Any of us who lived a normal childhood knows the rules of this game…. Paper covers rock. Well today my friend, we just might have found the Rocks to beat that Paper, cones that is. Pioneer introduces their newest line of speakers, the TS-D Series. What’s unique about these speakers is the fact that their cone is made with basalt, a type of volcanic rock, said to increase its rigidity and strength. 13 new speakers in all dived up amongst their Pioneer and Premier brand, ranging in sizes from 4” to 6” X 9”; All of which incorporate this new Dual Layer IMX Armid / Basalt fiber composite cone.
So exactly how are they created? I’ll let Pioneer explain that:
The new cones consist of a high-tech sandwich of basalt and ceramic components. The basalt, before it is turned into a fabric, is pulverized and melted at more than 2700 degrees Fahrenheit and then drawn into fibers. The combined materials of basalt fibers, aramid fibers and ceramic are used to reinforce Pioneer’s composite injection molded polypropylene (IMPP), creating an extremely strong speaker cone that can withstand flexing associated with excessive cone movement and produce an improved transient response in the mid to low frequency spectrum.
The price you ask? Well the Pioneer TS-D speakers start at a suggested price of $150. Hit the read button for more juicey pics and the full press release.
Continue reading ‘These Rocks beat Paper - Pioneer’s TS-D Series Speakers’
Alpine has begun shipping their new and highly anticipated Type-X series speakers. Type-X speakers will be available in two lines, Professional and Reference. The four units available now are the SPX-17Pro (pictured above) and SPX-13Pro, from the pro line, and SPX-17Ref and SPX-13Ref, from the reference line.
Type-X Pro
The SPX-17PRO 6.5-inch component 2-way speaker and SPX-13PRO 5.25-inch component 2-way speaker each feature a cross-rib hybrid glass fiber woofer cone, 1.25-inch ring radiator tweeter and an audiophile-grade network for detailed reproduction of all types of music. Replaceable Phase Link modules are included with each Type-X Pro set to allow easy custom-tuning for many popular speaker locations. The SPX-17PRO was recognized with a 2008 CES Innovations Design and Engineering award for the In-Vehicle Audio category.
Type-X Reference
The SPX-17REF (pictured below) 6.5-inch component 2-way speaker and the SPX-13REF 5.25-inch component 2-way speaker combine premium sound with an easy-to-install design. The Type-X Reference speakers come with a tweeter mounting bridge that allows users to turn the component system into a coaxial system, for greater installation flexibility.
As for the power, the Pro’s can take 100W maximum RMS, with the Ref’s taking 60W, both under 4 ohms. And the wallet, you can snatch the Type-X Pro’s at a suggested retail price(srp) of $650, or get the References for a srp of $400.
For the complete Release and more pictures, read on!
Continue reading ‘Alpine Ships New Type-X Speakers!’
