Surrey, British Columbia · since 2000
DIY speaker kits with the parts of our hand-built speakers
Specializing in audiophile-quality speaker designs, RAW Acoustics offers do-it-yourself (DIY) speaker kits that include all of the same industry-leading components you've come to expect from our custom-built speakers. From exceptionally accurate stereo bookshelf monitors to completely immersive home theatre surround-sound packages, we have a solution to fit your budget and space.
Speaker kits are available with our RA104.5 ribbon tweeter or with the OW4 Platinum dome tweeter.
How deep each design plays
15 Hz – 40 kHz · log scaleLow-frequency figures as published on each model's specification sheet: F3 where it was given, otherwise in-room response or port tuning. Red dots mark the cabinet tuning, red lines the published crossover points.
The range
- Apex seriesOur largest designs: the Apex III 4-way tower, the Apex C center channel and the APEX LCR O.
- HTi seriesThe 2008 HT line with the RA104.5 ribbon tweeter: HT2i, HT2iC, HT3i and HT8i.
- HTO seriesThe same HT cabinets and crossover points with the OW4 Hiquphon Platinum dome tweeter.
- TL seriesTL7 R and TL7 O: tapered single-fold transmission line kits.
- Home theatreComplete 5.1 packages built from the Apex, HT2i and HT3 designs.
- Other designsB3W modular tower, LX II tower and the RA8 line array kit.
- AccessoriesWaveZorber spikes, Vibe Buster isolation pads and RAW ICE damping foam.
What comes in a kit
A RAW Acoustics kit is not a box of drivers. It is the speaker we built in our shop, taken apart: the same measured and matched drivers and crossover parts, with everything needed to build the cabinets yourself.
Matched drivers
XBL² woofers and midrange drivers, our RA104.5 ribbon or the OW4 Hiquphon dome, shipped as measured, matching sets.
Crossover parts
Mundorf (Solen) capacitors with by-pass capacitors, air core or foil inductors measured to matched pairs, metal oxide resistors and Cardas lead-free silver solder.
CNC baffles
Pre-machined front baffles on most kits: every driver hole pre-cut and flush mounted, with magnets installed for the magnetic grilles.
Plans and a CD
Cabinet construction plans and a CD with complete construction photos, crossover layouts with photos of assembled crossovers, and how to veneer and finish the cabinets.
Ports and hardware
Flared ports cut to the tuning, terminal cups or plates with custom posts, wire, screws, damping material and spikes.
Assembly help
For those who did not want to build the crossovers, we assembled and wired them, leaving only the board to mount and the drivers to connect.
XBL² drivers
Most of our designs use drivers with the XBL² motor from ADI Technology. It keeps the motor strength flat over most of the driver's usable excursion, with less than a 5% BL decrease over 24 mm of total excursion. The result is lower distortion, lower inductance and lower moving mass, which is why a 6.8" SDX7 woofer can reach the low twenties in a cabinet only 7" wide.
Reviews and shows
The HT3 was reviewed by Stereomojo, and the HT2 by AffordableAudio.
Owners wrote about their LX II, HT2, HT3, HT8 and Apex speakers on AudioCircle; some of their comments are collected on these pages.
We exhibited at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in 2007.
Owners on their speakers
“The bass is extremely powerful, tight and clean down to 25Hz as advertised.”
“These ribbon tweeters are a marvel, the sweetspot is so massive - you can walk towards the speakers and the center image stays until you're practically in the middle between them.”
“It's like I added two very high quality subs.”