See the video
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/featu...make-a-speaker
Location: Dagenham Essex
Posts: 11,215
I'm Allen.
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.
Regards Neil
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.
GyroDec 2M Black, Amplification: Luxman 505ux.
Loudspeakers: Harbeth HL-K6
Quad 99 CD, Amplifier: Teac A H 500i, Loudspeakers: SCM11
Receiver: Teac CR H500, Loudspeakers: B&W CDM 1NT
Yes, I agree. But at the same time, I disagree
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.
Arkless Electronics-Engineered to be better. Tel. 01670 530674 (after 1pm)
Modded Thorens TD150, Audio Technica AT-1005 MkII, Technics EPC-300MC, Arkless Hybrid MC phono stage, Arkless passive pre, Arkless 50WPC Class A SS power amp, (or) Arkless modded Leak Stereo 20, Modded Kef Reference 105/3's
ReVox PR99, Studer B62, Ferrograph Series 7, Tandberg TCD440, Hitachi FT-5500MkI, also FT-5500MkII
Digital: Yamaha CDR-HD1500 (Digital Swiss army knife-CD recorder, player, hard drive, DAC and ADC in one), PC files via 24/96 sound card and SPDIF, modded Philips CD850, modded Philips CD104, modded DPA Little Bit DAC. Sennheiser HD580 cans with Arkless Headphone amp.
Cables- free interconnects that come with CD players, mains leads from B&Q, dead kettles etc, extension leads from Tesco
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.
Bakoon 13r Denon DP80 Stax UA-70 Shure Ultra 500 in a Martin Bastin body with jico stylus, project ds2 digital Rullit aero 8 field coils in tqwt speakers
Office system, DIY CSS fullrange speakers with aurum cantus G2 ribbons yulong dac Sony STR6055 receiver Jvc QL-A51 direct drive turntable, Leema sub. JVC Z4S cart is in the house
Garage system another Sony receiver, cassette deck
System components are subject to change without warning and at the discretion of the owner.
Bakoon 13r Denon DP80 Stax UA-70 Shure Ultra 500 in a Martin Bastin body with jico stylus, project ds2 digital Rullit aero 8 field coils in tqwt speakers
Office system, DIY CSS fullrange speakers with aurum cantus G2 ribbons yulong dac Sony STR6055 receiver Jvc QL-A51 direct drive turntable, Leema sub. JVC Z4S cart is in the house
Garage system another Sony receiver, cassette deck
System components are subject to change without warning and at the discretion of the owner.