2019 Midwest Audiofest Speaker Design Competition

One of the most important audio events for the speaker building and DIY audio communities, the Midwest Audiofest (MWAF) is held in Springboro, OH, in July every year. Sponsored by an impressive group of vendors and hosted by Parts Express, this event combines several activities including a huge tent sale at Parts Express. For Thomas Perazella the highlight of the event is the Speaker Design Competition, for which he was again one of the competition judges. This article was originally published in audioXpress, October 2019.

David Logvin explores the Lepai LP40PA ultra-compact amplifier, a versatile Class D common plate amp module with fully integrated Bluetooth 4.2 receiver and 3.5 mm stereo inputs, ideal for converting existing passive speakers into convenient portable and wireless units that can be placed anywhere. The Lepai LP40PA has plenty of power for a pair of bookshelf speakers as Logvin experimented. This article was originally published in audioXpress, January 2019.

MakeProAudio, the German company that promotes "you make your audio gear" concept now announced the "you make audio gear system" for tinkerers, DIYers, hobbyists, and musicians. The build your own audio gear platform empowers anybody to build professional quality audio gear with never seen before control capabilities using a building block system, which can include networked Control, Mixer and Synth Blocks, connected by GLUE, a multi-protocol, multi-user, Control Software.

Miami-based manufacturer of high-performance audio and video cables, Wireworld Cable Technology, announced the Helicon 16, a new series of 16-gauge compact speaker cables, designed for internal wiring and DIY applications. The new cable solution will be previewed at CES 2016 in Las Vegas.

Morel has launched its first Titanium Speaker Design contest, open to all DIY fans worldwide. Many Morel raw driver fans already make their own speakers using the company’s products. This would be an opportunity for them to be recognized for their work — and also win prizes. All that’s necessary is to submit an ALL MOREL speaker design for a chance to win a $1000 gift certificate!

With a circuit configuration known as series regulated push-pull (SRPP), you can build a low-power tube amplifier that doesn't require the infamous output transformer.

Dave Erickson built his first multi-zone audio system in the early 1990s using C microprocessor code he developed on Freescale MC68HC11 microprocessors. In early 2014, he detailed how he upgraded the eight-zone system, which uses microprocessor-controlled analog circuitry.

Do you want to build your own speakers with little risk of them ending up as unsuccessful souvenirs? Do you want to familiarize yourself with a speaker’s electronics and building aspects but still have a nice sounding system? Then the Tang Band D52-1 is definitely a speaker kit we can recommend. We already tried it for you!

Looking to start a DIY tube amp project without shelling out big bucks? You can do it if you follow a few tips from Bruce Brown, who built a high-quality tube amp for less than $150. His biggest purchase was the “iron.” Here’s how he kept the cost down.

Shannon Becker interviews Ken Heng Gin Loo, the founder of the diy-audio-guide.com website. Ken is of Malaysian Chinese origins, and studied in the United Kingdom, where he graduated in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (Honors) from the University of Manchester, UK. Today he lives in a beautiful tropical island named Pulau Pinang (aka Penang) in Malaysia. Ken has a passion for DIY audio, in particular tube amplifiers, Tripath amplifiers, high-efficiency loudspeakers, and high-quality audio reproduction. This article was originally published in audioXpress, December 2013.