My sentiments echo what everyone else is thinking - don't discount any speaker manufacturer just because they're using off-the-shelf drivers. A great example, as pbnaudio mentioned before me, is ScanSpeak. Their "Revelator" tweeter is superb, just one of those cases where they nailed it, hit a home-run, and it ended up being used in many great designs. For many speaker designers, there would be no need to pour money into R&D to try and come up with a better mousetrap - with great components already in existence like the "Revelator", or Vifa's Ring Radiator tweeter, there's no need to reinvent the wheel (in very simplistic terms). And fortunately for us non-oligarchs, you don't have to spend ultra-high-end money to own speakers with these components.
In House Manufacturing vs. OEM Sourcing
I've been away from the hobby for quite some time, and my recent search for a new pair of loudspeakers has my head spinning. I never realized there were so many companies making loudspeakers these days. I've never heard of 60% of them.
What I do see is that the vast majority are using drivers from OEM manufacturers. While some claim that the drivers are "made to their specifications," the skeptic in me thinks there's a bit of smoke in the air. I'm sure someone like Wilson Audio is an exception, but I don't believe that's the case for most of them.
I would imagine that companies that manufacture their own drivers (Focal, Dynaudio, etc.) would have a distinct advantage in developing and voicing a loudspeaker. I'm not saying there there aren't some exceptional speakers out there that use OEM drivers, but it seems that distinction is limited to the ultra high-end.
Thoughts?
What I do see is that the vast majority are using drivers from OEM manufacturers. While some claim that the drivers are "made to their specifications," the skeptic in me thinks there's a bit of smoke in the air. I'm sure someone like Wilson Audio is an exception, but I don't believe that's the case for most of them.
I would imagine that companies that manufacture their own drivers (Focal, Dynaudio, etc.) would have a distinct advantage in developing and voicing a loudspeaker. I'm not saying there there aren't some exceptional speakers out there that use OEM drivers, but it seems that distinction is limited to the ultra high-end.
Thoughts?
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- 7 posts total
- 7 posts total