New Rig Advice

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   Hello everyone. 
I've recently managed to clear out my workshop and end up with a fair bit of free time, so I've decided to finally try and build a rig. I end up with a lot of extra sheets of ply from work so it seemed like it could be a good way to use it all. The problem is, while I have friends who are more literate in this I don't know too much about building one - although therein lies the fun! I'll be asking for their guidance along the way but wanted to post here as well to take my own initiative a bit.

After some minor research I figured I might (over a fair bit of time I imagine) aspire to build a rig consisting of the following:
4 x SKRAM 21" Subs (ground coupled)
2x Dual Reflex 18" 
3x Horn Loaded Cubo kick 15
2x tops tbc maybe SMT 212? OR MT121?

Any glaring issues with this? I think my friends can help me with driver recommends but seeing as the bulk of the timber will be free I think it may be worth sinking budget into that. I was considering a hand build but I suppose if I can stretch it CNC would be preferable. 

any notes/advice/pointing out any idiocy is greatly appreciated! It's a big learning curve but looking forward to it.

Thanks

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
brix Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 04 February 2026 Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote brix Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: New Rig Advice Posted: 04 February 2026 at 11:15am
	Hello everyone. I've recently managed to clear out my workshop and end up with a fair bit of free time, so I've decided to finally try and build a rig. I end up with a lot of extra sheets of ply from work so it seemed like it could be a good way to use it all. The problem is, while I have friends who are more literate in this I don't know too much about building one - although therein lies the fun! I'll be asking for their guidance along the way but wanted to post here as well to take my own initiative a bit. After some minor research I figured I might (over a fair bit of time I imagine) aspire to build a rig consisting of the following: 4 x SKRAM 21" Subs (ground coupled) 2x Dual Reflex 18" 3x Horn Loaded Cubo kick 15 2x tops tbc maybe SMT 212? OR MT121? Any glaring issues with this? I think my friends can help me with driver recommends but seeing as the bulk of the timber will be free I think it may be worth sinking budget into that. I was considering a hand build but I suppose if I can stretch it CNC would be preferable. any notes/advice/pointing out any idiocy is greatly appreciated! It's a big learning curve but looking forward to it. Thanks

twosteps Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Registered User Joined: 03 February 2025 Location: Los Angeles Status: Offline Points: 38	Post Options Post Reply Quote twosteps Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 04 February 2026 at 8:02pm
	im also new but i can tell you that having the skrams + reflex 18's is redundant as they would both be covering the same frequency range and would only cause phase issues if set up together. i'd choose one or the other for your sub-bass.

Bremen_99 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Registered User Joined: 10 December 2025 Status: Offline Points: 68	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bremen_99 Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 04 February 2026 at 8:20pm
	Ive heard of people liking mixing 21's and 18's, but id stick with the same enclosure type aka all skrams or all doubles. Or maybe 2 skorn (like a double 21 skram) and 4x 18" skram so they are all bandpass Also about the rest of it, theoretically sounds ok just a lot of preference, like the cubo kicks, do you like kicks that are thump your chest, that leans towards Pure horns I guess, bandpass more punch you in the face, ex: em15 , or tapped horn for smooth, even response and fidelity (ksthr-15). Cubokick a horn assisted tapped or whatever seems pretty easy to build, but also sort of middle the road. Same for those tops, a lot of the sonic character will come from drivers being used, so you can either decide which designs you like and get the speakers thst would work, or get the speakers that would work first and look for compatible design. If you have access to nearly or totally free building material, make prototype cabs and then build out your preference Edited by Bremen_99 - 04 February 2026 at 8:30pm

brix Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 04 February 2026 Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote brix Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 February 2026 at 10:42pm
	Thanks both - great advice and I am a total newbie. I had thought about it like this: skram - 20-60hz reflex - 50 - 120hz cubo - 100-250hz smt212 - 250hz+ It's highly likely I have made a mistake here lol and yeah I did wonder about subs doing most of the legwork already and phasing issues etc. I think you are right, building material is essentially free so the main focus really is the drivers. I just don't know much yet about to what scale the shape of one cab vs another affects acoustics. Like I want it to look cool obviously haha but it's super important to me that it sounds great too. It would mainly be for tekno, hard house, hardcore etc if that affects any recommendations, although it would be nice to have something that can offer some diversity across multiple genres I suppose! I guess I need to consider amps and other bits and bobs as well into my budget but I can get to that later once the actual cab designs/drivers are settles I reckon Thanks EDIT: After some more thought/research it seems that while it might be possible with proper DSP tuning to have a 4-way system work well perhaps for someone with my level of experience (zero) dropping the reflex for just the SKRAM will provide enough of that 'warmth' and for the music it will mainly be playing perhaps the punch of a SKRAM suits better anyway? Edited by brix - 05 February 2026 at 9:41am