Glass Cabinet Speakers

[MylesBAstor]

Lots of different materials have been used over the years to make speaker enclosures. Metal. Concrete. Wood. Wilson's composite X-material, etc. One that is a real curiosity is the special glass such as used by Perfect 8, Crystal Cable and Waterfall speakers. Even subs! Of course, the idea of glass like any material has to do with reduction of vibrations, cabinet shapes, etc. Anyone heard them and have any opinions?

[JCOConnell]

shouldn't there be some sort of sound absorbing foam inside the cabinet? oh, wait, that would be ugly, even if it improved the sound.

[dsnyder0cnn]

I have always assumed that these were created simply for (non-functional) demos at audio shows.

[JCOConnell]

I have always assumed that these were created simply for (non-functional) demos at audio shows.

the ones shown are certainly non functional as there is no crossovers or wiring to the drivers

[JCOConnell]

repeat post

[MylesBAstor]

I have always assumed that these were created simply for (non-functional) demos at audio shows.

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipmen..._arabesque.htm

I did hear the big Perfect 8s at a person's home but they weren't totally working correctly.

[Garth]

Some nice big glass horns a few Lava lamps .

I heard the perfect 8s at a show not bad .

[1morerecord2clean]

Have heard the P8s art quite a few shows, the size shown and the reference ones, and I have liked them very much particularly when paired with Ypsilon electronics.

[Rust]

Never heard them but will put out a few ideas.

It is certainly a means of product differentiation, always an important commercial consideration. I don't know which brand introduced the first such product or of any interrelationships between them, but there is sort of a "me too" flavor that glass would suddenly come into vogue. In comparison to some other materials glass is relatively inexpensive, readily available and easily worked.

As to whether the use of glass as an enclosure material contributes in a positive manner to the sound, no idea. Don't throw rocks however.

[JCOConnell]

They smell like a gimmick to me. What happens when you really crank them up and the cabinet shatters? I know, the Mfgr. tells you "you must have dropped it" no refund.

[david k]

Only heard them at CES, not the best place to draw conclusions but the bass was very disjointed from the rest of the speaker, was too tight and lacked definition. I thought that it was turned up too high too but the designer disagreed with me and was very proud of the bass.
david

[MylesBAstor]

Only heard them at CES, not the best place to draw conclusions but the bass was very disjointed from the rest of the speaker, was too tight and lacked definition. I thought that it was turned up too high too but the designer disagreed with me and was very proud of the bass.
david

Yeah you are spot on. The woofers, that were a brand new product then--as were the xoves and cables--just didn't integrate with the rest of Leon's speakers. Plus Lloyd was always fooling with the SRA on the table and one time went in, geometry was totally off. We finally got it close after a bit of work. And the room was way too big for the speakers. They should have set the speaker up at one end of the room rather than in the middle IMHO.

[david k]

It was just as bad in their own room, they were using the same speaker in your small picture above.

[MylesBAstor]

They smell like a gimmick to me. What happens when you really crank them up and the cabinet shatters? I know, the Mfgr. tells you "you must have dropped it" no refund.

Why should they shatter? It's not ordinary glass. Not to mention we have bulletproof glass and many other variations that can take extreme pressure eg. bathyscapes, etc.

[JCOConnell]

Why should they shatter? It's not ordinary glass. Not to mention we have bulletproof glass and many other variations that can take extreme pressure eg. bathyscapes, etc.

OK, its a special glass. It still smells like a gimmick to me.

[MylesBAstor]

OK, its a special glass. It still smells like a gimmick to me.

I still don't understand JC.

What is the function of the speaker cabinet? Not that unlike a tonearm/cartridge. To hold the drivers motionless and absorb vibrations that might otherwise affect the sound. Just on either ends of the system. So not only can glass offer some advantages in terms of vibrations and their decay characteristics but also you can shape the cabinet in ways you can't with wood or metal to address standing waves inside the cabinet, etc.