Other Products: Rockler bookshelf speaker kits

Do-it-yourselfers who want speakers that look as good as they sound can custom-build their own with Rockler Woodworking and Hardware's new DIY Bookshelf Speaker Kits.

The kits include all the audio and electrical components needed to wire a pair of speakers, allowing users to create speaker boxes from materials that complement their décor or express their style – rather than having to settle for the standard matte black finish.

Options range from solid wood to manufactured material like MDF that is painted or faced with a beautiful veneer. Rockler also sells jigs that make it easy to add joinery details like splines, keys or dovetails.

 "It's typically 'take what you can get' when it comes to the appearance of storebought speakers," said Steve Krohmer, Rockler's vice president of merchandising and proprietary. "These kits let users build speaker cabinets from the material of their choice while still enjoying great sound quality."

The kits are available in two sizes, either with 5" or 6-1⁄2" polypropylene cone woofers, and both come with everything needed but the material for building the boxes. They include 1" silk dome neodymium magnet tweeters, speaker wire, poly fill insulation, connectors and spring clip terminal cups for connecting the speakers to a sound system. The 6-1⁄2" kit also includes an air tube for each speaker.

The wire connectors are secured by crimping, so no soldering is required.

To optimize sound quality, specific interior dimensions for the speaker boxes are recommended, but the exterior dimensions can be customized to meet design needs. The speaker boxes also can be incorporated in larger cabinets or built-ins, providing a wide range of options for home entertainment projects.

Each kit comes with illustrated instructions and a straightforward wiring diagram that make it easy to build great-looking and rich-sounding speakers.

The 5" Bookshelf Speaker Kit (59255) is priced at $149.99 a pair; the 6-1⁄2" Bookshelf Speaker Kit (59624) retails for $199.99 a pair. Both can be purchased at Rockler.com or Rockler Woodworking and Hardware stores nationwide, as well as through the Rockler catalog. For store locations or a free catalog, visit www.rockler.com or call 1-877-ROCKLER.