3D Printed Hi-Fi Speaker Cabinet: The Cool Parts Show #29

Conventional high-fidelity speakers have to be quite large in order to preserve the bass range of sound, but their large, boxy construction makes them awkward and inconvenient. This shape also introduces another challenge: corners, which create dead zones and limit the amount of sound that can reach the listener.
Node Audio’s Hylixa speaker takes a different approach, with a small-footprint cabinet that avoids corners entirely. We explore how this product was created (spoiler: acoustic simulation plays a role!) and how 3D printing is key to its production in this episode of The Cool Parts Show.
This episode brought to you by Carpenter Additive. www.carpenteradditive.com/
LEARN MORE ABOUT:
- Node Audio
www.node-audio.com/
- How and why Node Audio’s founders developed the Hylixa speaker
www.additivemanufacturing.med...
- The 3D Systems 3D printer and material used for the housing
www.3dsystems.com/3d-printers...
www.3dsystems.com/materials/d...
- Selective laser sintering (SLS)
www.additivemanufacturing.med...
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#3DPrinting #Manufacturing #HiFiAudio #NodeAudio

[@SDX9000]

Can anyone suggest the approximate cost of such a print in Europe? Where would be a good idea to order a pair of self-designed enclosures made with SLS? Thingverse? :)

[@happinopes5924]

Its less than useless to get the opinion of the designers on the fidelity and character of the sound quality. Its fine to get their design goals and intentions, but asking for a objective opinion on a self evaluation on an inherently subjective assessment is pretty flawed.

[@quinxx12]

Thought the same thing..

[@NackDSP]

There are $500 retail worth of speaker drivers in that $20,000 bobble. Seems like an easy DIY project to build a pair. It would be easy to just build in a second woofer and skip the transmission line non-sense for truly accurate bass.

[@sc0or]

When you have an interior that only those bubbles match to, you'll pay 20k for them effortlessly. May be they are intended to be used in a garage where your Porsches resting. I think a classical wooden cabinet does not match such garage.

[@vincentvoillot6365]

Just to be sure, you do know of the spherical Elipson AS-30 from 1969 or the BW Nautilus line ? Sorry that's not a breakthrought, the problem and solutions are well know.
The material of the cabinet are important too

[@user-rn2bc5bf3f]

additionally... the original Closed Transmission Line speakers were curled closed end speaker cabinets.. a LOT like this. Think they were developed around 1930s.

[@electronicscaos]

One-size-fits-all never applies to hifi speakers.
High reproduction fidelity depends even on the ambient, that must fit the purpose and the equipment.
Nowadays I'm watching people buying those speakers that promise the best quality, but to be very honest, to get it done it's not only about price, there is a full engineering around real HiFi room.

[@laxr5rs]

I very much appreciate your work. But building a speaker cabinet in any way you cannot grab an edge? That is asking for a future world of swear words. "Hi Fi" speakers are heavy. :)

[@boohoo5419]

these guys have no clue what they are talking about. snakeoil salesman.