Hi Howard, Regarding real wood speakers, see this thread. Daedalus Audio speakers, which I and a number of other A'gon regulars own, are a leading example. Best regards, -- Al |
I am using a pair of Rosinante Evolution Signature's that are made of a complex synthetic marble. The base, which holds the crossover, is made of a special material called DarkMatter. The result is a non-resonant loudspeaker enclosure that images better then anything I have ever owned. |
solid wood = resonance problem. it's only for consumer's attraction. veneer is much simplier, cheaper and better.
exotic materials such as marble are too expensive. gotta be makin over quarter million after tax if you want to have those.
i was intrigued by performance of Event Opal active monitors enclosed in santimeter thick aluminium chassis where amps have no heat issues at all at any usage or abusage. |
solid wood = resonance problem. it's only for consumer's attraction. Not if it's done right. Although doing it right may result in a cost disadvantage relative to veneered approaches. See the comment by Daedalus_audio in the thread I linked to earlier. Regards, -- Al |
The original B&W CM1 (1987) had a plastic matrix enclosure.
B&W Nautilus 801/802 midrange enclosures are Marlan.
Unity Audio made some speakers with Corian cabinets.
Essence made speakers with cast concrete enclosures.
Waterfall speakers have glass cabinets. |
Doin' right with veneer will not compromise doin' right with solid wood only with smaller expense. Next move of solid-wood or any other higher-priced materials manufacturer is to convice consumer. |
Next move of solid-wood or any other higher-priced materials manufacturer is to convice consumer. In the case of Daedalus speakers, a lot of consumers are already convinced, as can be seen in many owner comments that have been posted about them here and elsewhere, including in the thread that I linked to above. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, as the saying goes. Regards, -- Al |
Hardwood / MDF / Phenolic / Aluminium / Concrete / Polymer and or a combination of some have all been implemented, all have their advantages and challenges - Its all a matter of how its done.
Good Listening
Peter |
Thanks, Al, for the links.
And thanks to others, too, for your responses.
-- Howard |
Mark and Daniel speakers employ "special Compound Marble hand-crafted enclosures"
Wilsons use the "X Material" in theirs |
I've seen some DIY speakers made like Magico Minis with layered baltic birch ply.
Sonist uses thick poplar baffle.
I forget the name, but the same guy with the mpingo discs, had thin wall layered laminate speakers.
I have built speakers out of PVC pipe and epoxy urethane. |
Sorry, the name was Shun Mook and the Bella Voce speakers and it's not laminate but birch ply.
There was one I saw made from layered laminate. Same way they make drums. |
Some Thiel CS-6s had concrete front baffles. Magico uses 6061 aluminum in their speakers. I have a pair of Green Mountain Audio Europas in my room right now and they seem extremely heavy, dense, and inert. |
Sebrof, X material and M material is just a fancy word for Phenolic board. Phenolic BoardIt is not magic as some want to believe. It is however probably a good material choice for a speaker enclosure because of its inertness, but its not the only one. As previously stated is all a matter of implementation. Good Listening Peter |
mmm implementation of Wilson also their materials are the primary cause of their horrible sound. |
Wilson "horrible sound" = problem(s) upstream !!! Start searching for what is being exposed in system or room !!! IMO!!!....YMMV !!!! |
Wilson Benesch use carbon fibre and the veneers done by the guys who make dashboards for Bentleys! Swish. |
02-26-13: Pbnaudio
Sebrof,
X material and M material is just a fancy word for Phenolic board.
Phenolic Board
So you are saying that Wilson sources their material from San Diego Plastics (your link)? |
I have a pair of Celestion SL700s with aerolam cabinets; they are really good, rather light, and have their own stands. It is a shame that Celestion did not continue the line. |
Sebrof
I have no clue as to where Wilson sources their Phenolic board - it is a generic commodity just like MDF and all the other materials used for speaker cabinet construction. If someone wants you to believe they they cooked it up in their back room with the help form elves and others with magic powers they are full of .....
As stated earlier it is implementation that counts and I do indeed think that Phenolic board is an excellent material for enclosure construction because of its inertness. It requires some expertise to machine it is heavy to move around undoubtedly contributing to the high cost of Wilson's speakers
Google it and you will find multiple suppliers, my reason for supplying the link was to show that Phenolic material indeed are classified in X XX and XXX among others.
Good Listening
Peter |
