Tech That Flopped!


Every few months someone releases technology that seems to be revolutionary, but goes nowhere a couple of years later. Some tech gets acceptance and even imitation. Some goes wildly successful.

Ideas that are a huge success:
  • Acoustic suspension
  • Bass Reflex
  • Soft dome tweeters
Some ideas, well, it's not so clear:
  • Perfectly time aligned speakers ilke Thiel/Vandersteen
  • ESL
  • Line Arrays
  • Plasma tweeters
  • Transmission line
What tech have you seen come and go, was it worthwhile?

Best,

E
erik_squires
@2psyop

I have actually been thinking a lot about that approach to reproducing musical instruments, and I'm not sure it was all hogwash, exactly. The quality of the drivers, timbre, etc. would keep me from seeking out a Bose 901.... but rear drivers is really interesting.

Snell used them, and Wilson's latest super-beast has one too.  I think they are quite interesting, but still an effect as opposed to more musical extraction.

To large degree, open baffle speakers do this too. Again, niche products, but fun and interesting solutions to problems.

Best,


E
DBX records......Only one or two had real music content and the complex approach  soon slipped into oblivion. 
Time aligned speakers a niche'? Perhaps, but I'm not so sure. While not many manufacturers apply the principles, most of the few that do or did, achieved lasting high end critical acclaim, and significant high end market success. Sadly a couple of the most successful proponents passed away, leaving voids that have yet to find replacements with the necessary skills.