Why is nobody making a modern "Coral Beta 8"?

Brisso57 · 18th June 2011, 10:38 PM

I've often wondered - and especially considering advances in manufacturing, materials, and the theoretical understanding of driver design - why doesn't someone recommence manufacturing speakers such as Corals?

Sure alnico may be expensive at present, but that wouldn't seem to explain it.

Is someone "squatting" on key patents? (Conspiracy theorists, there's your cue!)

It seems to me that the technology was abandonned for no apparent good reason, what with the prices demanded for Beta-8's, Beta-10's, and some of the "Flat" range.

As Julius Sumner-Miller was wont to ask: "Why is it so?"

cheers

Doug

tweakk · 19th June 2011, 02:31 AM

Cuz the mass-market population doesn't give a crap about good sound. Teens and young adults today are as dumb as a box of hammers and expert slackers...

Result... No decent products...

BHTX · 19th June 2011, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tweakk

Cuz the mass-market population doesn't give a crap about good sound. Teens and young adults today are as dumb as a box of hammers and expert slackers...

Result... No decent products...

It wouldn't be the mass market. It'd be the DIY market.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brisso57

Sure alnico may be expensive at present

To hell with alnico. It's always so outrageously priced, and the advantages, if any (i've often seen it offered in a line of drivers with worse performance than the ferrite motor, Audio Nirvana for example), simply aren't worth it imo.

Nice thread subject though. I've been wondering this lately myself.

chrisb · 19th June 2011, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tweakk

Cuz the mass-market population doesn't give a crap about good sound. Teens and young adults today are as dumb as a box of hammers and expert slackers...

Result... No decent products...

at the very least, you might get some argument with the last postulation

zman01 · 19th June 2011, 06:29 AM

Why did Coral go out of business in the first place? AFAIK that happened 25+ years back and today's young adults were not even born at that time.

Brisso57 · 19th June 2011, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tweakk

Cuz the mass-market population doesn't give a crap about good sound. Teens and young adults today are as dumb as a box of hammers and expert slackers...

Result... No decent products...

Um. How do you then explain the existence of Lowther, PHY, et al?

There has to be a better explanation.

cheers

Doug

planet10 · 19th June 2011, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zman01

Why did Coral go out of business in the first place?

As i understand it, they were bought by Audax (or someone) and then just shut down.

dave

Scottmoose · 19th June 2011, 08:02 AM

A few points.

-The younger generation, coming from this 32 year old, is no more one of slackers or idiots than prior generations no doubt thought about all of us. There are always a few herberts, but that does not apply to the majority (granted, the state education system in the UK at least is not all it should be, but that's hardly their fault is it?)

-I note with interest on the various recent Coral-related threads, talk of some nebulous 'technology.' What exactly is this technology supposed to be? As far as I am aware, they were (for their type) simply well designed and engineered drive units.

-Re AlNiCo, it depends how you use it. Many manufacturers simply employ it as a marketing gimick -the same goes for rare-earth magnets. Both types can be stronger than ceramic / ferrite, & you often see remarks along those lines in advertising, but it depends how highly it's been magnetized, and the size of the magnet in the first place.

Brisso57 · 19th June 2011, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottmoose

A few points.

-I note with interest on the various recent Coral-related threads, talk of some nebulous 'technology.' What exactly is this technology supposed to be? As far as I am aware, they were (for their type) simply well designed and engineered drive units.

Perhaps "technology" is the wrong word, then.
What I meant was that the materials & manufacturing methods that made Coral Beta 8's didn't just vanish, so why hasn't someone leapt into the gap to provide drivers with similar capabilities that mere mortals , or at least those of us with families, can afford?

I'm not sue what a pair of coral Beta 8's cost back then, perhaps someone can tell us, and then we can allow for inflation ... to see what is around today for the same money.

That maybe will tell us if we're being dudded by some of today's suppliers.

cheers

Doug

planet10 · 19th June 2011, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottmoose

...but it depends how highly it's been magnetized, and the size of the magnet in the first place.

And the quality/grade.

dave

18th June 2011, 10:38 PM	#1
Brisso57 diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: the leafy west of Brisbane	Why is nobody making a modern "Coral Beta 8"? I've often wondered - and especially considering advances in manufacturing, materials, and the theoretical understanding of driver design - why doesn't someone recommence manufacturing speakers such as Corals? Sure alnico may be expensive at present, but that wouldn't seem to explain it. Is someone "squatting" on key patents? (Conspiracy theorists, there's your cue!) It seems to me that the technology was abandonned for no apparent good reason, what with the prices demanded for Beta-8's, Beta-10's, and some of the "Flat" range. As Julius Sumner-Miller was wont to ask: "Why is it so?" cheers Doug __________________ A speaker-builder's parable: "That burned down, fell over, then sank into the swamp. But the fourth one stayed up. And that's what you're going to get, Lad, the strongest castle of all."

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19th June 2011, 02:31 AM	#2
tweakk diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2008	Cuz the mass-market population doesn't give a crap about good sound. Teens and young adults today are as dumb as a box of hammers and expert slackers... Result... No decent products...

19th June 2011, 06:29 AM	#5
zman01 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Dhaka	Why did Coral go out of business in the first place? AFAIK that happened 25+ years back and today's young adults were not even born at that time.

19th June 2011, 08:02 AM	#8
Scottmoose diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK	A few points. -The younger generation, coming from this 32 year old, is no more one of slackers or idiots than prior generations no doubt thought about all of us. There are always a few herberts, but that does not apply to the majority (granted, the state education system in the UK at least is not all it should be, but that's hardly their fault is it?) -I note with interest on the various recent Coral-related threads, talk of some nebulous 'technology.' What exactly is this technology supposed to be? As far as I am aware, they were (for their type) simply well designed and engineered drive units. -Re AlNiCo, it depends how you use it. Many manufacturers simply employ it as a marketing gimick -the same goes for rare-earth magnets. Both types can be stronger than ceramic / ferrite, & you often see remarks along those lines in advertising, but it depends how highly it's been magnetized, and the size of the magnet in the first place.

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