Dear fellow music enthusiasts!
I would like to open a discussion on a topic that has been on my mind for some time now. There are a lot of different speaker brands out there and it can be a jungle to figure out which of the brands that are actually capable of making genius speakers. Personally I'm drawn to the older values in the history of audio design: simplicity, high quality materials and emphasis on natural
timbre, transient speed, and tonal color — rather than an overreliance on overly complex technologies, which in my view often seem to be corrupting interventions rather than enhancing the musical experience.
It makes perfect sense that the large and commercial brands are capable of selling their products for a high cost. I fully respect and understand that driving a business is difficult and my ambition with this thread is not to criticize certain brands high prices, rather I want to shed light on smaller manufactures that uphold the traditional values I deeply admire in hi-fi — a focus on carefully selected, high-quality components and a dedication to natural, lifelike sound reproduction. For example, Treehaus seems to exemplify this approach, employing Finemet transformers, Rullit field coil drivers, and Belden cabling — all renowned for their quality. Likewise, Tonapparate’s bronze-cast horn designs, inspired by the legendary Western Electric heritage, speak to a similar respect for authentic engineering and timeless principles.
It seems that the products that tend to follow this tradition tends to be very efficient speaker designs - sometimes horndriven.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Do you know of other manufacturers or artisans who still embrace these ideals? Are there brands you trust today that stay true to this philosophy?
Let's try to inspire each other and celebrate some of the manufacturers that are still producing fantastic speakers.
Thank you very much.
I would like to open a discussion on a topic that has been on my mind for some time now. There are a lot of different speaker brands out there and it can be a jungle to figure out which of the brands that are actually capable of making genius speakers. Personally I'm drawn to the older values in the history of audio design: simplicity, high quality materials and emphasis on natural
timbre, transient speed, and tonal color — rather than an overreliance on overly complex technologies, which in my view often seem to be corrupting interventions rather than enhancing the musical experience.
It makes perfect sense that the large and commercial brands are capable of selling their products for a high cost. I fully respect and understand that driving a business is difficult and my ambition with this thread is not to criticize certain brands high prices, rather I want to shed light on smaller manufactures that uphold the traditional values I deeply admire in hi-fi — a focus on carefully selected, high-quality components and a dedication to natural, lifelike sound reproduction. For example, Treehaus seems to exemplify this approach, employing Finemet transformers, Rullit field coil drivers, and Belden cabling — all renowned for their quality. Likewise, Tonapparate’s bronze-cast horn designs, inspired by the legendary Western Electric heritage, speak to a similar respect for authentic engineering and timeless principles.
It seems that the products that tend to follow this tradition tends to be very efficient speaker designs - sometimes horndriven.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Do you know of other manufacturers or artisans who still embrace these ideals? Are there brands you trust today that stay true to this philosophy?
Let's try to inspire each other and celebrate some of the manufacturers that are still producing fantastic speakers.
Thank you very much.