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A Brassy Acoustic Speaker

By Rain Noe - December 20, 2011

in Object Culture

We've seen acoustic iDevice docks before, but Japanese manufacturer Pleiades has gone a little nuts with the horn. The Trumstand, as it's called, features an acoustic amplifier made of brass, with the sound channel elongated into an "S" because it apparently increases the bass. (Tough to tell from the wonky translation I'm going through here.) One version is gold-plated, another plated in sterling silver.

There's no doubt that it's beautiful, but I have mixed feelings about this product: Does it make sense to make something labor-intensive—well, CNC-intensive, anyway—out of fine metal when the object it supports will likely be obsolete in a year or two? Still, I've gotta admit, I am dying to hear how this thing sounds.

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bob

12 years ago

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I heard one the other day, i work in the audio business and theres no doubt that the product looks the part. though the sound was less than desirable. amplifying an already average audio output can not yield great results. and a horn can not produce the bottom end.
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Tony S

12 years ago

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When you ask, "Does it make sense to make something labor-intensive...likely be obsolete in a year or two?" are you referring to the iPod/iPhone? If so, it doesn't matter so much that the specific device will be obsolete as the iPod dock connector has been a standard running through the various iPod devices for years. I think it actually makes more sense to spend the time crafting a higher quality dock that isn't going to be junked in a year or two when it breaks. Considering Apple is unlikely to move away from it's proprietary dock connector any time soon, if the quality of the electronics in the base is high (or at least good) this dock could be with it's owner through many generations of iPod devices.
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Rob

12 years ago

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Regardless how intensive the manufacturing is, people with mixed feelings about a the speaker due to short lifespan, may also want to consider the device docked into the speaker...

Numerous precious and raw earth metals, chemicals etc - all obsolete in 2-3 years? Don't think the intended market segment considers this.
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Dave

12 years ago

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I've always been a little wary of iPod/iPhone docks are more expensive(I don't know what this one costs), and involved. Mostly, I have trouble with the furniture cabinet speaker systems with docks built in.

That said, this probably made the same way trumpet are made. Formed from sheet. Also, they most likely are using off-the shelf horn parts, rather than designing them from scratch.
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