So I'm just getting into DIY audio and I'm super interested in SET amps and Single Driver speakers. I live in the west part of the Tokyo Metro (Machida) and have heard that Japan is a paradise for this type of audio but unfortunately my complete lack of Japanese skills (I'm hear working for Uncle Sam) has put me at a disadvantage when it comes to finding cool audio shops where I might actually get to hear some of these things.
So, I've noticed there are lots of members here in the Tokyo area and I would greatly appreciate any help/insight from the local experts. I'd love to find some places to actually here some cool stuff before I figure out what I want to start building/buying.
Also, I'm going to be moving to Berlin in Jan and am wondering should I try and buy all my stuff now or should I wait until I get there. I can ship from the US with the APO mail system (basically local shipping for anything coming from the US) or I can go to Akihabara and shop there. Anyone have any thoughts on costs of buying here in Japan vs. buying stateside?
Thanks in advance and sorry for so many questions. This is a new hobby for me and as such I'm pretty excited. I want to make the most of my time in Japan as well.
So, I've noticed there are lots of members here in the Tokyo area and I would greatly appreciate any help/insight from the local experts. I'd love to find some places to actually here some cool stuff before I figure out what I want to start building/buying.
Also, I'm going to be moving to Berlin in Jan and am wondering should I try and buy all my stuff now or should I wait until I get there. I can ship from the US with the APO mail system (basically local shipping for anything coming from the US) or I can go to Akihabara and shop there. Anyone have any thoughts on costs of buying here in Japan vs. buying stateside?
Thanks in advance and sorry for so many questions. This is a new hobby for me and as such I'm pretty excited. I want to make the most of my time in Japan as well.
depends on the exchange rate, when i was in japan last year i used an online store (alot of them give free shipping) and it was the cheapest i could find in tokyo, for 2x207e drivers i paid around 80AUD each, when the exchange rate was nice to me. This is half the price of in australia lol. Also, they were delivered on a sunday morning, man i love japan.
I have been trying to get a pair of SA/F80AMG 3" speakers, these have a "DIY AUDIO" brand sticker on the back and seem to be only sold in Japan (specs here for anyone interested http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~hanbei/eng-f80spec.html). The only quote I have so far is approx AUD$200 the pair and AUD$200 shipping (total JPY 30,705) from www.kit-ya.jp
A question for beau, or anyone in the know, does the shipping sound right?
Something for bigjppop, if nothing else comes through, I found a few cool Japanese audio diy sites using yahoo japan to search, I found some really interesting stuff, I wish I kept the links as I could have posted them here. If you search on a speaker type, eg SA/F80AMG, or an amp type or tube type or you get the idea, you are sure to come upon a few DIY and commercial sites, the problem is interpreting, the Babylon translator is a bit rough and sometimes better than nothing 🙂 There is some wonderful stuff in those DIY Japanese audio sites...
Ian.
A question for beau, or anyone in the know, does the shipping sound right?
Something for bigjppop, if nothing else comes through, I found a few cool Japanese audio diy sites using yahoo japan to search, I found some really interesting stuff, I wish I kept the links as I could have posted them here. If you search on a speaker type, eg SA/F80AMG, or an amp type or tube type or you get the idea, you are sure to come upon a few DIY and commercial sites, the problem is interpreting, the Babylon translator is a bit rough and sometimes better than nothing 🙂 There is some wonderful stuff in those DIY Japanese audio sites...
Ian.
bigjppop said:
You HAVE to do the stalls in Akihabara even just to look. I lost my great picture of the TANGO booth and the NOS 300B's. I got some of the discontinued Toshiba JFETS there at much less than the market rate. There also are some great DIY magazines and schematics are a universal language.
Glad to see the Aussies coming through! I think I'm just going to spend the day Friday wondering through Akihabara and see what I can find. If that doesn't work... well I guess I'll just have to break down and learn Japanese!
Hey bigj,
If you can find a good price on a pair of SA/F80AMG, and shipping to Oz, can you let me know? I don't know what I can do to return the favour, but I'll think of something 🙂
Ian.
If you can find a good price on a pair of SA/F80AMG, and shipping to Oz, can you let me know? I don't know what I can do to return the favour, but I'll think of something 🙂
Ian.
I hope I don't confuse you, but:
Are they really worth that much? They have low Fs and "integrated bsc" but they will propably sound somewhat harsh without EQ, this is what some people say it's "detailled" and say they are good on "voices" or "small orchestra", but on rock or whatever the snare will hurt you. The new Markaudio Drivers look like a much better choice to me.
Regards, Micha
Are they really worth that much? They have low Fs and "integrated bsc" but they will propably sound somewhat harsh without EQ, this is what some people say it's "detailled" and say they are good on "voices" or "small orchestra", but on rock or whatever the snare will hurt you. The new Markaudio Drivers look like a much better choice to me.
Regards, Micha
In Tokyo, the Yodobashi megastore (6 or 7 floors) near Akihabara subway/railway station is great. I bought noise cancelling headphones and some Fostex drivers there about a year ago.
Regards, Dirk
Regards, Dirk
Micha, I can get Fostex FF85K for AUD$140 delivered, so $400 is out of the question. I am looking for the Japanese speaker to fit a particular box that it is recommended for. Not to worry. FF85K is also recommended for this same box, just that the other driver will probably deliver more bass. Anyway, enough off-topic.
Bigj, can you take some pics of what you see in these shops when you find them?!
Here's a few links to some different stuff (small speakers) I really like the mini horn kit!
http://www.spnet.ne.jp/~hasehiro/cgi/e_shop.cgi?order=&mode=p_wide&G_NO=104&IMG=./image/104.jpg
http://userdisk.webry.biglobe.ne.jp/003/805/10/N000/000/000/190520moorea3.jpg
http://tokyo.cool.ne.jp/pomme2/spiral3.htm
http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~tyuuou/enbi/191126koni.htm
http://decnonet.livedoor.biz/archives/50767712.html
http://homepage3.nifty.com/ponkichikun/index20.htm
http://www13.plala.or.jp/e_doremi/contents etc2.htm
http://tokyo.cool.ne.jp/pomme2/spiral.htm
Ian.
Bigj, can you take some pics of what you see in these shops when you find them?!
Here's a few links to some different stuff (small speakers) I really like the mini horn kit!
http://www.spnet.ne.jp/~hasehiro/cgi/e_shop.cgi?order=&mode=p_wide&G_NO=104&IMG=./image/104.jpg
http://userdisk.webry.biglobe.ne.jp/003/805/10/N000/000/000/190520moorea3.jpg
http://tokyo.cool.ne.jp/pomme2/spiral3.htm
http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~tyuuou/enbi/191126koni.htm
http://decnonet.livedoor.biz/archives/50767712.html
http://homepage3.nifty.com/ponkichikun/index20.htm
http://www13.plala.or.jp/e_doremi/contents etc2.htm
http://tokyo.cool.ne.jp/pomme2/spiral.htm
Ian.
I'm tired
So I just returned from a full day of exploring in Akihabara and I must say, I'm beat! The combination of me being a Noob to DIY stuff, not speaking any Japanese, and the heat and humidity of Tokyo summer has taken its toll.
Anyway, I have to say, when all is said and done buying online is WAY easier/cheaper. Especially for a rookie. I don't know why I thought I might find some good deals because EVERYTHING is more expensive here than in the States.
So... Thanks for your suggestions/thoughts. Even though I didn't have much success shopping, I had a lot of fun anyway.
Oh yeah, Yodabashi in Akihabara is AMAZING! I've been to several other ones around the city and I thought they were pretty cool. Go to the big one, you could spend an entire day just in that one spot.
So I just returned from a full day of exploring in Akihabara and I must say, I'm beat! The combination of me being a Noob to DIY stuff, not speaking any Japanese, and the heat and humidity of Tokyo summer has taken its toll.
Anyway, I have to say, when all is said and done buying online is WAY easier/cheaper. Especially for a rookie. I don't know why I thought I might find some good deals because EVERYTHING is more expensive here than in the States.
So... Thanks for your suggestions/thoughts. Even though I didn't have much success shopping, I had a lot of fun anyway.
Oh yeah, Yodabashi in Akihabara is AMAZING! I've been to several other ones around the city and I thought they were pretty cool. Go to the big one, you could spend an entire day just in that one spot.
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