Easily the most comprehensive and natural review I’ve heard. I good reviewer must be perceived to be honest. At truly great reviewer is considered honest. That’s the impression I got from your break down. Your review is fair and articulate in all of your evaluations. It was fluid and very easy to both listen to and understand. You kept me into the review.
CSS now sells completed 1TD and 1TDX for $1749 and $1999, respectively. Add $350 for the enhanced crossover. Are they worth it? I'd say so. I bought a pair of Dynaudio Evoke 20s on an open box for $1600. These are $2200 speakers. I like the Critons, the 1TD version with upgraded crossover, better than the Evokes. I'm in the process of upgrading to the X version now. I have a 15 x17 room and have to have the speakers close to the wall, Foam plugs in the ports help with bass issues. I sit low compared to the speakers so I tried them upside down. Again the bass bloom was helped. Love these speakers. You don't have to go crazy, just start out with the base models and you will have a fine speaker. Sand them, seal them and spray paint semi gloss or matte black, if you don't want deal with veneer. A friend built a kit speaker and had a local auto body shop prime and paint his speakers for a couple hundred dollars.
@@jefftrout7697 Not sure what color...but 12 coats of clear a must...I want these to be dripping. Curious about the high gloss vinyl wraps though. Were you able to see different finishes in wraps?
I built the 1TD-X a month ago, standard crossover but switched out the sand cast resistors with Mills. OMG these are amazing. The bass has a bit less texture and tone VS the Encores which I also own. Treble is better on these. I'll have more to say when I post my build. I also own the new Unifi 52 so I'll be comparing these as well.
I built the upgraded XLS-Encores. I also have the Elac UB52s (not the new reference). While the Elacs sound great, the Encores sound to me superior in almost every way. In my room they even throw a wider soundstage. Much more detailed, airy. While my wife prefers the encores for the looks, even she (rolling her eyes) hears the distinctions. I can understand Randy’s need to get high quality kits far away... they’ve relegated my Elacs to my office/computer setup.
@@chrisjordan6498 My wife gives me the eye roll too on this topic! 😂 I'm glad to hear about your experience with the encores. If I ever managed to save enough funds to purchase a pair of the GR Research speakers, especially the X-statics, I would in a heart beat!
Wait the 1TD-X comes with sand cast resistors?????? For that $$? Danny Ritchie must be cringing. C’mon Criton. For a very minimal cost upgrade they should make Mills standard
@@mhester99 it does come with them . Cost me over $50 to change them out to mills. Worth it, probally not but other than it stops me from years of wondering... audiophile paranoia runs deep ya know
I see what you're saying, if you can eliminate the distribution channels and easily convert any of your free time into money, or your time is limited. But for me without a side gig, my non-work time costs me nothing. The fact that I'm having fun building the speaker is like saving more money (as opposed to paying to be entertained for that period of time). Also, I cannot buy most speakers without the distribution channels. As I only have a limited budget + free time to end up with a speaker, it comes down the the maximum speaker I can get for that (and where my free time is worthless when buying a pre-made speaker). I can definitely compare a kit to a pre-made speaker dollar for dollar or bang-for-buck. If 1TD-X sonically compares to a much more expensive pre-made speaker which is outside my budget, I can really only buy the kit (which I will likely do!) or settle for a not nearly as well performing speaker. For others, their time is very limited and have access to a larger budget, this comparison may not work.
I just completed the CSS Torri a couple weeks ago. They are spooky good. I’ve never heard anything like them and they are a $275 kit! I now have to know what the Criton 1TDX sounds like. I just hope my 60 watt Emotiva integrated is up to the task.
I bow down to my 2TDXs often.. or more sit up at ear level. Fantastic speaker. I often stay up too late because I can't pull away from listening to them.
my dad worked in the nuclear control room on the U.S.S Enterprise. he said they used to take bong hits, blow them into trash bags and then throw them overboard. those crossovers are behemoths. i think i need these loudspeakers in my life.
Impressions after 1 month I bought them with the upgraded cross over. I also added layer of industrial tile to the inside. Very heavy speaker. At first I was not very impressed. Sound was not bad but seemed 2 dimesional. Bass was just Ok. My previous kit Swans 3.1 was more engaging, deeper base and more open sound. One month later everything changed. Now that they have broken in, the base is much better and the sound stage and higher frequencies are now much cleaner and 3 dimesional. The swans are tilted forward in the higher frequencies and do amazing job with acustic gutiars but can become too much of a good thing with the wrong music. The CSS Criton's are over all a better speaker. If you get them just be patient and give sometime before you judge them.
@@joshuasterling2144 I find it funny that it would be controversial. Any physical material that is going to be actuated mechanically is going to change how it acts from being virgin/unused to having been actuated. Degree of actuation and duration are going to have effects on the material's performance and ultimate failure point. Wiggling a pop can tab back and forth until it breaks off is this, in a short duration form, in a nutshell, IMO. 👍🙂
I agree on the sweat equity on kit speakers. However, you can't beat the pride in workmanship when you get it done. My last kit has mahogany veneer with tung oil stain finish. It took a while to finish but it looks like a million bucks :).
The veneer you put on these looks better than most speakers and sounds like they are worth every penny. Effortless sound stage with detail is an end game speaker. Can't wait for these to show up on my door step 😉😉
i think you will be happy. imaging, sound stage left right top bottom, check. detail yes but not focal sort of detail which is not for me fyi. bass is simply glorious, different than the encores for sure but ok by me. got my 1tdx in use a month ago. i consider my end game speaker. infinity kappa 9, unifi 5, overnight sensations, hsu hb1-mkii, gr research encore sxls, unifi ub52.
@@briansimmons5363 I currently have the UB52’s, so whatever I get in the future has to be a definite upgrade. Thanks for your thoughts, I see you have experience with various speakers.
I finally bought this kit with the good crossover! I’m in the building phase right now. Got the enclosures and crossovers done. Now time for rosewood veneer! Can’t wait to hear these things.
Randy, I just found your channel and have been binging for a week. I love your style and your no-nonsense reviews. I’ll keep searching, but I’d like to see reviews of subwoofers you continually refer to, and reviews of Tekton and Zu speakers. I think their reputed value would fit your theme.
PART ONE AND PART TWO. A few people have presented what they think is a valid and clever counterpoint to what I previously said. The whole point I was making is that if someone can't identify or even know some great recordings, how can we trust them on evaluating audio equipment? It's the same exact thing, if you think about it. As far as the expression "trained ears" goes, it's not like book learning or school learning. Audiophiles like myself who have the means to significantly upgrade often and upgrade to worthwhile equipment, our ears become trained by the improvements our upgrades make. Any instrument, a flute a saxophone, a piano; if you thought they sounded clean before your upgrade, you can really hear what clean & pristine sounds like now, if your upgrade is a good one. Generally as your sound gets cleaner, instruments sound less weird and more genuine. You can hear the electronic signature from the electronics much less and if you get to the point where some of us get to, the only sounds coming out of your stereo are the sounds that acoustical instruments really make in real life; Nothing More! Like you were listening to a bunch of dudes playing guitar on their lawn without amplification. Of course electric instruments like electric guitar are supposed to sound electric and they do, but with a purity of tone that really draws the ear and keeps it drawn. Of course if you play musical instruments like I do, you know exactly how instruments should sound beforehand. It's "perceptual" learning, and yes, we can easily tell and hear big differences where the untrained can't. Someone else proposed that if it isn't heavy metal or whatever you would call Alice In Chains or Marilyn M, that it doesn't do them any good if they use other music to evaluate. That may be so, but I bet some people on here would like to know how a speaker sounds on brass or strings or piano. How can you can tell someone how well equipment conveys tonal colors, when you are only using grunge guitar records? Both type of listeners could easily be accommodated. Also I am not sure the term transient response is ever mentioned. An important performance category as SAE pointed out back in the 1970's as music is mostly "percussive". Even an electric guitar playing at breakneck speed is playing in a percussive way, even if its not considered a percussion instrument. Try to audition for yourself what you are thinking of buying is the "smart thing" always. You may be living with your purchase for many years, and nowadays audio things are not as easy to sell as they once were. PART 2. HOW RISKY: BUYING USED? In nearly 10 years I have bought at least a hundred pieces of audio gear (mostly on ebay). All but two things were as described. I do read a sellers feedback even if they have 100% positive. They could have neutral marks even if no negatives. Also they often have comments where the buyer was nice not to leave them a negative. I would say that's a pretty good percentage; only 2 bad out of a hundred plus. I do only deal with sellers where I don't smell anything bad. In addition to components and speakers, I buy a lot of speaker drivers for DIY and experimentation. Don't let the few percent who have been displeased deter you. The vast majority who are satisfied do not write in and write all about it.
Great review, really thorough and objective with just enough subjectivity to be fun. These are locked in as my next speakers. The benefits of building something (very good by all accounts) yourself and the sense of pride and ownership experience that creates, far out ways the risks of not being able to audition. Also, it becomes a project, and turns an ultimately passive hobby into a slightly more active one. Thanks randy
Price comparison might not seem “fair”, but it would be helpful to compare the sound to something available commercially so we could attempt to hear why one would pay so much or invest so much time. I would be happy to perform the electrical if a good woodworker could finish the cabinet.
I love that your reviews use regular people music and not 'weird audiophile music': You= Metallica Others= This recording is the lead symbolist from the Washington Philharmonic playing a 1960 Camaro hubcap with a stick he found hiking in the grand Tetons recorded on an 1894 Altec microphone from 11.3 feet away... I'd love for you to review some wilson tune tots and compare them to 'cheapaudioman' speakers.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 Others= *spoken in your best public radio voice* ( with the occasional tinkle of ice cubes in a glass of Scotch, in the background....) Glad to have found this guy as well for that reason. I listen to just about everything, but mostly hard rock and metal. And I'm not an audiophile. Just a dude with a wood shop, a welding shop, decent skills and low budget and looking for answers. :)
A lot of newer bluegrass tend to be bass heavy when mixed into the tracks. Chris Stapleton and The SteelDrivers are the same way in some of their songs. It's usually the only time my Fluance SX6's produce good bass without the help of a sub.
There's actually 12 options, theres the 1td(x), But theres alsp the 2td(x) MTM which is sold as either pair or as a single unit (intended for use as a centre channel) and there's also tower/floor standing speakers criton 2td(x) tower. All 3 variants are available as td and td-x as well as the upgraded crossover
You need a sweep audio generator to make sure the bass frequency is as you state. really good speakers hit a measurable useable low frequency bottom of 20 hz. without a separate sub woofer. And yes , they do exist .
I have a pair of the CSS Criton 2TDX tower speaker components with superior crossovers on the way (just shipped). I didn't order the flat pack. I am building the cabinets from 3/4" Red Oak instead. I am currently building the Elekit TU-8600S 300B tube amplifier with Lundahl output transformers I recently bought to pair with the speakers. I am waiting for the upgraded resisters and coupling capacitors I ordered to finish it. I ordered a iFi Zen One Signature DAC based on your review of it. I hope you didn't lead me astray! Now all I need is a pre-amp...Thanks for the video! : )
Hey Cheapaudioman, Criton 1TDX or 2TDX? What might be the reasons for going with one or the other? Is the 2TDX going to give a better sound? Or is it just more volume? Thanks
Thanks for the analysis of these speakers. I built a DIY set of similar sized speakers a long time ago and I'm still listening to them as my main speakers in my home theater. Definitely tempted to tackle another DIY speaker project. Also, nice shirt man!
I built a pair of CSS speakers about 15 years ago. Can’t remember the model/name of the kit. They are the best speakers I have ever listened to. 4.5” woofers have unbelievable detail and bass. Soundstage is incredible. Anytime I have someone listen to them they ask to hear them with the sub turned off. I have no subwoofer in the room! Always the same response, people can’t believe how good a little diy speaker sounds. We’ll worth building your own
Yes. Do have the one with the ribbon tweeters ? I have a few older designs as well. The original was amazing designed crossover and the ribbon tweeters gave it so much more airy sound . I also have the floor standing,and MTM bookshelves with ribbon. Also a fully custom designed floor standing MLTL. time aligned designed by original designer. Amazing detail and bass output.best speaker I have.
@@davekallerae5672 Not the ribbon tweeter. It has a soft dome HiVi tweeter, can't recall the model. I had wanted to get the ribbon tweeter version but never did. Kicking myself now. The version I have just has a high pass filter on the tweeter and the CSS WR125 runs full range without any electronics in the way. Incredible sound.
@@plaidfrog1 I have some new stuff I worked on with Al the designer of the CSS. We made some bookshelves designs and few floor standing. Love them. Where do u live ?
Thanks for the review. Got one after 2 years of contemplating, just waiting for it to cross the border. Now, decision on the amplifier to match is confusing for a normal humans like me.
??? In addition to my reply to the comment from a year ago asking about hard rock/metal through these. 2 things: -When you say "away from the wall" how far are you meaning? And is this distance the same if in a corner of the room? -Also, small room? Is there a standard size range for a "small" ( also medium and large) room when talking in the audio realm? And if not, could you give an approx. sq. footage of what you are meaning? Thanks very much! I'm enjoying your reviews. I haven't a big budget but I have a wood shop and am comfortable building cab's. The electronics are a bit much for my very dyslexic brain to muscle through, but if given the right visuals and instructions, the hand skills aren't an issue. Best regards, Bert
Great video, Randy! I want those ready-made for $900! They look fantastic, and I believe the fact that they sound the same. I'm not the handiest guy with wood, clamps, glue, etc........ Don't forget those Moukey 3-way passive speakers......................you have to hear them. BTW......if you want check bass, try Bachman Turner Overdrive's "Not Fragile"; the opening bass line is great.
There are those who don’t think parts quality matters. On the contrary, yes it matters. Iron core inductors and sandcast resisters are just garbage. The difference is staggering and there maybe those who disagree. It isn’t the end of the world to not agree in this hobby or profession based on your level of involvement. Musical tastes vary and others may not like what you have or what you listen to. It’s your gear and your ears that have to be happy. There’s great gear out there and at price points you can handle. There is gear that is stratospheric in cost, but that doesn’t mean better. Most of mine isn’t new nor was it new when I got it. To each their own. Find what you like and get that. You’ll be a happier person and being happy in what you listen to is what this is about. Stay safe my mates!😊👍🏻😁🛠
Thanks Randy for the great review. That speaker is gorgeous and I know it sounds even better. I am one of the unlucky ones without enough room to let the big dogs out.
I know a lot of audiophiles scoff at EQ but below the room transition zone( in the 300-700hz range) EQ can be super helpful as the room dictates a lot of the response. Getting something like a miniDSP 2x4 HD or the upgraded model with Dirac Live would probably improve your sound considerably for the relatively small investment.
@@TylerStout Also I know in the 80's and 90's some record producers demanded the Bass be turned down so the songs could be played louder on the crappy boom boxes of the day. That why Sony and others added bass boist switches and stuff like that to their walkmans
@@TylerStout Parametric EQ is an absolute must in any system, period. You're correct about only implementing EQ thru the transition and below, as that's the minimum phase region whereby change in level is essentially effective throughout the room. Eq'ing above the transition is simply chasing your tail, as changes are only effective in the precise location of the mic. The problem; adequately transparent EQ gear/approach. Thanks
The irony is the manufacturers can crank out beautiful boxes for cheap, the hardest part for diy. The catch is they refuse to give you quality for the dollar, and basically manipulate the illusion of quality.
@Fabian Chavez beautiful boxes can be made more efficiently if you invest in tooling for making 1000s of the same box, they then rely on the exterior appearance to get higher prices.
While I agree the big guys can pump out components en mass and cheaply, from a basic viewpoint. The only reason the hardest part for DIY'ers is the cabinet building is because someone else has done the research and R&D to provide the specs for the DIY boxes. Otherwise DIY'ers would be in a real rabbit hole if they had to start at the actual ground zero of speaker design. Plus DIY'ers are having to account for a myriad of expenses and responsibilities that a big or small company has to. 🙂👍
If you spend $1000 on those they are probably the equivalent of a $3500 retail speaker since everyone from the manufacture will have to make a profit a speaker will sell for an estimated 3-5 times its production cost.
For a second I thought you were talking about a CIS "Criton"...some obscure decommissioned boat's remnant found by some unsuspecting audiophile while roaming along the shores of the Kara Sea.
While I greatly appreciate this review, I'm gonna need you to reach out to CSS Audio for another kit my friend. lol They just listed the Criton 2TD Tower and the specs are 30hz anechoic and 20hz in room! It has a nice compact footprint at 8.5"W x 10.5"D x 44"H and is rated at 6ohm and 90db! The only thing that concerns me is the lack of outriggers to keep that thing stable.
The GR Research NX Studio kit is going to be a step up from these in every way but the bass extension (design choices) IMO. The open baffle upper frequencies will give you more depth to the image and the voices will sort of come alive… highly recommended, but you will need subs. This is an interesting kit, though. It bothers me that production companies can’t build similar quality speakers under $2,000 regularly. There are some, but this is a $750 kit. Mass produce this and build it out… there has to be a way to sell it at a price that gets attention. Bookshelf cabinets aren’t that expensive to have built in China.
To each his own. I’ve heard the NX Studio In person. Unnaturally detailed top end and the Critons walk all over their Studios when it comes to bass. Much simpler design and more natural and realistic sound. Also much better value when considering no sub needed. Nice to have choices though and GR Research obviously has great speakers. I’m just lucky that I’ve to hear many of the GRR’s and the CSS offerings as well. But I disagree with you
Are they going to be good in near field listening in a medium sized room ? Do they mind being close to Windows (1 Feet away) I am currently using ProAC Tablette Signature edition.
Dynamic realism is a real thing!! If it’s impactful and dynamic your a long way there! Horns and high efficiency designs do that well as so active designs , all things considered. Been curious how dynamically transparent these are on their own
These speakers wont work for me because I'm running a 2.3 watt tube amp from Decware. Is there a high efficiency speaker you recommend that won't break the bank?
If Elac spent $1100 on a speaker it would cost the consumer about $5000. So even though these may seem expensive its actually a great deal if you want this level of speaker.
I think you’ve sold me. I’ve been going back and forth on the kits for a few months now. I may just pull the trigger. Plus I think CSS is like an hour from me so it’s kind of supporting a local business.
I want to do the same but I just don't like their center channel design. I live I think 15-30 minutes from them so I might see if they do in person demos or if they'd be willing to make something custom or work with me to design something they can sell where it has a 3 way W(t/m)W designed center channel.
Dear Randy, I am appreciated by your very open, honest review but I, personally, was looking for the exact comparison between a decent speaker from a well known manufacturer vs these. You don't want to do that as there are not the same things but just image that you labour is free (weekends, some hours in the evenings and enjoying the build) .. and you can handle an average finishing on these. Considering that these are not "cheap" kits by any means and costs a lot to shipping abroad (ie 200 usd for Netherlands). You will end up a considerable invoice. You can get a pair of decent (not entry for sure) speakers from very well known manufacturers (like MA, Focal, B&W .. etc.. ) with that amount.. What do you think about this... would you mind to compare these (just kit costs and average veneering material if you wish) with similarly priced factory speakers?
Hey, Aydin. Thanks for the question and it’s a good one. If you would consider your labor as “free” I think these would best factory speakers in the same price range. With that said the B/W and Focal and all of the other factory speakers are going to have a “signature” sound. The problem is figuring out which sound is your preference. The Critons are very well balanced and don’t have any stand out characteristics beyond their very powerful bass. You’re in a tough situation where you can’t really return these if you don’t like them. Sourcing enclosure materials in the Netherlands maybe a option to cut down on costs. Kerry at CSS is very nice and I would imagine be open to corresponding with you.
@@cheapaudioman Thanks Randy, this is a very good answer and you touched very important detail regarding the sound signature. I am not fan of my own speakers (MA RX6) and just compared Dynadio Evoke 30s with B&W 704s and Dynadio won (for me) in every dimension... so the sound signature is very important and key as you said.. As these are "balanced" ones, I had an impression that they are safe bets. I will get in touch with Kerry and see If they have a kind a reference carpenter around :) Thank you
@@anthonyzimmer80 in term of sound signature comparisons, I think ours are closer to Dynaudio than B&W or Focal. We have several customers who have traded in their Dynaudios after getting our kits though.
guys, these need to be compared to the buchart s400 right away, can a $1k kit compare to one of the most reviewed and admired $1.8K speakers?????? i need to know now!
Just pulled the trigger on the 1TD-X kit. Standard cross-over. I decided the upgraded tweeter was probably worth the extra couple hundred, but the $400 cross-over upgrade was not. Hopefully I don't regret skipping the upgraded cross-over. Now to decide if I veneer or spray auto paint. Never done either before. Upgrading from the ELAC Debut B6 (which have served me very well).
I felt the same way. Got the better tweeter but could not justify the upgraded cross over. I did buy better caps from the tweeter from parts express, I thought that minimal expense might be a good value.
Randy - it’s so hard to pit the Critons (especially the X version) against the XLS Encore because they are at very different price points which makes it not a fair fight. I would LOVE to hear a review of a comparison of the XLS-Encore upgraded kit (w/o tube connectors) vs the base Criton 1TD. That’s essentially the exact same price. I know the Critons will still have more bass but it would be curious to see how two equally priced kits compare!
can't help. own the encores in the tower version with up graded xo and the criton 1td-x with up graded resistors from pars express. i have some opinions on my encore build page, will soon have my css criton build page up. there more comparisons with unfi ub52.
I can chime in, i have the xls encores with maxxed upgrades, and they are incredible, id recommend them over alot of big brands and their one of the best ive heard period. I also own ls50 meta (which i love and will probably stay forever), and have had older ls50, revel performas, and the xls is the real deal and possible endgame bookshelf, i have not heard the criton though so cant say.
@@JukeboxAlley jealous. i have the encore and critons, love to own the metas. only short term, i know my tastes and they would not be for me long term.
@@briansimmons5363 Dont be so sure, u may find them to be just righr, ls50 meta is an amazing little speaker, and inside the cabinets their a fine build quality also, drivers are top notch, mine are the titanium and red and their not leaving anytime soon (but i am known to trade around alot), probably not those or the encores though.
@@JukeboxAlley i'll let you in on a little something. i like alternative rock, classic rock, milder metal and can at times listen at loud levels bands like tool, red hot chili peppers, rap, metalica, seether, manson, steely dan, marley, ibiza chil, weezer, incubus, pusifer, galatic, southern rock. Now perhaps you can see why the metas may not be right for me. need guts, need bass, need dynamics. but no klipsh ha, ha. reasons above is why moving on from encore to critons, they just got that punch, bass, dynamics and can play loud and deep. they fill my soul
Randy, how long would you estimate it would take to build these for a guy with average home-handyman skills who has never built a speaker before? Can you give an estimate for the following scenarios: A) bare cabinets and having an auto body shop do the finish, (in high gloss black); B) doing a basic painted finish at home; or C) doing a veneer finish like you did. Thanks!
I think it took me 5 days to put mine together.. but my general process is more or less day 1 glue, 2 sanding, 3 primer, 4 paint, 5 polyurethane, and day 6 screwing it all together. I put the crossovers together waiting for coats of paint to dry. I go at it pretty hard thought. Typically I would say 1-2 weeks if you don't doddle too much.
Greatly enjoyed this, Randy. As I live in the UK, it's rather difficult to get hold of kits from CSS or GRR, and in any case it would be more expensive thanks to import duties and VAT. I guess that if I wanted to go down this route, I'd have to find a British kit maker, but those don't seem as well represented on TH-cam, so it'd be more a case of flying blind. Seeing as you occasionally assess equipment at $1000+, I'd love to hear what you'd have to say about Quad S2 speakers (currently $1200). They're the equivalent of $809 (£599) at current exchange rates in the UK. IMHO, they're MUCH better sounding than Q acoustics entry-level speakers (I have the 3020i's, which I use on my AV system). Tharbamar in his recent long-term review rated them above many ready-made speakers up to $2-3000. He mentions how good they are in the bass region (down to 48 Hz according to the manual, but personally I think they go lower), and have bass texture and tonality that varies according to the instruments involved. He also praises the true ribbon tweeter, which, like me, he finds sweet and not at all edgy, and to be well-integrated with the woofer. For me, they're the best speakers I've ever owned and I'd love to hear how you'd assess them in comparison to the kit speakers you've assembled and tried. You often play things for a laugh, but IMHO you're very intelligent and possess obvious integrity. I recently subscribed and since then have listened to every episode as soon as it comes out. This one was prior to my subscription, hence why I am late to the party. Cheers! 🙂
So I just finished a build on the 1TDX with upgraded crossovers and birch plywood flatpacks. First the good. Holy crap these sound good! Just nuts about reproducing soundstage and bass! I haven't bought stands yet and I have them sitting on top of a pair of Mirage 490is towers and it's not even fair how much better the CSS sound. Adjusting for inflation the 1TDX kit costs about $350 more than I spent on those Mirages in 1996. It's silly how far apart they are. Makes me wonder what kind of guts are inside of the 490is as the cabinets are excellent. The not-so-good is the plywood cabinet kit. I've seen several videos of reviewers assembling the 1TDX MDF flatpacks they go together better than the plywood. The dado for the cross bracing wasn't big enough and a fair amount of sanding and shaping was needed to get them together. They also don't take stains well even using a conditioner and gel stain. Next time I would go with MDF and learn how to do veneering or take them to a body shop to get painted. But if you can afford the kit this is a no-brainer. I've heard $3K monitors that didn't sound this good!
Agree. The Birch plywood did not stain well and they left "football" patches for knots on visible panels. They should have been used for the back and bottoms, not side, top, or front baffle. They do sound great...
@@Old_Sailor85 Oh that's a big no-no re the 'footballs'. Fine if you're going to veneers or paint. But they should let you spec whether you need stain grade or paint/veneer grade. They'll be an up charge for stain grade, but worth it if you are. And Stain grade should be on all panels, not just some.
Hopefully you contacted them about the ill fitting parts. Would be a help to them to know and could save fellow DIY'ers trouble. 👍 Something might have got bumped out of spec on a machine, or the new guy goofed up and QC failed to catch it. Stuff happens and stinks when you get the one that sneaked through. If I may ask, how was the tear-out on the cuts, on the plywood? This makes me hesitant when buying a pre cut kit like this. And also why I'd consider getting the no panels kit. But it would also be a matter of the cost of there panels vs me buying sheets of clear, stain grade Baltic Birch ply. Regarding the staining issues. Did you give the panels a good sanding yourself? You never know when Frank in packaging had greasy fish and chips for lunch and was short on napkins. LOL! ( We had an order of parts come from China and I schit you not, the parts were wrapped in greasy news paper that smelled like deep fried fish and there were bits of fish batter in amongst the box. BARF! )
@@wingnutbert9685 I didn't contact them because it was only the rabbets for the cross brace. Everything else was spot on. As for the plywood, I sanded everything first and then put a conditioner on before adding stain. In the end it's just not wood worth staining and sooner or later I'll probably sand it again and veneer it. MDF is just a better value when looking at having to veneer it anyway. Plus if you wanted to do piano gloss you'd have to coat the outside of the plywood with so much filler it would be nuts. If I was cutting cabinets myself I might go with the plywood as I have way more experience cutting that over MDF. I found little or no tear outs and the density was just fine. My son is interested in making a pair so I'm thinking I'll buy that kit that's around $300 with the MDF and try veneering that before messing with my 1TDX boxes.
@@tmdillon1969 Yep, wood is a crap shoot sometimes. I've had mostly good luck with BB ply so far....knock on wood! :D MDF for sure if doing anything other than stain. Great for machining. Though cut edges need treatment if painting. Glad tear-out wasn't an issue. Pretty much firewood if staining with tear-out present. What was the thickness of the BB ply that came with the kit? I've got some left over 3/4"(18mm) BB ply and can get 1" thick as well. Not sure if it would make a perceptible difference to my non-audiophile ears or not. I did a transparent red and blue paint on MDF pieces once for a client. Cut edges weren't great, but had an interesting look in the field. Especially with a clear gloss over top. It was a Stained Glass spray paint IIRC. I am thinking a faux finish on BB ply boxes would be a fun challenge. Do a faux painted fiddle back/flame grain with brushes. Then a burst finish, like on guitars, but with green to blue or yellow to green to blue air brush job.
Holy crap man. Those are some expensive DIY’s. $779/pair with no cabinets. The tweeters and drivers look like Dayton Audio’s or lower end Vifa/Peerless. With the cabinet flat pack and upgraded XO (Superior vs Dayton Audio), that’s $1,269. Having built many speakers and knowing drivers… the tweeters definitely don’t like $160/pair. Aside from price, I’m glad the DIY audio community is alive and well.
@@waldisarch3962 I just checked the data sheets on both woofers, and they're basically identical, so it looks like you're spot on. The Wavecor costs $152 on Parts Express right now and the CSS version is $155 on their website. Do you know what tweeter they use?
Man those CSS drivers are money! I guess maybe I’m wrong about the kit being overpriced. I’m not familiar with CSS and they don’t seem to appear on many reviews.
I've always wanted to build a speaker but it's the finishing/veneer part that discouraged me. I'm just no good at that kind of stuff. Can't wrap a Christmas or birthday present to save my life.
Go find a competent woodworker in your area. There are plenty of hobbyists who would be capable of doing this. If you live in Brisbane, get in touch, I could do this for you.
I keep watching this review. I wonder about these quality components and how people buy speakers by name and not the guts of the speaker. As we learn about these comparisons between “true guts” in build and brand name, I wonder about the components used in other more popular speakers. Your review of this speaker is just flat out accurate. I am on the fence with the Tekton Lore reference. What might your thoughts be.
Question: all things being equal, how would a set of these sound compared to a pair of Klipsch RP-280F speakers? I’m looking for a set of speakers that will blow me away when I listen to rock/metal and although the Klipsch sound good, they down blow me away. I’m running a Yamaha RX-V385 AV receiver. Would I be better off investing in a better receiver or speakers? I just found this channel yesterday and I am obsessed!
Adding comment in hopes of giving yours a bump to get his thoughts. The "how do they sound for rock/metal" is always my question and is often left out of 99% of reviews. (Granted that there's more to that question then just the speakers)
Chicken Falcon Hawk is my go to company for all my Radioactive needs. Buddy when will you do a review on the Hivi (Swan) 3.1's? I'm waiting for your review so I can buy the kit and build my own.
Hey Randy, are CSS and GRR the only DIY kits worth building? Are any Parts Express kits worthwhile? Not sure I need such superior quality. My system wouldn't do them justice anyway. Thanks!
You could still compare it to similarly priced finished speakers considering the costs you mentioned. Can you please compare it to SVS Ultra bookshelves for example?
Hi Randy. New to your site. I am considering the CSS Criton 1TDX speaker kit for my rear speakers in my home theater system. I have built the XLS-Encores for my surround speakers, X-voice center channel from grr. I have the Spatial Audio Sapphire M-3's from Clayton Shaw for l/r front, SVS Pro 2000 sub set at 30hrz. These speakers all blend together beautifully for Hi Res music and movies. Do you think the CSS Criton 1TDX speakers will fit in for the rear speakers? Love you video on these, tedjen
how do you think the css criton 2td-x would compare to the klh model 5. I'm trying to decide for my cottage. have done diy lots in the past with great results but wondering if one is better than the other
What do you think about getting them in the TMM floorstanding model? I'm about to buy a pair and any thoughts would help. I can veneer these easily and have clamps and router and all I need to build them.
![[TH] 2024 PMSL SEA W1D5 | Fall | เก็บแต้มของจริง คือวันนี้](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EciIAlCXg5k/mqdefault.jpg)
I bought a tin of Chicken Falcon Hawks Plutonium 24,000 years ago. When I opened it yesterday it was half empty😮
Are you still alive today?
@@carlsitler9071 My face looks like Iggy Pop’s scrotum, but I'm mostly still alive.
@@billywindsock9597 Thank goodness (and I'm not going to ask how you know what that looks like).
I half to get some....
You shouldn't have waited so long to open it 😉
Easily the most comprehensive and natural review I’ve heard. I good reviewer must be perceived to be honest. At truly great reviewer is considered honest. That’s the impression I got from your break down.
Your review is fair and articulate in all of your evaluations. It was fluid and very easy to both listen to and understand. You kept me into the review.
Wow. Thanks! Very kind of you to say
CSS now sells completed 1TD and 1TDX for $1749 and $1999, respectively. Add $350 for the enhanced crossover. Are they worth it? I'd say so. I bought a pair of Dynaudio Evoke 20s on an open box for $1600. These are $2200 speakers. I like the Critons, the 1TD version with upgraded crossover, better than the Evokes. I'm in the process of upgrading to the X version now. I have a 15 x17 room and have to have the speakers close to the wall, Foam plugs in the ports help with bass issues. I sit low compared to the speakers so I tried them upside down. Again the bass bloom was helped. Love these speakers. You don't have to go crazy, just start out with the base models and you will have a fine speaker. Sand them, seal them and spray paint semi gloss or matte black, if you don't want deal with veneer. A friend built a kit speaker and had a local auto body shop prime and paint his speakers for a couple hundred dollars.
I had a auto vinyl shop cover my GRR Mini's and it worked out great for $100.
@@jefftrout7697 Not sure what color...but 12 coats of clear a must...I want these to be dripping. Curious about the high gloss vinyl wraps though.
Were you able to see different finishes in wraps?
@@lexicon612 Mine are white with a clear wrap over the white. I think they turned out great.
@@jefftrout7697 Sounds beautiful...will be looking into wrapping it for sure TY.
What is your amplifier?
I built the 1TD-X a month ago, standard crossover but switched out the sand cast resistors with Mills. OMG these are amazing. The bass has a bit less texture and tone VS the Encores which I also own. Treble is better on these. I'll have more to say when I post my build. I also own the new Unifi 52 so I'll be comparing these as well.
Try the nor carbon film resistor more relax sounding less noise and quicker
I built the upgraded XLS-Encores. I also have the Elac UB52s (not the new reference). While the Elacs sound great, the Encores sound to me superior in almost every way. In my room they even throw a wider soundstage. Much more detailed, airy. While my wife prefers the encores for the looks, even she (rolling her eyes) hears the distinctions. I can understand Randy’s need to get high quality kits far away... they’ve relegated my Elacs to my office/computer setup.
@@chrisjordan6498 My wife gives me the eye roll too on this topic! 😂
I'm glad to hear about your experience with the encores. If I ever managed to save enough funds to purchase a pair of the GR Research speakers, especially the X-statics, I would in a heart beat!
Wait the 1TD-X comes with sand cast resistors?????? For that $$? Danny Ritchie must be cringing. C’mon Criton. For a very minimal cost upgrade they should make Mills standard
@@mhester99 it does come with them . Cost me over $50 to change them out to mills. Worth it, probally not but other than it stops me from years of wondering... audiophile paranoia runs deep ya know
I see what you're saying, if you can eliminate the distribution channels and easily convert any of your free time into money, or your time is limited. But for me without a side gig, my non-work time costs me nothing. The fact that I'm having fun building the speaker is like saving more money (as opposed to paying to be entertained for that period of time). Also, I cannot buy most speakers without the distribution channels. As I only have a limited budget + free time to end up with a speaker, it comes down the the maximum speaker I can get for that (and where my free time is worthless when buying a pre-made speaker). I can definitely compare a kit to a pre-made speaker dollar for dollar or bang-for-buck. If 1TD-X sonically compares to a much more expensive pre-made speaker which is outside my budget, I can really only buy the kit (which I will likely do!) or settle for a not nearly as well performing speaker. For others, their time is very limited and have access to a larger budget, this comparison may not work.
I just completed the CSS Torri a couple weeks ago. They are spooky good. I’ve never heard anything like them and they are a $275 kit! I now have to know what the Criton 1TDX sounds like. I just hope my 60 watt Emotiva integrated is up to the task.
Your amp will be just fine!! These speakers are the real deal!!
I bow down to my 2TDXs often.. or more sit up at ear level. Fantastic speaker. I often stay up too late because I can't pull away from listening to them.
dude, blessed. wish i could have gotten them vs 1tdx.
Me wants ITDX! Great review Randy. It’s always nice to see you glow with these types of reviews.
my dad worked in the nuclear control room on the U.S.S Enterprise. he said they used to take bong hits, blow them into trash bags and then throw them overboard. those crossovers are behemoths. i think i need these loudspeakers in my life.
I am going to start a savings account until I can afford to build these.
Yep, it's what most of us have to do to buy any of the nicer audio equipment we want. I always put a little bit away from my overtime.
"cheap" audio
Impressions after 1 month
I bought them with the upgraded cross over. I also added layer of industrial tile to the inside. Very heavy speaker. At first I was not very impressed. Sound was not bad but seemed 2 dimesional. Bass was just Ok. My previous kit Swans 3.1 was more engaging, deeper base and more open sound. One month later everything changed. Now that they have broken in, the base is much better and the sound stage and higher frequencies are now much cleaner and 3 dimesional. The swans are tilted forward in the higher frequencies and do amazing job with acustic gutiars but can become too much of a good thing with the wrong music. The CSS Criton's are over all a better speaker. If you get them just be patient and give sometime before you judge them.
Heavy drivers need break in. Its controversial but I believe some speakers need break in.
@@joshuasterling2144 i have measured before and after and it deff matters sometimes more than others.
@@joshuasterling2144 I find it funny that it would be controversial. Any physical material that is going to be actuated mechanically is going to change how it acts from being virgin/unused to having been actuated. Degree of actuation and duration are going to have effects on the material's performance and ultimate failure point. Wiggling a pop can tab back and forth until it breaks off is this, in a short duration form, in a nutshell, IMO. 👍🙂
I agree on the sweat equity on kit speakers. However, you can't beat the pride in workmanship when you get it done. My last kit has mahogany veneer with tung oil stain finish. It took a while to finish but it looks like a million bucks :).
Can you link your vaneer? I want to buid my own with a really beautiful veneer
The veneer you put on these looks better than most speakers and sounds like they are worth every penny. Effortless sound stage with detail is an end game speaker. Can't wait for these to show up on my door step 😉😉
Lucky! Enjoy.
@@Feliciano12v I wish it was me. I was just throwing out a hint of who Randy could send them to, lol
@@JohnScheppler 🤣 Me me me✋
i think you will be happy. imaging, sound stage left right top bottom, check. detail yes but not focal sort of detail which is not for me fyi. bass is simply glorious, different than the encores for sure but ok by me. got my 1tdx in use a month ago. i consider my end game speaker. infinity kappa 9, unifi 5, overnight sensations, hsu hb1-mkii, gr research encore sxls, unifi ub52.
@@briansimmons5363 I currently have the UB52’s, so whatever I get in the future has to be a definite upgrade. Thanks for your thoughts, I see you have experience with various speakers.
I finally bought this kit with the good crossover! I’m in the building phase right now. Got the enclosures and crossovers done. Now time for rosewood veneer! Can’t wait to hear these things.
Randy, I just found your channel and have been binging for a week. I love your style and your no-nonsense reviews.
I’ll keep searching, but I’d like to see reviews of subwoofers you continually refer to, and reviews of Tekton and Zu speakers. I think their reputed value would fit your theme.
PART ONE AND PART TWO.
A few people have presented what they think is a valid and clever counterpoint to what I previously said. The whole point I was making is that if someone can't identify or even know some great recordings, how can we trust them on evaluating audio equipment? It's the same exact thing, if you think about it. As far as the expression "trained ears" goes, it's not like book learning or school learning. Audiophiles like myself who have the means to significantly upgrade often and upgrade to worthwhile equipment, our ears become trained by the improvements our upgrades make. Any instrument, a flute a saxophone, a piano; if you thought they sounded clean before your upgrade, you can really hear what clean & pristine sounds like now, if your upgrade is a good one. Generally as your sound gets cleaner, instruments sound less weird and more genuine. You can hear the electronic signature from the electronics much less and if you get to the point where some of us get to, the only sounds coming out of your stereo are the sounds that acoustical instruments really make in real life; Nothing More! Like you were listening to a bunch of dudes playing guitar on their lawn without amplification. Of course electric instruments like electric guitar are supposed to sound electric and they do, but with a purity of tone that really draws the ear and keeps it drawn. Of course if you play musical instruments like I do, you know exactly how instruments should sound beforehand. It's "perceptual" learning, and yes, we can easily tell and hear big differences where the untrained can't.
Someone else proposed that if it isn't heavy metal or whatever you would call Alice In Chains or Marilyn M, that it doesn't do them any good if they use other music to evaluate. That may be so, but I bet some people on here would like to know how a speaker sounds on brass or strings or piano. How can you can tell someone how well equipment conveys tonal colors, when you are only using grunge guitar records? Both type of listeners could easily be accommodated. Also I am not sure the term transient response is ever mentioned. An important performance category as SAE pointed out back in the 1970's as music is mostly "percussive". Even an electric guitar playing at breakneck speed is playing in a percussive way, even if its not considered a percussion instrument. Try to audition for yourself what you are thinking of buying is the "smart thing" always. You may be living with your purchase for many years, and nowadays audio things are not as easy to sell as they once were.
PART 2. HOW RISKY: BUYING USED?
In nearly 10 years I have bought at least a hundred pieces of audio gear (mostly on ebay). All but two things were as described. I do read a sellers feedback even if they have 100% positive. They could have neutral marks even if no negatives. Also they often have comments where the buyer was nice not to leave them a negative. I would say that's a pretty good percentage; only 2 bad out of a hundred plus. I do only deal with sellers where I don't smell anything bad. In addition to components and speakers, I buy a lot of speaker drivers for DIY and experimentation. Don't let the few percent who have been displeased deter you. The vast majority who are satisfied do not write in and write all about it.
Randy listened to KInd of Blue, Miles Davis.
Good and intelligent review. You know what you are hearing, and why it sounds like that. ...Nice job, I'll consider building a pair!
Great review, really thorough and objective with just enough subjectivity to be fun.
These are locked in as my next speakers. The benefits of building something (very good by all accounts) yourself and the sense of pride and ownership experience that creates, far out ways the risks of not being able to audition. Also, it becomes a project, and turns an ultimately passive hobby into a slightly more active one.
Thanks randy
great and good luck. got mine into service a month ago, no turning back, or forward, end game achieved.
more like subjective, many of his videos patronize two brands
Sounds like these speakers could Be the ones! Great Review👍👍👍
Gino, I found your missing 🐝.
@@davidsmithson9236 🤣🤣🤣 Thank You!
Price comparison might not seem “fair”, but it would be helpful to compare the sound to something available commercially so we could attempt to hear why one would pay so much or invest so much time. I would be happy to perform the electrical if a good woodworker could finish the cabinet.
I love that your reviews use regular people music and not 'weird audiophile music':
You= Metallica
Others= This recording is the lead symbolist from the Washington Philharmonic playing a 1960 Camaro hubcap with a stick he found hiking in the grand Tetons recorded on an 1894 Altec microphone from 11.3 feet away...
I'd love for you to review some wilson tune tots and compare them to 'cheapaudioman' speakers.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 Others= *spoken in your best public radio voice* ( with the occasional tinkle of ice cubes in a glass of Scotch, in the background....)
Glad to have found this guy as well for that reason. I listen to just about everything, but mostly hard rock and metal. And I'm not an audiophile. Just a dude with a wood shop, a welding shop, decent skills and low budget and looking for answers. :)
I love coming home after a hard day of work and binge watching Randy.... Just the best!
Another good bass song for consideration. Alison Krauss and Union Station Live: Forget about it starting at 1:11. It is an electric upright bass.
A lot of newer bluegrass tend to be bass heavy when mixed into the tracks. Chris Stapleton and The SteelDrivers are the same way in some of their songs. It's usually the only time my Fluance SX6's produce good bass without the help of a sub.
There's actually 12 options, theres the 1td(x), But theres alsp the 2td(x) MTM which is sold as either pair or as a single unit (intended for use as a centre channel) and there's also tower/floor standing speakers criton 2td(x) tower. All 3 variants are available as td and td-x as well as the upgraded crossover
You need a sweep audio generator to make sure the bass frequency is as you state. really good speakers hit a measurable useable low frequency bottom of 20 hz. without a separate sub woofer. And yes , they do exist .
Alanis was my first concert ever. Crash Test Dummies opened and sang Hit Me Baby One More Time. Good first show.
I have crash test dummies " give yourself a hand" cd.
It was a sales flop but the recording is amazing.
I have a pair of the CSS Criton 2TDX tower speaker components with superior crossovers on the way (just shipped). I didn't order the flat pack. I am building the cabinets from 3/4" Red Oak instead. I am currently building the Elekit TU-8600S 300B tube amplifier with Lundahl output transformers I recently bought to pair with the speakers. I am waiting for the upgraded resisters and coupling capacitors I ordered to finish it. I ordered a iFi Zen One Signature DAC based on your review of it. I hope you didn't lead me astray! Now all I need is a pre-amp...Thanks for the video! : )
Read that last part as prenup. Lol
They look a lot like a pair of Boston Acoustics A-60’s I had back in the early 80’s. They too were an awesome listen.
I'd like to hear a direct comparison with the Elac UBR62's. I think that is reasonable to ask. Apples to apples.
I had the Atomic Energy Kit as a kid. Brought back flash back, of my cousin Kevin and I playing mad scientists trying to make mutant gerbils.
I "liked" your video as soon as you finished your add! Probably my favorite part of your channel
Very interesting company..Love your reviews! Thank you for your service as well.
Hey Cheapaudioman,
Criton 1TDX or 2TDX?
What might be the reasons for going with one or the other?
Is the 2TDX going to give a better sound? Or is it just more volume?
Thanks
Just finished building one. Have to say I am mighty impressed
For general info, CSS speaker with all upgrades is $1300, GR Encore with all upgrades and flatpack is $850.
Thanks for the analysis of these speakers. I built a DIY set of similar sized speakers a long time ago and I'm still listening to them as my main speakers in my home theater. Definitely tempted to tackle another DIY speaker project.
Also, nice shirt man!
Yeah.....second that on the shirt!
Love all your vids my man. Keep up the good work
That ad was hilarious. Keep em coming. The 1TD-X looks like a nice kit. Although I'd pass on the $350 crossover upgrade.
I built a pair of CSS speakers about 15 years ago. Can’t remember the model/name of the kit. They are the best speakers I have ever listened to. 4.5” woofers have unbelievable detail and bass. Soundstage is incredible. Anytime I have someone listen to them they ask to hear them with the sub turned off. I have no subwoofer in the room! Always the same response, people can’t believe how good a little diy speaker sounds. We’ll worth building your own
Yes. Do have the one with the ribbon tweeters ? I have a few older designs as well. The original was amazing designed crossover and the ribbon tweeters gave it so much more airy sound . I also have the floor standing,and MTM bookshelves with ribbon.
Also a fully custom designed floor standing MLTL. time aligned designed by original designer. Amazing detail and bass output.best speaker I have.
@@davekallerae5672 Not the ribbon tweeter. It has a soft dome HiVi tweeter, can't recall the model. I had wanted to get the ribbon tweeter version but never did. Kicking myself now. The version I have just has a high pass filter on the tweeter and the CSS WR125 runs full range without any electronics in the way. Incredible sound.
@@plaidfrog1 I have some new stuff I worked on with Al the designer of the CSS. We made some bookshelves designs and few floor standing. Love them. Where do u live ?
@@davekallerae5672 Are you guys in BC?
@@davekallerae5672 I know that MLTL design/kit and I totally regret not building it.
That is a tasty speaker right there! Thanks for the great review of an endgame speaker!
Thanks for the review. Got one after 2 years of contemplating, just waiting for it to cross the border. Now, decision on the amplifier to match is confusing for a normal humans like me.
Love the reviews and that Bill Murray style of dry humour, fantastic!
love the t-shirt, randy! great vid as always!
??? In addition to my reply to the comment from a year ago asking about hard rock/metal through these. 2 things:
-When you say "away from the wall" how far are you meaning? And is this distance the same if in a corner of the room?
-Also, small room? Is there a standard size range for a "small" ( also medium and large) room when talking in the audio realm? And if not, could you give an approx. sq. footage of what you are meaning?
Thanks very much! I'm enjoying your reviews. I haven't a big budget but I have a wood shop and am comfortable building cab's. The electronics are a bit much for my very dyslexic brain to muscle through, but if given the right visuals and instructions, the hand skills aren't an issue.
Best regards,
Bert
Great video, Randy! I want those ready-made for $900! They look fantastic, and I believe the fact that they sound the same. I'm not the handiest guy with wood, clamps, glue, etc........ Don't forget those Moukey 3-way passive speakers......................you have to hear them. BTW......if you want check bass, try Bachman Turner Overdrive's "Not Fragile"; the opening bass line is great.
There are those who don’t think parts quality matters. On the contrary, yes it matters. Iron core inductors and sandcast resisters are just garbage. The difference is staggering and there maybe those who disagree. It isn’t the end of the world to not agree in this hobby or profession based on your level of involvement. Musical tastes vary and others may not like what you have or what you listen to. It’s your gear and your ears that have to be happy. There’s great gear out there and at price points you can handle. There is gear that is stratospheric in cost, but that doesn’t mean better. Most of mine isn’t new nor was it new when I got it. To each their own. Find what you like and get that. You’ll be a happier person and being happy in what you listen to is what this is about. Stay safe my mates!😊👍🏻😁🛠
Thanks Randy for the great review. That speaker is gorgeous and I know it sounds even better. I am one of the unlucky ones without enough room to let the big dogs out.
They have a smaller version and I’m sure Kerry would help you with a crossover if you wanted to upgrade the tweeter
I know a lot of audiophiles scoff at EQ but below the room transition zone( in the 300-700hz range) EQ can be super helpful as the room dictates a lot of the response. Getting something like a miniDSP 2x4 HD or the upgraded model with Dirac Live would probably improve your sound considerably for the relatively small investment.
@@TylerStout Also I know in the 80's and 90's some record producers demanded the Bass be turned down so the songs could be played louder on the crappy boom boxes of the day. That why Sony and others added bass boist switches and stuff like that to their walkmans
@@TylerStout or schiit loki, cheap easy.
@@TylerStout
Parametric EQ is an absolute must in any system, period.
You're correct about only implementing EQ thru the transition and below, as that's the minimum phase region whereby change in level is essentially effective throughout the room.
Eq'ing above the transition is simply chasing your tail, as changes are only effective in the precise location of the mic.
The problem; adequately transparent EQ gear/approach.
Thanks
The irony is the manufacturers can crank out beautiful boxes for cheap, the hardest part for diy. The catch is they refuse to give you quality for the dollar, and basically manipulate the illusion of quality.
Interesting. Can you elaborate further? I'm not sure what you mean
@@fabianchavez8219 Brand speakers sell you 500$ Speakers for 2000$ , Homemade you get 2000$ speakers for 500$.
@Fabian Chavez beautiful boxes can be made more efficiently if you invest in tooling for making 1000s of the same box, they then rely on the exterior appearance to get higher prices.
While I agree the big guys can pump out components en mass and cheaply, from a basic viewpoint. The only reason the hardest part for DIY'ers is the cabinet building is because someone else has done the research and R&D to provide the specs for the DIY boxes. Otherwise DIY'ers would be in a real rabbit hole if they had to start at the actual ground zero of speaker design. Plus DIY'ers are having to account for a myriad of expenses and responsibilities that a big or small company has to. 🙂👍
If you spend $1000 on those they are probably the equivalent of a $3500 retail speaker since everyone from the manufacture will have to make a profit a speaker will sell for an estimated 3-5 times its production cost.
Just joined and love when you mentioned Nina Simone - Sinnerman - the treble is indeed difficult to handle .. thank you and greeting from Indonesia
I’m actually saving for these because of your reviews.
For a second I thought you were talking about a CIS "Criton"...some obscure decommissioned boat's remnant found by some unsuspecting audiophile while roaming along the shores of the Kara Sea.
While I greatly appreciate this review, I'm gonna need you to reach out to CSS Audio for another kit my friend. lol They just listed the Criton 2TD Tower and the specs are 30hz anechoic and 20hz in room! It has a nice compact footprint at 8.5"W x 10.5"D x 44"H and is rated at 6ohm and 90db! The only thing that concerns me is the lack of outriggers to keep that thing stable.
The GR Research NX Studio kit is going to be a step up from these in every way but the bass extension (design choices) IMO. The open baffle upper frequencies will give you more depth to the image and the voices will sort of come alive… highly recommended, but you will need subs.
This is an interesting kit, though. It bothers me that production companies can’t build similar quality speakers under $2,000 regularly. There are some, but this is a $750 kit. Mass produce this and build it out… there has to be a way to sell it at a price that gets attention. Bookshelf cabinets aren’t that expensive to have built in China.
To each his own. I’ve heard the NX Studio
In person. Unnaturally detailed top end and the Critons walk all over their Studios when it comes to bass. Much simpler design and more natural and realistic sound. Also much better value when considering no sub needed. Nice to have choices though and GR Research obviously has great speakers. I’m just lucky that I’ve to hear many of the GRR’s and the CSS offerings as well. But I disagree with you
I'd be interested in your opinion on the Wharfedale Denton 85 compared to the Elac's.
I always use Tin Hifi cases for my radioisotopes. Only the lead-lined Pro version, though.
Perfect for getting through Customs.
Are they going to be good in near field listening in a medium sized room ? Do they mind being close to Windows (1 Feet away) I am currently using ProAC Tablette Signature edition.
Tablettes are jaw dropping performers.
cool - though that is not ebony, I think it is zebrano (or zebrawood). jantzen caps (not jensen, a different brand) - serious stuff.
So... When will you be building the big brother 2TDX? Come on you know you wanna! Do it... Do it
Thank you for Serving Shipmate! Semper Fi and Can Do OORAH
Dynamic realism is a real thing!! If it’s impactful and dynamic your a long way there! Horns and high efficiency designs do that well as so active designs , all things considered. Been curious how dynamically transparent these are on their own
These speakers wont work for me because I'm running a 2.3 watt tube amp from Decware. Is there a high efficiency speaker you recommend that won't break the bank?
Has anyone here upgraded the crossover with higher end caps than the Jantzen ones they are offering?
Ill give you a secret!! The Mandolins made with SB Acoustics speakers are almost as good and go just as low ! You will be amazed!
If Elac spent $1100 on a speaker it would cost the consumer about $5000. So even though these may seem expensive its actually a great deal if you want this level of speaker.
What veneer is that?
CSS has the 2TD-X MTM with free flat pack cabinet right now. Sale ends today June 30, 2024. I am torn between them.
I think you’ve sold me. I’ve been going back and forth on the kits for a few months now. I may just pull the trigger. Plus I think CSS is like an hour from me so it’s kind of supporting a local business.
You in Michigan?
@@cheapaudioman Toledo, well outside. So south southeast Michigan, little Michigan, Michigan lite?
I want to do the same but I just don't like their center channel design. I live I think 15-30 minutes from them so I might see if they do in person demos or if they'd be willing to make something custom or work with me to design something they can sell where it has a 3 way W(t/m)W designed center channel.
What did you go and do that for?! I want these now! Great video buddy. Best wishes from across the pond
Dear Randy,
I am appreciated by your very open, honest review but I, personally, was looking for the exact comparison between a decent speaker from a well known manufacturer vs these. You don't want to do that as there are not the same things but just image that you labour is free (weekends, some hours in the evenings and enjoying the build) .. and you can handle an average finishing on these.
Considering that these are not "cheap" kits by any means and costs a lot to shipping abroad (ie 200 usd for Netherlands). You will end up a considerable invoice. You can get a pair of decent (not entry for sure) speakers from very well known manufacturers (like MA, Focal, B&W .. etc.. ) with that amount..
What do you think about this... would you mind to compare these (just kit costs and average veneering material if you wish) with similarly priced factory speakers?
Hey, Aydin. Thanks for the question and it’s a good one. If you would consider your labor as “free” I think these would best factory speakers in the same price range. With that said the B/W and Focal and all of the other factory speakers are going to have a “signature” sound. The problem is figuring out which sound is your preference. The Critons are very well balanced and don’t have any stand out characteristics beyond their very powerful bass. You’re in a tough situation where you can’t really return these if you don’t like them. Sourcing enclosure materials in the Netherlands maybe a option to cut down on costs. Kerry at CSS is very nice and I would imagine be open to corresponding with you.
@@cheapaudioman Thanks Randy, this is a very good answer and you touched very important detail regarding the sound signature.
I am not fan of my own speakers (MA RX6) and just compared Dynadio Evoke 30s with B&W 704s and Dynadio won (for me) in every dimension... so the sound signature is very important and key as you said.. As these are "balanced" ones, I had an impression that they are safe bets. I will get in touch with Kerry and see If they have a kind a reference carpenter around :)
Thank you
@@anthonyzimmer80 in term of sound signature comparisons, I think ours are closer to Dynaudio than B&W or Focal. We have several customers who have traded in their Dynaudios after getting our kits though.
guys, these need to be compared to the buchart s400 right away, can a $1k kit compare to one of the most reviewed and admired $1.8K speakers?????? i need to know now!
Thanks for the review, are you thinking of reviewing the CSS Criton 2TD-X Tower Kit
Just pulled the trigger on the 1TD-X kit. Standard cross-over. I decided the upgraded tweeter was probably worth the extra couple hundred, but the $400 cross-over upgrade was not. Hopefully I don't regret skipping the upgraded cross-over. Now to decide if I veneer or spray auto paint. Never done either before. Upgrading from the ELAC Debut B6 (which have served me very well).
Agree on the crossover. Unless someone can show some measurement differences I don't see the value.
What's the verdict Joel?
2 coils and 3 caps in high quality is for 100€ one. Thats realistic. 14awg and 600v is enough!!👍🇩🇪
I felt the same way. Got the better tweeter but could not justify the upgraded cross over. I did buy better caps from the tweeter from parts express, I thought that minimal expense might be a good value.
@@briansimmons5363 Which caps did you upgrade to?
Randy - it’s so hard to pit the Critons (especially the X version) against the XLS Encore because they are at very different price points which makes it not a fair fight. I would LOVE to hear a review of a comparison of the XLS-Encore upgraded kit (w/o tube connectors) vs the base Criton 1TD. That’s essentially the exact same price. I know the Critons will still have more bass but it would be curious to see how two equally priced kits compare!
can't help. own the encores in the tower version with up graded xo and the criton 1td-x with up graded resistors from pars express. i have some opinions on my encore build page, will soon have my css criton build page up. there more comparisons with unfi ub52.
I can chime in, i have the xls encores with maxxed upgrades, and they are incredible, id recommend them over alot of big brands and their one of the best ive heard period. I also own ls50 meta (which i love and will probably stay forever), and have had older ls50, revel performas, and the xls is the real deal and possible endgame bookshelf, i have not heard the criton though so cant say.
@@JukeboxAlley jealous. i have the encore and critons, love to own the metas. only short term, i know my tastes and they would not be for me long term.
@@briansimmons5363 Dont be so sure, u may find them to be just righr, ls50 meta is an amazing little speaker, and inside the cabinets their a fine build quality also, drivers are top notch, mine are the titanium and red and their not leaving anytime soon (but i am known to trade around alot), probably not those or the encores though.
@@JukeboxAlley i'll let you in on a little something. i like alternative rock, classic rock, milder metal and can at times listen at loud levels bands like tool, red hot chili peppers, rap, metalica, seether, manson, steely dan, marley, ibiza chil, weezer, incubus, pusifer, galatic, southern rock. Now perhaps you can see why the metas may not be right for me. need guts, need bass, need dynamics. but no klipsh ha, ha. reasons above is why moving on from encore to critons, they just got that punch, bass, dynamics and can play loud and deep. they fill my soul
Pretty sure this kit fully upgraded, still bows down to the Philharmonic BMR kit.
DIY speakers have pros and cons just like any other speaker
How about giving one of Dayton Audio speakers? The transmission line looks interesting and they are well below the average speakers cost.
yes please!
I have the Critons and the Parts Express TriTrix MTM Transmission Line Towers. I like the Tritrix towers more with my system in my room.
@@melschmidlap3173 Why is that, could you elaborate?
Randy, how long would you estimate it would take to build these for a guy with average home-handyman skills who has never built a speaker before? Can you give an estimate for the following scenarios:
A) bare cabinets and having an auto body shop do the finish, (in high gloss black);
B) doing a basic painted finish at home; or
C) doing a veneer finish like you did.
Thanks!
I think it took me 5 days to put mine together.. but my general process is more or less day 1 glue, 2 sanding, 3 primer, 4 paint, 5 polyurethane, and day 6 screwing it all together. I put the crossovers together waiting for coats of paint to dry. I go at it pretty hard thought. Typically I would say 1-2 weeks if you don't doddle too much.
Greatly enjoyed this, Randy. As I live in the UK, it's rather difficult to get hold of kits from CSS or GRR, and in any case it would be more expensive thanks to import duties and VAT. I guess that if I wanted to go down this route, I'd have to find a British kit maker, but those don't seem as well represented on TH-cam, so it'd be more a case of flying blind.
Seeing as you occasionally assess equipment at $1000+, I'd love to hear what you'd have to say about Quad S2 speakers (currently $1200). They're the equivalent of $809 (£599) at current exchange rates in the UK. IMHO, they're MUCH better sounding than Q acoustics entry-level speakers (I have the 3020i's, which I use on my AV system).
Tharbamar in his recent long-term review rated them above many ready-made speakers up to $2-3000. He mentions how good they are in the bass region (down to 48 Hz according to the manual, but personally I think they go lower), and have bass texture and tonality that varies according to the instruments involved. He also praises the true ribbon tweeter, which, like me, he finds sweet and not at all edgy, and to be well-integrated with the woofer. For me, they're the best speakers I've ever owned and I'd love to hear how you'd assess them in comparison to the kit speakers you've assembled and tried.
You often play things for a laugh, but IMHO you're very intelligent and possess obvious integrity. I recently subscribed and since then have listened to every episode as soon as it comes out. This one was prior to my subscription, hence why I am late to the party. Cheers! 🙂
Did you find a British kit maker? I'm looking for one to go for
@@richardkemp3421 Wilmslow audio (Google them). They have a demo room if you want to listen before you buy.
So I just finished a build on the 1TDX with upgraded crossovers and birch plywood flatpacks. First the good. Holy crap these sound good! Just nuts about reproducing soundstage and bass! I haven't bought stands yet and I have them sitting on top of a pair of Mirage 490is towers and it's not even fair how much better the CSS sound. Adjusting for inflation the 1TDX kit costs about $350 more than I spent on those Mirages in 1996. It's silly how far apart they are. Makes me wonder what kind of guts are inside of the 490is as the cabinets are excellent. The not-so-good is the plywood cabinet kit. I've seen several videos of reviewers assembling the 1TDX MDF flatpacks they go together better than the plywood. The dado for the cross bracing wasn't big enough and a fair amount of sanding and shaping was needed to get them together. They also don't take stains well even using a conditioner and gel stain. Next time I would go with MDF and learn how to do veneering or take them to a body shop to get painted. But if you can afford the kit this is a no-brainer. I've heard $3K monitors that didn't sound this good!
Agree. The Birch plywood did not stain well and they left "football" patches for knots on visible panels. They should have been used for the back and bottoms, not side, top, or front baffle.
They do sound great...
@@Old_Sailor85 Oh that's a big no-no re the 'footballs'. Fine if you're going to veneers or paint. But they should let you spec whether you need stain grade or paint/veneer grade. They'll be an up charge for stain grade, but worth it if you are. And Stain grade should be on all panels, not just some.
Hopefully you contacted them about the ill fitting parts. Would be a help to them to know and could save fellow DIY'ers trouble. 👍 Something might have got bumped out of spec on a machine, or the new guy goofed up and QC failed to catch it. Stuff happens and stinks when you get the one that sneaked through.
If I may ask, how was the tear-out on the cuts, on the plywood? This makes me hesitant when buying a pre cut kit like this. And also why I'd consider getting the no panels kit. But it would also be a matter of the cost of there panels vs me buying sheets of clear, stain grade Baltic Birch ply.
Regarding the staining issues. Did you give the panels a good sanding yourself? You never know when Frank in packaging had greasy fish and chips for lunch and was short on napkins. LOL!
( We had an order of parts come from China and I schit you not, the parts were wrapped in greasy news paper that smelled like deep fried fish and there were bits of fish batter in amongst the box. BARF! )
@@wingnutbert9685 I didn't contact them because it was only the rabbets for the cross brace. Everything else was spot on. As for the plywood, I sanded everything first and then put a conditioner on before adding stain. In the end it's just not wood worth staining and sooner or later I'll probably sand it again and veneer it. MDF is just a better value when looking at having to veneer it anyway. Plus if you wanted to do piano gloss you'd have to coat the outside of the plywood with so much filler it would be nuts. If I was cutting cabinets myself I might go with the plywood as I have way more experience cutting that over MDF. I found little or no tear outs and the density was just fine. My son is interested in making a pair so I'm thinking I'll buy that kit that's around $300 with the MDF and try veneering that before messing with my 1TDX boxes.
@@tmdillon1969 Yep, wood is a crap shoot sometimes. I've had mostly good luck with BB ply so far....knock on wood! :D MDF for sure if doing anything other than stain. Great for machining. Though cut edges need treatment if painting.
Glad tear-out wasn't an issue. Pretty much firewood if staining with tear-out present.
What was the thickness of the BB ply that came with the kit? I've got some left over 3/4"(18mm) BB ply and can get 1" thick as well. Not sure if it would make a perceptible difference to my non-audiophile ears or not.
I did a transparent red and blue paint on MDF pieces once for a client. Cut edges weren't great, but had an interesting look in the field. Especially with a clear gloss over top. It was a Stained Glass spray paint IIRC.
I am thinking a faux finish on BB ply boxes would be a fun challenge. Do a faux painted fiddle back/flame grain with brushes. Then a burst finish, like on guitars, but with green to blue or yellow to green to blue air brush job.
Holy crap man. Those are some expensive DIY’s. $779/pair with no cabinets. The tweeters and drivers look like Dayton Audio’s or lower end Vifa/Peerless. With the cabinet flat pack and upgraded XO (Superior vs Dayton Audio), that’s $1,269. Having built many speakers and knowing drivers… the tweeters definitely don’t like $160/pair. Aside from price, I’m glad the DIY audio community is alive and well.
The Midwoofer is an Wavecor WF182BD10
@@waldisarch3962 I just checked the data sheets on both woofers, and they're basically identical, so it looks like you're spot on. The Wavecor costs $152 on Parts Express right now and the CSS version is $155 on their website.
Do you know what tweeter they use?
@@tuuudes3449 Unfortunately not yet
Man those CSS drivers are money! I guess maybe I’m wrong about the kit being overpriced. I’m not familiar with CSS and they don’t seem to appear on many reviews.
I've always wanted to build a speaker but it's the finishing/veneer part that discouraged me. I'm just no good at that kind of stuff. Can't wrap a Christmas or birthday present to save my life.
Go find a competent woodworker in your area. There are plenty of hobbyists who would be capable of doing this. If you live in Brisbane, get in touch, I could do this for you.
Just ordered the upgraded kit hope they pair well with the Audiolab 6000a play.
I love the USSCS Nostromo t shirt!
You've sold these to me already. Too bad i don't have the free to spend cash yet..
Perfect for side of TV with a small 60watt NAD amp and can party great 😂😂
I made Paul Carmody's CARRERA. Price of the drivers is the same, but I finished my project for $1000 with expensive XO parts.
I keep watching this review. I wonder about these quality components and how people buy speakers by name and not the guts of the speaker. As we learn about these comparisons between “true guts” in build and brand name, I wonder about the components used in other more popular speakers. Your review of this speaker is just flat out accurate. I am on the fence with the Tekton Lore reference. What might your thoughts be.
I have bought dindinmodern speakers, affordable, and the bass is great. Limited budget can go to consider this speaker
We're you paid for this review ?
I think you said they were donated.
Thank you so very very much for your service to our country.
Question: all things being equal, how would a set of these sound compared to a pair of Klipsch RP-280F speakers? I’m looking for a set of speakers that will blow me away when I listen to rock/metal and although the Klipsch sound good, they down blow me away. I’m running a Yamaha RX-V385 AV receiver. Would I be better off investing in a better receiver or speakers?
I just found this channel yesterday and I am obsessed!
Adding comment in hopes of giving yours a bump to get his thoughts. The "how do they sound for rock/metal" is always my question and is often left out of 99% of reviews. (Granted that there's more to that question then just the speakers)
Chicken Falcon Hawk is my go to company for all my Radioactive needs. Buddy when will you do a review on the Hivi (Swan) 3.1's? I'm waiting for your review so I can buy the kit and build my own.
Hey Randy, are CSS and GRR the only DIY kits worth building? Are any Parts Express kits worthwhile? Not sure I need such superior quality. My system wouldn't do them justice anyway. Thanks!
How does the sound compare to Klipsch speakers? I really like the sound of Klipsch.
You could still compare it to similarly priced finished speakers considering the costs you mentioned. Can you please compare it to SVS Ultra bookshelves for example?
Hi, thx for sharing your thoughts on this speaker. What do you consider small vs large room? Mine is 13’x19’x8’
Thanks!
Hi Randy. New to your site. I am considering the CSS Criton 1TDX speaker kit for my rear speakers in my home theater system. I have built the XLS-Encores for my surround speakers, X-voice center channel from grr. I have the Spatial Audio Sapphire M-3's from Clayton Shaw for l/r front, SVS Pro 2000 sub set at 30hrz. These speakers all blend together beautifully for Hi Res music and movies. Do you think the CSS Criton 1TDX speakers will fit in for the rear speakers? Love you video on these, tedjen
@cheapaudioman How would these stand up to Yamaha HS8 monitors? I would love to see you do a review of the Yamaha's too :D
how do you think the css criton 2td-x would compare to the klh model 5. I'm trying to decide for my cottage. have done diy lots in the past with great results but wondering if one is better than the other
What do you think about getting them in the TMM floorstanding model? I'm about to buy a pair and any thoughts would help. I can veneer these easily and have clamps and router and all I need to build them.
So 2 years later…..how does this speaker hold up?