Build custom cabinets for your speakers.
Making homemade speaker cabinets is a good way to get the cabinet design you want at a lower cost. If you have basic carpentry skills, you can design speaker cabinets from basic woodworking materials and still add the features you would have to pay extra to get on manufactured speaker cabinets.
Design Speaker Cabinets
Look at manufactured speaker cabinets to get an idea of features you would like to incorporate into your homemade speaker cabinets. Also examine custom cabinets that friends may have created. (See References 1) Speaker cabinets may be tall and narrow or short and squat or even something in between. Knowing what you want the finished cabinets to look like can help you with the design. Keep in mind that if you plan to place the speaker cabinets on shelves, the cabinets must fit the dimensions of the shelves.
Determine if you want the speaker cabinets to be portable or not. Adding wheels and handles can make them easy to move. It can also affect how heavy the wood you use needs to be. Because portable equipment takes more dings, you should consider using slightly heavier wood to protect your speakers.
Create a scale drawing of your speaker cabinets. From this three-dimensional drawing, you should be able to determine the amount of materials you need to purchase to make your homemade speaker cabinets. If you don't want to draw your own plans, there are kits available on the market that allow you to make your own speaker cabinets and customize them from basic plans.
Speaker Cabinet Materials
Choose 1-by-2-inch furring strips for the frame of your speaker cabinets. If you wish, you can rip 2-inch-by-4-inch lumber to a smaller size. You need screws to hold the frame together as well as to help in the rest of the construction of this project.
For the exterior of the speaker cabinets, 5/8-inch plywood is a good choice if you are watching your budget. You should choose a piece that has a smooth, finished side. Avoid any wood with knotholes in it as it can affect the structural strength of the wood. You may choose any number of other materials for the exterior if you wish.
To cover your speaker cabinets, you can paint or finish the wood. Another popular choice is dark colored indoor/outdoor carpeting. This carpeting doesn't need to have a rubberized back. Dark gray blends with most decors and is the least likely to show dust and dirt.
Pick corners and handles if you plan to make your speaker cabinets portable. Select casters if you plan to put the cabinets on wheels. Pick out some floor or shelf protectors for the bottoms of stationary cabinets.
Build Speaker Cabinets
Cut your materials for the speaker cabinets. To make assembly quicker, lay the pieces out in the order you plan to use them.
Assemble the furring strip frame. Cut holes for the speakers and the wiring in the exterior pieces. Add the exterior to the frame.
Attach the speakers to the cabinets. Run the wiring from the speakers out of the cabinets.
Finish the cabinets in your chosen material. Add the corners and handles if you chose them. Set the cabinets on wheels or floor/shelf protectors if you decided to add that option.
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