after bing watching all your videos and I have built some really nice speakers. But I looking for a good dome midrange for my next project and I don't know if hivi or the Dayton would be better

[@DIYhyfy]

These look so good

[@z1berzerker]

Nice lil build 👌 Toid... trying to cut back on eating stickerz 😂

[@Jayinthelife23]

Nick its me jason. Your sooo close to 100k i believe you can do it. Great video

[@Toid]

Thank you! I hope so

[@CalCobra]

I just purchased this kit, amazon had a $70 off sale + another 5% off coupon. Ordered all the parts to upgrade the X-over to Sehlin’s perfectionist option #4 plus upgrade #5 to further improve the frequency response, not sure if I'll do option #6 or not, I'll see how it sounds first with Sehlin’s perfectionist option #4 plus upgrade #5 first.

[@frankpratt529]

@Toids, You need to get some dust collection going.

[@spritual_enlightenment]

First time, seeing a ribon speaker unit. I like to hear that. I wonder if they purposely increased high frequency due to the character of ribbon speakers, though.

[@adamreynolds8270]

Most likely

[@harleypub]

Do you have a step by step process that goes over how to pick, compare, test a combination of a set of speakers that includes the same process for DIY'ing the three way cross-over ?

[@doriansobanski5435]

hi, when can we expect an update with the new crossover?

[@mathieulg1992]

Is there a woofer upgrade available for this speaker kit? I would like a little bit more oompf from the woofer.

[@diyfullrangehifispeakers]

Great video Nick. Keen for the crossover video. Hey but you have an awesome shop so some viewers might be discouraged if they dont have a nail gun or router table. TBH I never use fasteners. In my builds. Glue n clamps. A trim router could do your chamfer. You could edit the video to mention alternatives. Bargain kit.🇦🇺☮️

[@JungYT]

The Amazon page says "Component values of the crossover changed following the "Perfectionist" alignment." Does the kit that you built have this change? I bought this kit a few months ago from Amazon, but haven't built it yet. and wonder if I should wait.

[@-Kayda-]

Can you plz make a video about how to change the Crossover to the " Option 4: The perfectionist option:" From the Sehlin Sound Solutions website? I'm getting a bit lost in how and where all the components go.

[@ioannisloungos9489]

As My knowledge say's to get it in them a good crossover needs second order on midrange in all the way up and down third order in woofer to correct phase and second or third order in tweeters. (Woofer and mid i done simulation a year ago when i was looking to change my monitor project. (means dayton rs52 mid with the same hivi woofer) but all my goals was almost the same. You need second order on mid to give flatter phase graph.

[@vinylcabasse]

awesome video. the musical interludes are way louder than the parts you're speaking in though! (i had to turn it up to hear what you're saying and then scramble to turn it down when the music kicks in)

[@NaturalBBler]

Hey one question, i plan a middle big home cinema. I want to soundproof the ceiling. 10-15 cm is no problem with plasterboard. What is a cheap and effectiv way ?

[@richardjohnston4682]

Will these speakers go fairly loud without distress? Thanks

[@Mate2Frio]

Would it be crazy to see if you could recreate the Cambridge Soundworks Model Twelve Portable Speaker System with some of your sponsors?

[@RennieAsh]

Not sure why they don't recess the mid driver. Looks cheap and affects frequency response with the flange sticking out

[@kuronekosan2830]

Hi toid I want to do atmos but i have concrete ceiling..it would be very helpful if you could built a good atmos enclosure for dayton in ceiling speakers like the dayton me820c and sell the plan for it As they dont have ts parameters ..it's quite tough to build an enclosure with proper dispersion for a large soundstage and with decent bass ..both a seal or ported enclosure would be good ..but as they dont have ts parameters i am kind of lost ..you have a lot of experience with building enclosure so if u could make a video on a diy in ceiling speaker enclosure for atmos ..that would be really good with the paid plans links

[@Brian_Romska]

I’ve seen a couple other vids on these, nobody mentioned how bad it measures, not that I always care about that but you’d think they’d have a slightly flatter response. Great vid tho, thanks!

[@danrussell9357]

The measurements are my favorite part of Nick’s videos.

[@Toid]

I really thought they would be much flatter as well. It just makes them harsh. One thing I will say though is they are in phase so you could EQ it out if you wanted to

[@cmammen]

@@Toid in general I really don’t like having to EQ things out. It’s nice when you wanna tweak but I don’t like it when you have to do it.

[@cmammen]

Definitely looking forward to the upgrading the crossover video

[@Toid]

@@cmammen I agree completely

[@DearSX]

Which something like this but 4 way or with deeper bass and objective measurements.

[@LikelyLagging]

pretty sure im gonna buy this. seems perfect for a first diy build

[@Toid]

It really does include everything you need, which is perfect to start with.

[@LikelyLagging]

@@Toid I’m sure you’ve done content on the subjects already if so a link/video name would be great! lol. however if not I’d love to see content on how to acquire all the parts and wire a new crossover. And especially Since everyone’s saying how great these speakers are with a new crossover maybe even a guide on making one of the ones you have recommended? (I ask because I’m a visual learner, I find it hard to keep/recall information I’ve learned through reading.) and secondly some videos comparing diy to high end commercial would be awesome. Trying to convince family that these are a great value but they see the price tag and wanna puke still lol obviously audio is subjective and it’s hard to portray sound quality through a KZbin video. But I think comparisons like that would really help people make the choice to try diy. I know your content is seemingly driven towards a more audio literate audience but you make great videos and aren’t a bullshitter so personally I’d love more entry level builds and beginner educational stuff. Even if you’ve done it before that stuff definitely couldn’t hurt to do a refreshed series on. Anyways thanks for the great content!

[@Toid]

@@LikelyLagging sure. I think this will help. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXzblZuOj66ifpYsi=DRqXk1-dYX4_zDr-

[@HyPex808-2]

Just wondering if any of the prebuilt crossovers from parts express would increase sound quality…or if you need to design a custom one…

[@Toid]

It needs a custom one. Or it needs some eq/dsp

[@petedetraglia4776]

Why not just use resistors in the speaker line to knock down the db on the mid and tweeter?

[@Toid]

Unfortunately, it’s not quite that easy. However, if you wanted to go with the stock crossover, the best thing to do would just be the EQ it. You could EQ it to something that you would really enjoy. I did measure off axis, and it is in phase. So a simple EQ would be the best thing to do. I would just rather have the crossover designed better.

[@tomsettles6873]

I heard these at a hifi store. Woofer is too small to be taken seriously unless you're using them in broom closet. I'm hoping someone will come out with a DIY kit for a 3-way with 8-10" woofer. I would buy tomorrow.

[@gsxr600rafii]

Are these better than the dinas ???

[@TheTrueVoiceOfReason]

I like the fact that they are using Allen Head Screws over Phillips. Gives a much nicer finishing touch. Bizarre thing is, this weekend I was wondering why more people / manus didn't use better / more distinctive hardware because the Phillips tend to look pedestrian.

[@Toid]

So true. I actually really like the Allen hardware with this kit only because they were pre-drilled. If they weren’t pre-drilled, I wouldn’t personally appreciate it.

[@jessicaembers924]

You should put an L-pad on the tweeter, and set your EQ.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Elnufo]

🧊🧊🧊🧊🧊😂

[@robertdavis5714]

Nice production, having a personal Wood Shop helps. That sound graph looks very Cerwin Vega, just keeps climbing so probable a bright sounding speaker with a short listening tolerance. Ill stick with buying used on CL.

[@BoRerunn]

Go all out , cuhh

[@doriansobanski5435]

I'm waiting for the new crossover video

[@DieTabbi]

😟 sold out on Anazon, theydont know when it will be in stock, means nornally: never. Aby other shop to buy?

[@thecasualnoob8008]

This kit was $150 for a long time. Im sad i never got it then. They also had tower kits as well.

[@christianbottger493]

Sold out on Amazon

[@d3tach3d]

Hey, Todd! It's been 3 months since this video and probably 4+ before the edit and upload. So, Where is the Custom Crossover Design for these that you PROMISED US!!!!! AHHH!!!!!! :D

[@brianraulerson5037]

What happens if by chance you eat the stickers? Asking for a friend.

[@Toid]

😂🤣😆 imagine how many people had to eat that sticker before they put that warning on there

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

Lawyers are getting out of control!😅

[@brianraulerson5037]

I should order this just for the delectable stickers.

[@sermac3246]

👍

[@TecraTube]

yep. I'm quite the DIYer. I made a hot pocket lady night

[@user-iw5ib8hj6f]

Instagram Models in the morning... Hilarious! LOL!🤣

[@Atheistic007]

Thanks for the great video. Lay off that annoying background music though. gg

[@starker1971]

Thanks for the review. It saves me money, and wanting. I am not seeing the value in any kit that 1. requires your effort to build and finish. 2. has crossover components that need replacing to make the frequency response commensurate. Am I missing something here ? I don't understand putting in the time and effort if this cannot beat most commercial purchases when they are on sale.

[@laptopdragon]

caught me on the build your own cabinets...lost me a little on the overly loud background music and subscribe bbell (way too loud)...still love the videos tho

[@shawnbrennan7075]

That's a nice looking kit for the money. Not a fan of the mid sticking out, prob doesn't effect sound much though, and gets it closer to tweet. Ever nail your thumb with one of those guns? Not fun, trust me.

[@Toid]

I might have 😅

[@BFArch0n]

Yeah highs are way too high. Hated them I did the crossover fix by adding some resistors and it helped a ton. But still meh. Rather buy speakers.

[@harrysmbdgs]

Did you mean “any” instead of “and” in the title? 🤔

[@Toid]

Maybe…😄 Good catch

[@firecloud77]

Music so *LOUD.*

[@cmammen]

Are those steal connectors!!?? Um no

[@richardowen5589]

that mid driver looks terrible mounted that way.

[@MasterofPlay7]

300? i'll get the klipsch instead

[@shiraz1736]

I'll go to my local store, Amazon is the last place I would buy from.

[@RonaldRol]

We come from a generation of people that were hardened and fought for our freedom, to a generation of 'do not eat or swallow this sticker'... the world is lost

[@veroman007]

sandcast resistors, no insulation, iron core inductors... crap. your wordworking skills are good but my god the internals suck

[@geographyinaction7814]

There is an upgrade available, a couple, actually.

[@dicko-200]

Can always add a couple L PAds to control the hi's and mid's