| I went to Japan 5 times. There are actually 5 companies in Japan, witch deal with these exotic high-end drivers. YL audio, ALE , GOTO , and Onken. YL audio and Onken does not exist anymore, as far as I know, I was privileged to visit Kondo sans factory. I have still a catalog from them, as probably only a view people know, Audio Note does produce also very exclusive high-end drivers and woofers, all with silver wiring. Probably they do not commercialize outside of Japan, because no market for that stuff. Mid bass of Kondos system was excellent, deep bass Kondo uses his 38cm woofer in a very big cabinet, goes really deep, sound is warm, but not so fast. Overall very nice sound. I visit also ALE factory near Yokohama. Its probably a one or two man company, the owner produces all drivers and horns in a very small factory. He worked 30 years ago at YL audio, as well as Goto san. they have the same background. I did go with him to listen a system outside of Tokyo. There are fotos of this system at this site: http://aca.gr/pop_goto_ale.htm It’s the five way reference system, with green drivers. I have pics of the bass horn behind, its straight 9m. I brought my own cds, and I had some with very deep bass. I was surprised, as the basshorn did not go very deep, and time delay was a problem, you actually hear that the soundsource is 9m behind you, and that is really bad. It can be imagined like you go to a deep well, and somebody is down there. When this person calls you from down there, you can notice that the source comes from far deep, at a view m of distance. The same happens with these long horns. So , definitely, not a good solution for good, deep bass. The rest of the system was fine. I don’t think that these exotic Japanese drivers are far better than more commercial drivers, like tad, altec, etc. Probably only the highest series of Goto, really crazy. I don’t believe that their exponential horns sound honky. Goto’s objective is to creat the most natural sound possible, and they where using a piano, playing it, and then comparing directly with their speakers. They know very well what they do, and I believe, there is no coloration at all. And, they do that for over 30years… These drivers are not expensive only in the states , but also in japan. Only a example. The 1260 ALE 100kg bass driver costs there 1.3 mio yen each, abought us $11.000,00 I think a subwoofer with good speakers, Iike a audire 1808 should really sound better. Actually, I want to buy these, if u know who has a pair for sale ? |
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