SoundImports DIY Competition 2025: Lukas' Refurbished Retro Radio!

We are pleased to announce the winners of the SoundImports DIY Competition 2025!

After receiving hundreds of impressive submissions from our dedicated community, we have selected two exceptional projects that deserve special recognition. This year, we are highlighting Lukas and Athanasios, each with their unique approach to DIY audio. Today, we begin with Lukas's inspiring project – a creation that demonstrates enthusiasm, creativity, and the joy of discovering a new hobby!

A Newcomer with Fiery Passion

Although Lukas is relatively new to the world of DIY audio, his enthusiasm and dedication shine through in every detail of his project. For him, this was not merely about building something functional – it was a personal journey of discovery into the world of audio craftsmanship. As a beginning builder, Lukas approached this challenge with a fresh perspective and contagious enthusiasm. At SoundImports, we particularly value this kind of passion, especially from those just starting out. It reminds us that DIY audio is accessible to everyone, whether you are an experienced craftsman or a curious beginner.

The Project: A Vintage Radio with Modern Technology

Lukas's winning project revolves around breathing new life into a classic radio with contemporary audio components. After a year of refurbishing old radios, he has honed his skills, and this build demonstrates his growing expertise. For this specific radio, he utilized the Arylic Up2Stream Amp 2.1 amplifier with 2x50W and 1x100W power, due to its technical versatility and flexible placement options.

The photos reveal his methodology: a workbench with the internal components of the radio and beside it a custom 3D-printed enclosure housing four small drivers and a separate woofer. Lukas 3D prints these enclosures himself, a technique that enables compact and adaptable integration within the vintage cabinet. While he typically reuses original knobs for volume control, in this case they remained fixed on the board, with their position adjusted to one side. The final result, captured in a sun-drenched photo by a window, combines retro aesthetics with modern sound quality – a perfect harmony between old and new!

Why We Chose Lukas

Although Lukas's project may not possess the technical complexity of some other submissions, he distinguishes himself through his passion and innovative spirit. His willingness to venture into the unknown, combined with the impressive visual progress captured in his photographs, made him a clear winner in our estimation. We are delighted to reward this kind of enthusiasm – it is what keeps the DIY audio community vibrant and evolving. That being said, we also hold great appreciation for the experienced builders; your expertise has not gone unnoticed and continues to inspire us all!

Congratulations, Lukas!

Lukas, your project is a shining example of what makes our DIY community so special. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, and congratulations on being one of our 2025 winners!

His reward? A shiny new Fosi Audio ZA3 amplifier and Fosi Audio ZD3 DAC to crank his setup to the next level!

Do you have a DIY project of your own? We would love to see it! Share your creations with us via projects@soundimports.nl, and who knows – perhaps you will be featured in next year's competition!

Components Used:

Dayton Audio KABD amplifier board

Arylic Up2Stream Amp 2.1 amplifier