How to Build Custom Speakers

Step 11 Cut holes for the terminal cups, ports and any other additions to the cabinet

There are some more holes that need to be cut in the front/and or back cabinet faces. Using the same drill and jig saw method described in step 7, cut out properly sized holes for the terminal cups or binding posts depending on what kind of connection point you've decided to use.

For the port, each situation will be unique. Different port designs require different holes. Slotted ports are built right into the cabinet, while PVC tubes (the kind I'm using below) require a properly-sized circle. Some ports go on the front face, others on the back, and other speaker designs require no port at all. Consult your cabinet plans to see what kind your kit requires.

The circle jig makes quick work of the port hole on the back panel in the photos below.

In the final few pictures in the sequence below you can see the back panel of the subwoofer. I'm using the jig saw to cut out the hole for the plate amplifier that will get mounted back there. Writing myself plenty of notes about the location and sizes of the holes and cuts is really useful for me so I can keep track of everything I'm doing, especially when building 5 cabinets simultaneously like I am here.