Silver Member Username: ExerciseguyBrooklyn, NY USA Post Number: 515 Registered: Oct-04 | I've been getting the itch for new pair of speakers, and I'm cheap. A cute little pair of Boston Acoustic CR77s have caught my eye for $160 delivered, but I can find next to nothing on them. I'm very impressed by the Boston Receptor Radio I own, but can that sound translate to a pair of speakers? They're decribed as having that "Boston Sound", what the heck does that mean? There's also a pair of Wharfedale Crystal 30s that I know nothing about for about $130 deliverd. Does any know about the Crystal series? |
Bronze Member Username: SerniterPiscataway, New Jersey USA Post Number: 70 Registered: Mar-06 | There are a lot of sites online that display the Crystal 30s, but have not come across reviews so far. They use woven polypropylene cones. Wonder if thats another name for Kevlar?? They are good looking though, and seem surprisingly cheap for $130! Where did you find them? |
Silver Member Username: ExerciseguyBrooklyn, NY USA Post Number: 516 Registered: Oct-04 | http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.storefront/45279adf00477d262740ac100341061c/Pro duct/View/2099&2D2 The Wharfedale site has a catalog on the Crystal series that states: "The newest cone material from Wharfedale is nothing short of a revolution in hi-fi terms. A material that when formed into a cone, exhibits incredible strength, impact resistance, has better self-damping properties than KEVLAR and yet is lightweight, affordable and recyclable. Since the invention of the cone driver, over seventy years ago, the quest for newer and better materials has continued. It is a testament to the demands of hi-fidelity reproduction that this search continues. The discovery of high strength to weight ratio polymers such as polypropylene advanced the study significantly but the problem has always been the compromise between stiffness and weight. Whilst polypropylene as a fibre has excellent tensile strength, when it is formed into a cone using conventional construction methods, the overall shape has certain weaknesses. Under the stress of highly dynamic music, where a cone can be travelling accelerating or decelerating at incredible rates, cone distortions can occur which impact negatively on the sound purity. Our latest 'HCWPP' cone technology mixes the superior strength to weight ratio of fibre braid materials such as KEVLAR with revolutionary self-damping properties never previously available in a single, recyclable material. The HCWPP (Hot Compacted Woven Polypropylene) process forms a material consisting of aligned polypropylene fibres in a matrix of thermoformed polypropylene. The new cone material consists of approximately 80% molecularly aligned fibres in a matrix of 20% polypropylene resulting from melting and cooling the "skins" of the fibres." But does it sound good? |
Silver Member Username: ExerciseguyBrooklyn, NY USA Post Number: 517 Registered: Oct-04 | This guy thinks highly of the Crystal 40s http://www.audioreview.com/mfr/wharfedale/floorstanding-speakers/PRD_339923_1594 crx.aspx |
Gold Member Username: NuckPost Number: 4298 Registered: Dec-04 | Not to get too far offa topic here, but the short blurb Chris posted has 2 references to recyclable driver materials. Now it's probably just me, nuke the whales, but who cares? The pieces should last a lifetime. The PR guys there may think it's eco-happy and all, it sends a silly message to me. I am more concerned with the mercury, arsenic ans strontium of the magnet myself. Back to topic... |
Bronze Member Username: SerniterPiscataway, New Jersey USA Post Number: 71 Registered: Mar-06 | Chris, thank you for the links. Will pass on the info to friends looking for speakers. These might make good alternatives to some relatively expensive mainstream brands. Nuck, bio-degradable might have worked better... I have no information on how to submit my speakers for recycle even if I wanted to! |
Silver Member Username: ExerciseguyBrooklyn, NY USA Post Number: 521 Registered: Oct-04 | Srinvas, Let me know if he picks up the Wharfes, I'd like to know his impressions. As for me, I wona pair of NIB Boston Acoustic CR77 for $122 on ebay. I'm a compulsive buyer. |