Speaker porn

Came across these pretty great looking horn standmounts from a boutique shop called Shinjitsu Audio. I've seen this kind of box + exposed compression driver type of config before, but the craftsmanship and aesthetics here are very refined. Also, I like how these BLH boxes are constructed. The baltic birch is used to nice effect here.

 

Quite an interesting speaker design. their book shelf seems very reasonable, the compression driver parts alone would be half the cost. Seems like a pretty aggressive loss leader.

Not bad for a speaker I believe to be built in Mesa, AZ. Would love to hear it.

 

Yeah cost seems very reasonable across the whole line for what you’re getting.

 

I'm pretty happy with my 2 channel system; but you always wonder if there's a worthwhile upgrade
I've bounced around considering the X-LS Encore and a couple others, but these are really interesting
I'd love to find some reviews specific to the Mini Hiro; they'd fit in my bookshelves

 

Unless you're super wealthy, you're probably in the wrong thread. Look for a thread called something like "General Speaker Advice."

This thread may well contain some of the finest speakers of all time, but it also contains a heap of stuff at inflated prices, more suitable for jacking off into than listening.

"Something small for your bookshelves, sir? How about this set with three-ply titanium/lead cabinets?"

EDIT: ...OK, here's the sensible, real-world thread for you.

 

If anyone is around NYC Devon Turnbull is doing an exhibition at the Lisson Gallery for July. He built everything from the turntable to the speakers.


https://www.instagram.com/p/CfZMlg0uoRf/

 

What in the hell are those clear plastic tubes on either side of the speakers that I assume are for first reflections?

 

Shhh! The crystals will hear you

 

Those things are ported at the bottom. I wonder if the concept is to diffuse whatever resonance node is there

It’s powered by car batteries!

 

I didn't see that! No idea what it sounds like, but I'm impressed with the commitment.

 

That looks rather magnificent, But also very odd. This is surely the kind of system one designs the house around, rather than pushes into a corner.

Also, just next to to it all: display shelves. Stuff that rattles and resonates. Serious gear deserves better!

 

Shelves are good though. They diffuse or dissipate sound. Better than a flat wall

 

Sure. But better cover them with books, or LPs, etc. Not china, glass, metal vessels and knick-knacks.

For most of us, where hifi coexists with ordinary life in ordinary living rooms, this is less of an issue. But for those who have "porn" systems, unless they are purely for show, uncompromising surely should mean just that.

Well, of course, a lot of this stuff must get installed by those who just want to show off their wealth. We can still feature the speakers here, even if the owner is unworthy!

 

That would be an interesting sticky: Worthy Systems Owned by the Unworthy.

 

I'm sure there would be many contenders. We make a start with cultures that like to exhibit their wealth at least inside the home. I think I've commented before that some of the more outlandish-looking horn systems are designed just for them!

But I do like to think that the systems pictured here are as good as they look.

Certainly it isn't always a size thing. I've heard big speakers that sounded awful --- and a big system put together in cheap cabinets with scavenged ex-cinema drivers* (and odd bits of wire for cabling) that was my most being-there hifi experience ever.


*They probably wouldn't be so cheap now. In this country, the cinemas were refurbished later, so these drivers could be had only-second-hand more recently.

 

Exhibit ends on Friday, August 5, 2022, really worth hearing and seeing if you're in the NYC metro area.





More pics and text at my blog

 

@je2a3 - That preamp is super interesting. Usually it's the other way with tubes used for amplification and transistor based CCS load