I thought some would find this interesting. We are subjected to expert reviews and optimistic specs in glossy brochures but where do manufacturers spend money and where do they skimp when it comes to speaker systems.
Recently I've had occasion to dis-assemble three sets of floor-standing speakers with surprising results. First came the 2-way Toshiba SSPJ1. With a mediocre Peerless SKO165 bass driver a cheap and cheerful mylar tweeter it seems Toshiba spared every expense! This is confirmed by the 12mm MDF used to construct the cabinet. Any bracing was deemed superflouous and unnecessary. Surprisingly Toshiba found some loose change under the sofa cushions to spring for a 12dB crossover.
Sony went in a different direction. Their 3-way SS-MF450H boasts superb build quality, 19mm construction with bracing to boot, any rodent would see this cabinet as a formidable bomb shelter. The bass driver looks like it can handle itself (outperforms the Peerless in the same cabinet) However, the cradle is plastic - not sure if that's a good or bad thing. At this point is where the money ran out. Technically, the SS-MF450H is not 3-way. The budget didn't run to an actual crossover. The mid-range driver and tweeter are protected from low frequencies by a simple capacitor.
Finally, a pair of Eltax Concept 180s found their way to the butcher's table. The cabinet is well constructed, 12mm MDF with the appropriate bracing. Everything, even the drivers are designed to be neat, shiny and pretty. Performance-wise the drivers are crap, Who am to advise Eltax but there's a reason the Concept 180 has reputation for lacking bass. The pre-moulded ports you pulled off the shelf tune the port to 39hz, the driver couldn't get that low if it was equipped with a JCB (Trackhoe). With money left over Eltax, at least installed a decent cross-over.
Epilogue: I got the Sonys for £0.99 because some new-age types had painted the cabinets green - they could never come back from that. I put the Sony drivers in the Eltax cabinets, with the Eltax crossovers.
Recently I've had occasion to dis-assemble three sets of floor-standing speakers with surprising results. First came the 2-way Toshiba SSPJ1. With a mediocre Peerless SKO165 bass driver a cheap and cheerful mylar tweeter it seems Toshiba spared every expense! This is confirmed by the 12mm MDF used to construct the cabinet. Any bracing was deemed superflouous and unnecessary. Surprisingly Toshiba found some loose change under the sofa cushions to spring for a 12dB crossover.
Sony went in a different direction. Their 3-way SS-MF450H boasts superb build quality, 19mm construction with bracing to boot, any rodent would see this cabinet as a formidable bomb shelter. The bass driver looks like it can handle itself (outperforms the Peerless in the same cabinet) However, the cradle is plastic - not sure if that's a good or bad thing. At this point is where the money ran out. Technically, the SS-MF450H is not 3-way. The budget didn't run to an actual crossover. The mid-range driver and tweeter are protected from low frequencies by a simple capacitor.
Finally, a pair of Eltax Concept 180s found their way to the butcher's table. The cabinet is well constructed, 12mm MDF with the appropriate bracing. Everything, even the drivers are designed to be neat, shiny and pretty. Performance-wise the drivers are crap, Who am to advise Eltax but there's a reason the Concept 180 has reputation for lacking bass. The pre-moulded ports you pulled off the shelf tune the port to 39hz, the driver couldn't get that low if it was equipped with a JCB (Trackhoe). With money left over Eltax, at least installed a decent cross-over.
Epilogue: I got the Sonys for £0.99 because some new-age types had painted the cabinets green - they could never come back from that. I put the Sony drivers in the Eltax cabinets, with the Eltax crossovers.
Plastic basket?
Depends on how well it is engineered (can be more important than the material), well done plastic baskets are good IMO. As stiff as, but better damped than cast Al, but unless you are doing zillions still pricier than Al. Stamped steel can also be good if well engineered (Fostex FE/FF series for example).
Another cas ewhere quality of execution is more important than material used.
In a commercail loudspeaker as you have dissassembled the parts likely cost 1/10 to 1/20 of the retail.
dave
