Hi end amazing quality !

See the video

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/featu...make-a-speaker

I read to day that Don Garber, the guy behind Fi the shop, and Fi the brand had died recently and while I never heard one of his designs they were unique and not like anything else and Oswald Mills are the same. They are unique and somewhat eccentric, but like Fi are following their own vision, ethos and in a world of identikit hifi that is to be commended, even if you will never hear it or can afford it.

Small craftsman, bespoke audio is a wonderful thing.

I won't though be surprised if this thread gets bogged down in those are ugly, how much etc. Folks look beyond your closed minds, audio prejudice or jealousy, folks that bring something different to audio are to be celebrated not berated.

Thank you for the link, I love this sort of stuff! I watch a lot of Japanese Hi-Fi videos on YouTube.. There's something about bespoke craftsmanship. Brilliant.

:) thanks for sharing. Great to see passion.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dalek Supreme D L

Small craftsman, bespoke audio is a wonderful thing.
I won't though be surprised if this thread gets bogged down in those are ugly, how much etc. Folks look beyond your closed minds, audio prejudice or jealousy, folks that bring something different to audio are to be celebrated not berated.

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Yes, I agree. But at the same time, I disagree :scratch:
Audio playback can't be 100% artisan craftsmanship - there has to be science and engineering behind it. Take as an example a horn speaker. The shape of the horn is important, and straight sides are far from ideal but a lot easier to do than parabolic ones. Instead of using wood it makes sense to construct a parabolic mould and then cast the horn in some kind of plastic. However, the word "plastic" puts people off. "Hand selected ash and maple" sounds a lot more appealing, but if it takes ten times longer to make and costs 50 times more only to end up with an inferior product because it has straight sides instead of parabolic, what's the point?

And so what if the woods are the same as Martin Guitars use? A loudspeaker isn't a guitar, so what's the benefit of using the same materials?

And amplifiers rely on good circuit design to perform well, not not hand-made casework.

Yes, I applaud people doing their own thing in their own way - but inefficiency for it's own sake is not a guaranteed path to audio nirvana (in my opinion).
Still, you can't deny that some of the stuff looks fabulous.

Yes, I think things like these could be quite inspirational for diy-ers. I quite like the Salvager tv programs ... made me look at 'scrap' in quite a different light.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RothwellAudio

Yes, I agree. But at the same time, I disagree :scratch:
Audio playback can't be 100% artisan craftsmanship - there has to be science and engineering behind it. Take as an example a horn speaker. The shape of the horn is important, and straight sides are far from ideal but a lot easier to do than parabolic ones. Instead of using wood it makes sense to construct a parabolic mould and then cast the horn in some kind of plastic. However, the word "plastic" puts people off. "Hand selected ash and maple" sounds a lot more appealing, but if it takes ten times longer to make and costs 50 times more only to end up with an inferior product because it has straight sides instead of parabolic, what's the point?

And so what if the woods are the same as Martin Guitars use? A loudspeaker isn't a guitar, so what's the benefit of using the same materials?

And amplifiers rely on good circuit design to perform well, not not hand-made casework.

Yes, I applaud people doing their own thing in their own way - but inefficiency for it's own sake is not a guaranteed path to audio nirvana (in my opinion).
Still, you can't deny that some of the stuff looks fabulous.

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Spot on!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RothwellAudio

Yes, I agree. But at the same time, I disagree :scratch:
Audio playback can't be 100% artisan craftsmanship - there has to be science and engineering behind it. Take as an example a horn speaker. The shape of the horn is important, and straight sides are far from ideal but a lot easier to do than parabolic ones. Instead of using wood it makes sense to construct a parabolic mould and then cast the horn in some kind of plastic. However, the word "plastic" puts people off. "Hand selected ash and maple" sounds a lot more appealing, but if it takes ten times longer to make and costs 50 times more only to end up with an inferior product because it has straight sides instead of parabolic, what's the point?

And so what if the woods are the same as Martin Guitars use? A loudspeaker isn't a guitar, so what's the benefit of using the same materials?

And amplifiers rely on good circuit design to perform well, not not hand-made casework.

Yes, I applaud people doing their own thing in their own way - but inefficiency for it's own sake is not a guaranteed path to audio nirvana (in my opinion).
Still, you can't deny that some of the stuff looks fabulous.

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+1 The Koetsu stone-bodied cartridges come to mind.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RothwellAudio

Yes, I agree. But at the same time, I disagree :scratch:
Audio playback can't be 100% artisan craftsmanship - there has to be science and engineering behind it. Take as an example a horn speaker. The shape of the horn is important, and straight sides are far from ideal but a lot easier to do than parabolic ones. Instead of using wood it makes sense to construct a parabolic mould and then cast the horn in some kind of plastic. However, the word "plastic" puts people off. "Hand selected ash and maple" sounds a lot more appealing, but if it takes ten times longer to make and costs 50 times more only to end up with an inferior product because it has straight sides instead of parabolic, what's the point?

And so what if the woods are the same as Martin Guitars use? A loudspeaker isn't a guitar, so what's the benefit of using the same materials?

And amplifiers rely on good circuit design to perform well, not not hand-made casework.

Yes, I applaud people doing their own thing in their own way - but inefficiency for it's own sake is not a guaranteed path to audio nirvana (in my opinion).
Still, you can't deny that some of the stuff looks fabulous.

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not everyone is looking for the ultimate in sound and many more couldn't afford it or even recognize it. What something looks like is 50% of the way there for some, so if conical horns aren't the last word then something unique looking will satisfy many. Audio nirvana as you put it is probably unobtanium and what is audio nirvana to one wouldn't be to someone else. If I ever had enough spare money I would probably own something like Oswald mills gear just for the style in my ultra trendy pad and a compact treated room with what I really like to listen with as I do now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Audio Al

See the video

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/featu...make-a-speaker

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I've always liked what they do Al even though I've not heard it and listening through an iPad hasn't helped get a sense of what they sound like