Build-a-Speaker Kit from JVC-Victor
While Complex is too high-falutin' for these some-assembly-required speakers from JVC-Victor, I think the presumably modest effort it would take to build your own set of wood cone speakers would be fun. It's not like you're winding your own wire or filling each sub-tweeter with quartz sand or anything*.
The kit's almost 400 bucks, though, so hopefully they sound nice after you've put them together.
JVC-Victor SX-WD1KT Wood Cone Speaker Kit [AcquireMag.com]
* I don't actually know how speakers work.
the latest
latest episodes
Joel, Joel, Joel ....
Speakers work like this:
1. Music is played (CD player, turntable, whatever).
2. Wire connected to player allows music to travel to speaker.
3. The bass (in the music) naturally tickles, so the speaker wiggles, and the sound comes out - taa daa!
Need any more help, just lemme know ....
Gary61
I've heard JVC's mini stereo system (I believe the EX-A1) that includes the wood-cone speakers--they sound quite nice (much better than any other mini stereo system at the store, at least) and are unique and very nice looking. I don't believe they can handle much power (like 15w) but if you turn 'em up, you're a fool.
Also, as with most audiophile equipment, don't buy all the hype and don't buy these speakers assuming you'll get higher quality sound than any other option, but it'll certainly beat out any plastic box POS.)
I am mightily tempted, but for $400, you could buy the EX-A1 and get a complete system already built (which, I assume, you could take apart and mod as you wish.)
Don't forget to wind you own speaker wire from the CAT 5 cable you're keeping around the house. It'll only take you a zillion years!
http://www.venhaus1.com/diycatfivecables.html
TTFN
These little speakers are much nicer looking than most kits, and there's nothing at all wrong with using a single small widerange in a speaker; the results can sound a lot better than you'd think.
The claim that these speakers actually have 55Hz-20kHz response, though, has to be nonsense. The Thiele-Small specs for the little 85mm wood-cone wideranges are on JVC's Japanese site:
http://www.jvc-victor.co.jp/car/products/woodcone/cs-wd85/index.html
Their resonant frequency is specified at 130.7Hz, which is about on par for a driver this small. It is extremely difficult to get response significantly below the drivers' resonant frequency out of a speaker, so it's basically impossible for these ported boxes to have any significant response below 100Hz.
You'd be surprised how good such speakers can sound for a lot of music, but if you want any real bass at all you absolutely must add a subwoofer.
This post cracked me up! I know that I have a weird sense of humour, but you can be spectacularly funny. I can't look at a grand piano without laughing, now, either.
Damn this is a good blog. Keep it coming.