Best speakers for your money? Build them | CSS Audio Criton 3TD-X

In this video, we're building one of the first sets of CSS Audio (Creative Sound Solutions) new flagship DIY speakers: the Criton 3TD-X. This is an unusual video for this channel... but it's an interesting process I think you might enjoy!
Build your own CSS Criton 3TD-X: bit.ly/45QfbCC
My brother built a pair of the CSS Criton 2TD-X tower speakers late last year and I was so impressed with their sound, I wanted to build a pair. I think their sound can easily compete with speakers costing well over $10,000, and some over $25,000. They might just be some of the absolute best HiFi speakers for your money, as your money goes towards high-end components and your labor supplements what would normally be the cost of cabinet manufacturing. So how are the new Criton 3TD-X's?

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

I wish I could afford licensing some real music for this one 🎸 How would you design your custom speakers?🔈

[@ChandlerLofton]

I just completed my second CSS build. I had the Torri to start off. We enjoyed them for a year or so, but I wanted more. So I just did a set of 1TDX with superior crossover. They are currently blowing my mind. Now I’ve seen your 3TDX build, and it’s got the gears turning again! Awesome video!

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Maybe it's the next project... 😀 I am tempted to build a set of 1TDX's myself now, there are other rooms to fill!

[@timball4892]

I have built the 2TDX, 1TDX, 2TDX tower and the bass module. Amazing products, each one and all. Not only are the drivers and crossovers (superior in my cases) excellent the end results perform way above their weight class. I will soon be building the 3TDX, again with superior crossovers, and I can't wait to start the project. As soon as funds allow I'll be placing my order. I also want to chime in on CSS customer service. They are incredible in their knowledge and patience in dealing with the customer.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

It sounds like you’re the expert we all need to learn from! I fully agree though, an excellent company with remarkable sounding products. 😀

[@haroldpramekamol1009]

Great production value! I'm taking the short drive tomorrow to CSS to check them out. Thank you Sam.

[@JosephTongret]

I almost have myself talked into picking up a diy kit and doing my first build. The only thing I'm lacking is your bad @$$ brother!🤣The speakers look absolutely stunning and the whole video is beautifully done!

[@sglynnphoto]

Excellent build and fantastic video! Very enjoyable!

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Thanks for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@travis4619]

Can you advise where your sourced the feet?

[@hammer-and-thumb]

Other costs of high-end speakers are marketing, distribution, administration, promotion, advertising, shipping, and a lot less profit than you would think after all the above are handled. So people freak out about high-end prices, but it is the small-batch, small-volume nature of the product that means each unit bears a larger share of the overall expense of running a business, and that is responsible for most of the price you pay. Some other companies have learned to create unique designs and promote their expertise to create a unique high-end brand, and there is some value added to the product by that brand association, so that is another part of the price paid for the product. The high price of high-end speakers is a fact of life, and companies that have tried to 'save the world' from high priced high-end gear either end up cheapening the product, or going out of business.

[@w.p.martin8910]

Sam, I thoroughly enjoyed the video and the incredible work that went into building the loudspeakers. I'd like to know more about the dye/stain, and final finish, used on the speakers. As a woodworker myself, I am always on the lookout for new and inspiring products. Thanks for anything you can share/post about the products used in the build.

[@getdealtwithquick]

Beautiful. Looking forward a set of built ones hit the used market near me 😂.

[@psyphonyxaudio]

Amazing cinematography. Good story telling. ( i think the sound could have been mixed better so your voice is more up front.. other sounds more in the background )

[@psyphonyxaudio]

Can we see how much money it would cost to afford ALL the tools ..and materials and processes ( anodizing, etc ) .. ? .. for comparison against just going to buy some at that proposed $10k .. or $25k range.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Hey now, I said the speakers sound amazing, I can’t promise anything for my audio mixing 🤣 As for the costs: -Tools would be outrageous since we used a CNC, but others were limited to an orbital sander, router, drill, wire stripper, soldiering iron, and some clamps - MDF $50 - Veneer $119 - Fenix Laminate $182 - Feet $120 - Rubio monocoat $80 - Laser cut aluminum $38 - Aluminum prep/anondizing $62 - Grill cloth $50 - acrylic sheet and magnets $51 Total cost to customize: $652 Speaker kit: $2,500 All in: $3,152 *I also went all premium on cloth, laminate, speaker legs and feet, etc… you could do it cheaper (or go crazy the other direction)

[@psyphonyxaudio]

@@TheOtherSamMallory ..Thank you.

[@mattrismatt]

@@TheOtherSamMallory Wouldn't the pre-built SVS Ultra Evolution Tower/Titan/Pinnacle be a more sensible purchase? $3000-5000/pair all-in.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

That might be an excellent buy, but you will be spending a great portion on the cost of manufacturing vs. the drivers and crossovers. One of the arguments for DIY is you’re getting significantly better drivers and crossover components for your dollar since you’re not paying for manufacturing. The CSS drivers and crossovers should be better than the SVS but it ultimately comes down to implementation and the sound signature you like. I will look for an opportunity to listen to the SVS, but think these CSS speakers sound like $10k+ pre-built speakers. I also think the opportunity to customize and custom build is a value proposition on its own…

[@hammer-and-thumb]

These are competitive with products from Dynaudio, Revel, etc in the price range between $5,000-$7,500 per pair.

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

Any open baffle designs?

[@tylerpanteleeff8581]

Nice work! I bet they sound amazing. I like the idea of building my own speakers, and building from a kit like this seems like the way to go. But for less than 1/10th the kit cost, I recently purchased some old used Boston Acoustics VR40's that sound amazing to me. At some point I'll swap out the capacitors, but that shouldn't take much time or money.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

That’s the nice part of DIY, you can choose your own adventure and buy in at any price. I think CSS even has very modestly priced options as well… but I must admit I can’t step down from their flagship now that I’ve heard it!

[@brianhenderson1775]

Hey, great video, clearly took a lot of time. One recommendation. I would recommend considering a pop filter in the future. Listening to this I feel like I could hear every drop of saliva which I feel like distracted from the otherwise solid presentation

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

You should hear it through the speakers 🤣

[@fluxcapacitr121]

Recording engineer here. A pop filter reduces/blocks plosive sounds. Think “Puh” and “Buh” syllables. Nothing to do with “saliva” noises.

[@kilove1]

🙌👋👍💯🥇🏆 well done i thought i was watching a professional creative Ad…. Mega build 😮😎👀💪😍💯

[@teknolojigundemi]

Good build. 2TD-X Iooks better. distance from top to tweeter too much , if there was a AMT tweeter or CSS LD25X-WG tweeter it would better, btw what is this tweeter in their range? Taking ports to back also good idea for aesthetics.

[@timball4892]

could you please provide a link for the grill cloth? also, the veneer used and the footers. Thanks and again one of the best videos I've seen about audio

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

The grill cloth is from Acoustone (acoustone.com), the veneer is white oak, the feet were a random find on aliexpress (search stainless steel spike speaker feet)! Thanks for watching 😀

[@gdemirjian]

well done!

[@JCOTV]

Which kind of wood did you use?

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

It’s and MDF cabinet with a white oak veneer, Rubio monocoat black pre-stain, and Rubio monocoat charcoal 2C

[@hrmny_]

Moving the port in theory does have an impact on the sound as it adds delay to the port compared to the woofers, it doesn't matter if they're sitting against the wall or not At the frequencies where it matters, the phase shift is probably negligible, but taking a finished design and moving the port around is still weird.

[@kerryarmes2786]

Sam talked to us about this before doing it to confirm it was ok. The wavelengths at bass frequencies where the port operates are almost 40 feet long. Your room has a much more significant impact at this region than moving the port from front to back. Everything will sum exactly the same regardless of where on the cabinet the port is placed.

[@C-man553]

Looks like an edge diffraction nightmare.

[@mikehuntington4440]

Sorry but.... I haven't watched the video. Please tell me which $100k speaker you previously had in your setup..... And how this is better. Thanks.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

That answer is at the end of the video!

[@SalarSayyad]

May I ask what IEMs you were using in the video? Are they the Campfire Solaris??

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Excellent eye! The Solaris 2020 indeed… I’m guessing you’re a CA fan?

[@SalarSayyad]

@@TheOtherSamMallory Just an audio devices fan...I did have the CA Atlas, but it was a bit too much bass bleed and a bit zingy in the lower treble. Were there other IEMs you tried before choosing the Solaris 2020?

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

I’ve tried the Atlas, Andromeda, Ara, and the original Atlas… Andromeda’s are my preferred with a slight v-shape, full low end, and generally musical

[@bm2085]

650 usd shipping (the cheapest option and before tax) to my country :`(

[@bingdong8571]

I just need to say that cnc machines are completely unnecessary when building speaker boxes. It seems like everyone building something on KZbin feels like they need to use a cnc machine now. Its a wood box!

[@RennieAsh]

It's $100k sound because of the CNC at Send Cut Send. Next time get them made from hardox XD

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

Fortunately we didn’t use any external CNC services, Send-Cut-Send was only ~$50 laser cutting. If I find myself needing something more expensive I’ll check hardox! Thanks for watching 😀

[@RennieAsh]

@@TheOtherSamMallory in a way laser cutter is a CNC with laser attachment. Really only $50 to cut out that speaker? Maybe I should design them up on PC too as I'm not that into cutting and sanding these days Hardox is very tough hardened steel, would be indestructible speaker lol

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

True, yes! I only had the aluminum legs cut through send-cut-send… we have a CNC so cutting the MDF for the speaker cabinets was “free.” …and indestructible, but resonant free??

[@RennieAsh]

@@TheOtherSamMallory would be interesting if anyone were to ever make it. Might be high enough in frequency that it doesn't matter for woofers and then you can CLD it. But there are more practical materials for sure

[@FuzzyKaos]

You lost me when you knew that you were doing it wrong but you still went ahead with it, the drivers edge inset.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

I unfortunately learned about the issue after the cabinets were built 🤦‍♂️ The heads-up is so other don’t copy my mistakes! I’m not sure I would have charged ahead so blatantly had I understood the full impact to baffle diffraction but I’m very pleased with the end-products sound and appearance.

[@theoracleprodigy]

​@@TheOtherSamMallory still am amazing build and filmography. Have to agree though on the baffle edge. That defraction will catch up to you.

[@uncola6028]

Maybe some old fashioned felt rings with points could help with diffraction

[@ufarkingicehole]

​@@uncola6028 works for Wilson audio

[@richarddortch6122]

DIY speakers with a truncated frame on the midrange!? This is a No Go for a lot of DIY'ers..... They should've gone a different direction.

[@TheOtherSamMallory]

I think their aim was a very even directivity… can’t speak too much to the benefits/pitfalls but the sound is cohesive, midrange is detailed and images well 👍🏻

[@richarddortch6122]

@TheOtherSamMallory A round frame on the midrange would accomplish the same thing. If they oriented the flats horizontally it would at least reduce the center to center spacing of drivers. Truncated drivers are just really difficult for DIY'ers to deal with.

[@danpoinsett2869]

The truncated midrange was chosen to reduce the height of the matching center channel.