Silly design of speaker.
 

I bought some fairly cheap bookshelf two unit speakers, and they sound fine
as long as they are at least a couple of foot away from a wall as they have
a port in the back of the cabinet. However they are described as bookshelf
design, and of cours as most bookshelves are on walls this somewhat makes
the port at the rear a silly design.
Not only that but they have the keyhole screw head retainers and recessed
terminals so you can hang them on the wall. Do this and they sound like
portable radios.

This is what happens when those in charge of selling stuff has no tech
knowledge of speaker design!
Now if they had made the port in the side or the bottom.... or the front
for that matter!
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!

Silly design of speaker.
 

On 06/04/2018 16:56, Brian Gaff wrote:
Now if they had made the port in the side or the bottom.... or the front
for that matter!

A port on the side or bottom of a speaker in a bookshelf wouldn't have
worked well either. It needs to be on the top. With some sort of dust
protection.

Andy

Silly design of speaker.
 

The term "bookshelf" in this context has come to tend to be used to mean
"small enough to be placed on a bookshelf".

Putting a boxed speaker close to a wall generally boosts the bass output.
Using an open port into free air also generally boosts the bass output.
Thus a designer might design the speaker to use one effect *or* the other,
depending on if the user chooses to place it against a wall or not.

So it may be that they had more "tech knowledge" than you think. OTOH it
may have been a clueless / fashion choice on the part of the maker.

Jim

In article , Brian Gaff
wrote:
I bought some fairly cheap bookshelf two unit speakers, and they sound
fine as long as they are at least a couple of foot away from a wall as
they have a port in the back of the cabinet. However they are described
as bookshelf design, and of cours as most bookshelves are on walls this
somewhat makes the port at the rear a silly design. Not only that but
they have the keyhole screw head retainers and recessed terminals so
you can hang them on the wall. Do this and they sound like portable
radios.

This is what happens when those in charge of selling stuff has no tech
knowledge of speaker design! Now if they had made the port in the side
or the bottom.... or the front for that matter! Brian

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~www_pa...o/electron.htm
biog http://jcgl.orpheusweb.co.uk/history/ups_and_downs.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

Silly design of speaker.
 

Once upon a time on usenet Jim Lesurf wrote:
The term "bookshelf" in this context has come to tend to be used to
mean "small enough to be placed on a bookshelf".

I have a pair of speakers that were sold as Bookshelf speakers by the
manufacturer - Goodmans Mezzo SLs. They're ... 530 x 320 x 250 deep (but do
have their small port on the front baffle). Even back in the 1970s when they
were made "bookshelf" was a very loose term that had very little to do with
an actual bookshelf.

From a review in the March 1975 issue of Gramaphone:
"The Mezzo SL is described as a bookshelf speaker, but is moderately large
for such a description, measuring 21 x 12i x 10 inches."

Putting a boxed speaker close to a wall generally boosts the bass
output. Using an open port into free air also generally boosts the
bass output. Thus a designer might design the speaker to use one
effect *or* the other, depending on if the user chooses to place it
against a wall or not.

That same review says this of the Mezzo SL:
"Connections are made via, a recessed box which helpfully carries both a
standard 2-pin polarised DIN male socket and a pair of 4mm (banana plug)
sockets. The recess allows the speakers to be placed flat against a wall,
and such positioning is likely to give just the level of natural bass lift
which bookshelf-size speakers appreciate."

Cheers,
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a cozy
little classification in the DSM*."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1)
(*Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

So it may be that they had more "tech knowledge" than you think. OTOH
it may have been a clueless / fashion choice on the part of the maker.

Jim

In article , Brian Gaff
wrote:
I bought some fairly cheap bookshelf two unit speakers, and they
sound fine as long as they are at least a couple of foot away from a
wall as they have a port in the back of the cabinet. However they
are described as bookshelf design, and of cours as most bookshelves
are on walls this somewhat makes the port at the rear a silly
design. Not only that but they have the keyhole screw head retainers
and recessed terminals so you can hang them on the wall. Do this and
they sound like portable radios.

This is what happens when those in charge of selling stuff has no
tech knowledge of speaker design! Now if they had made the port in
the side or the bottom.... or the front for that matter! Brian

Silly design of speaker.
 

Yes well the terminals were obviously designed on these by one person, they
are of the sprung kind, and recessed, but then some idiot put the port on
the back. Like huh?

I guess this is what you often find when they have a name as tacky as
Skytronic, which sounds like it ws made up in about 10 seconds roungd the
pub.

Not to say that they sound bad, but that their placement is critical.
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"~misfit~" wrote in message
...
Once upon a time on usenet Jim Lesurf wrote:
The term "bookshelf" in this context has come to tend to be used to
mean "small enough to be placed on a bookshelf".

I have a pair of speakers that were sold as Bookshelf speakers by the
manufacturer - Goodmans Mezzo SLs. They're ... 530 x 320 x 250 deep (but
do have their small port on the front baffle). Even back in the 1970s when
they were made "bookshelf" was a very loose term that had very little to
do with an actual bookshelf.

From a review in the March 1975 issue of Gramaphone:
"The Mezzo SL is described as a bookshelf speaker, but is moderately large
for such a description, measuring 21 x 12i x 10 inches."

Putting a boxed speaker close to a wall generally boosts the bass
output. Using an open port into free air also generally boosts the
bass output. Thus a designer might design the speaker to use one
effect *or* the other, depending on if the user chooses to place it
against a wall or not.

That same review says this of the Mezzo SL:
"Connections are made via, a recessed box which helpfully carries both a
standard 2-pin polarised DIN male socket and a pair of 4mm (banana plug)
sockets. The recess allows the speakers to be placed flat against a wall,
and such positioning is likely to give just the level of natural bass lift
which bookshelf-size speakers appreciate."

Cheers,
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a
cozy little classification in the DSM*."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1)
(*Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

So it may be that they had more "tech knowledge" than you think. OTOH
it may have been a clueless / fashion choice on the part of the maker.

Jim

In article , Brian Gaff
wrote:
I bought some fairly cheap bookshelf two unit speakers, and they
sound fine as long as they are at least a couple of foot away from a
wall as they have a port in the back of the cabinet. However they
are described as bookshelf design, and of cours as most bookshelves
are on walls this somewhat makes the port at the rear a silly
design. Not only that but they have the keyhole screw head retainers
and recessed terminals so you can hang them on the wall. Do this and
they sound like portable radios.

This is what happens when those in charge of selling stuff has no
tech knowledge of speaker design! Now if they had made the port in
the side or the bottom.... or the front for that matter! Brian

Silly design of speaker.
 

keskiviikko 11. huhtikuuta 2018 13.56.51 UTC+3 Brian Gaff kirjoitti:
Yes well the terminals were obviously designed on these by one person, they
are of the sprung kind, and recessed, but then some idiot put the port on
the back. Like huh?

I guess this is what you often find when they have a name as tacky as
Skytronic, which sounds like it ws made up in about 10 seconds roungd the
pub.

Not to say that they sound bad, but that their placement is critical.
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"~misfit~" wrote in message
...
Once upon a time on usenet Jim Lesurf wrote:
The term "bookshelf" in this context has come to tend to be used to
mean "small enough to be placed on a bookshelf".

I have a pair of speakers that were sold as Bookshelf speakers by the
manufacturer - Goodmans Mezzo SLs. They're ... 530 x 320 x 250 deep (but
do have their small port on the front baffle). Even back in the 1970s when
they were made "bookshelf" was a very loose term that had very little to
do with an actual bookshelf.

From a review in the March 1975 issue of Gramaphone:
"The Mezzo SL is described as a bookshelf speaker, but is moderately large
for such a description, measuring 21 x 12i x 10 inches."

Putting a boxed speaker close to a wall generally boosts the bass
output. Using an open port into free air also generally boosts the
bass output. Thus a designer might design the speaker to use one
effect *or* the other, depending on if the user chooses to place it
against a wall or not.

That same review says this of the Mezzo SL:
"Connections are made via, a recessed box which helpfully carries both a
standard 2-pin polarised DIN male socket and a pair of 4mm (banana plug)
sockets. The recess allows the speakers to be placed flat against a wall,
and such positioning is likely to give just the level of natural bass lift
which bookshelf-size speakers appreciate."

Cheers,
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a
cozy little classification in the DSM*."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1)
(*Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

So it may be that they had more "tech knowledge" than you think. OTOH
it may have been a clueless / fashion choice on the part of the maker.

Jim

In article , Brian Gaff
wrote:
I bought some fairly cheap bookshelf two unit speakers, and they
sound fine as long as they are at least a couple of foot away from a
wall as they have a port in the back of the cabinet. However they
are described as bookshelf design, and of cours as most bookshelves
are on walls this somewhat makes the port at the rear a silly
design. Not only that but they have the keyhole screw head retainers
and recessed terminals so you can hang them on the wall. Do this and
they sound like portable radios.

This is what happens when those in charge of selling stuff has no
tech knowledge of speaker design! Now if they had made the port in
the side or the bottom.... or the front for that matter! Brian





According to their brochure, Skytronic specialise in DJ and
karaoke equipment. You didn't mention the model number of
the speaker you have. But they have a bookshelf model that retails
at Euro 55. I don't think one can be too picky at that price:-)

Iain

Silly design of speaker.
 

The fronts are detachable so the unwary can damage the bass unit and small
children can poke things in the tweeter.
Luckily, I'll not be removing them and have no small children.


I do own a pair of Walnut Dentons by Wharfdale, which still sound quite good
considering their age.
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Iain" wrote in message
...
keskiviikko 11. huhtikuuta 2018 13.56.51 UTC+3 Brian Gaff kirjoitti:
Yes well the terminals were obviously designed on these by one person,
they
are of the sprung kind, and recessed, but then some idiot put the port on
the back. Like huh?

I guess this is what you often find when they have a name as tacky as
Skytronic, which sounds like it ws made up in about 10 seconds roungd the
pub.

Not to say that they sound bad, but that their placement is critical.
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"~misfit~" wrote in message
...
Once upon a time on usenet Jim Lesurf wrote:
The term "bookshelf" in this context has come to tend to be used to
mean "small enough to be placed on a bookshelf".

I have a pair of speakers that were sold as Bookshelf speakers by the
manufacturer - Goodmans Mezzo SLs. They're ... 530 x 320 x 250 deep
(but
do have their small port on the front baffle). Even back in the 1970s
when
they were made "bookshelf" was a very loose term that had very little
to
do with an actual bookshelf.

From a review in the March 1975 issue of Gramaphone:
"The Mezzo SL is described as a bookshelf speaker, but is moderately
large
for such a description, measuring 21 x 12i x 10 inches."

Putting a boxed speaker close to a wall generally boosts the bass
output. Using an open port into free air also generally boosts the
bass output. Thus a designer might design the speaker to use one
effect *or* the other, depending on if the user chooses to place it
against a wall or not.

That same review says this of the Mezzo SL:
"Connections are made via, a recessed box which helpfully carries both
a
standard 2-pin polarised DIN male socket and a pair of 4mm (banana
plug)
sockets. The recess allows the speakers to be placed flat against a
wall,
and such positioning is likely to give just the level of natural bass
lift
which bookshelf-size speakers appreciate."

Cheers,
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a
cozy little classification in the DSM*."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1)
(*Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

So it may be that they had more "tech knowledge" than you think. OTOH
it may have been a clueless / fashion choice on the part of the maker.

Jim

In article , Brian Gaff
wrote:
I bought some fairly cheap bookshelf two unit speakers, and they
sound fine as long as they are at least a couple of foot away from a
wall as they have a port in the back of the cabinet. However they
are described as bookshelf design, and of cours as most bookshelves
are on walls this somewhat makes the port at the rear a silly
design. Not only that but they have the keyhole screw head retainers
and recessed terminals so you can hang them on the wall. Do this and
they sound like portable radios.

This is what happens when those in charge of selling stuff has no
tech knowledge of speaker design! Now if they had made the port in
the side or the bottom.... or the front for that matter! Brian





According to their brochure, Skytronic specialise in DJ and
karaoke equipment. You didn't mention the model number of
the speaker you have. But they have a bookshelf model that retails
at Euro 55. I don't think one can be too picky at that price:-)

Iain

Silly design of speaker.
 

Once upon a time on usenet Brian Gaff wrote:
The fronts are detachable so the unwary can damage the bass unit and
small children can poke things in the tweeter.
Luckily, I'll not be removing them and have no small children.

I do own a pair of Walnut Dentons by Wharfdale, which still sound
quite good considering their age.

I alos have some walnut veneer Denton 2s but the rubber surround of one of
the woofers has become detatched from the aluminium chassis (the glue has
gone brittle and let go, the surrounds themselves are fine). Consequently I
haven't heard them for a few years, they're in the 'round tuit' category but
as I'll likely have to move into a smaller home next year will probably be a
bargain for someone. The pink acetate coned tweeters are a real curiosity.
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a cozy
little classification in the DSM*."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1)
(*Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

keskiviikko 11. huhtikuuta 2018 13.56.51 UTC+3 Brian Gaff kirjoitti:
Yes well the terminals were obviously designed on these by one
person, they
are of the sprung kind, and recessed, but then some idiot put the
port on the back. Like huh?

I guess this is what you often find when they have a name as tacky
as Skytronic, which sounds like it ws made up in about 10 seconds
roungd the pub.

Not to say that they sound bad, but that their placement is
critical. Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"~misfit~" wrote in message
...
Once upon a time on usenet Jim Lesurf wrote:
The term "bookshelf" in this context has come to tend to be used
to mean "small enough to be placed on a bookshelf".

I have a pair of speakers that were sold as Bookshelf speakers by
the manufacturer - Goodmans Mezzo SLs. They're ... 530 x 320 x 250
deep (but
do have their small port on the front baffle). Even back in the
1970s when
they were made "bookshelf" was a very loose term that had very
little to
do with an actual bookshelf.

From a review in the March 1975 issue of Gramaphone:
"The Mezzo SL is described as a bookshelf speaker, but is
moderately large
for such a description, measuring 21 x 12i x 10 inches."

Putting a boxed speaker close to a wall generally boosts the bass
output. Using an open port into free air also generally boosts the
bass output. Thus a designer might design the speaker to use one
effect *or* the other, depending on if the user chooses to place
it against a wall or not.

That same review says this of the Mezzo SL:
"Connections are made via, a recessed box which helpfully carries
both a
standard 2-pin polarised DIN male socket and a pair of 4mm (banana
plug)
sockets. The recess allows the speakers to be placed flat against a
wall,
and such positioning is likely to give just the level of natural
bass lift
which bookshelf-size speakers appreciate."

Cheers,
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief
has a cozy little classification in the DSM*."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1)
(*Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

So it may be that they had more "tech knowledge" than you think.
OTOH it may have been a clueless / fashion choice on the part of
the maker. Jim

In article , Brian Gaff
wrote:
I bought some fairly cheap bookshelf two unit speakers, and they
sound fine as long as they are at least a couple of foot away
from a wall as they have a port in the back of the cabinet.
However they are described as bookshelf design, and of cours as
most bookshelves are on walls this somewhat makes the port at
the rear a silly design. Not only that but they have the keyhole
screw head retainers and recessed terminals so you can hang them
on the wall. Do this and they sound like portable radios.

This is what happens when those in charge of selling stuff has no
tech knowledge of speaker design! Now if they had made the port
in the side or the bottom.... or the front for that matter! Brian





According to their brochure, Skytronic specialise in DJ and
karaoke equipment. You didn't mention the model number of
the speaker you have. But they have a bookshelf model that retails
at Euro 55. I don't think one can be too picky at that price:-)

Iain

Silly design of speaker.
 

Once upon a time on usenet Brian Gaff wrote:
Yes well the terminals were obviously designed on these by one
person, they are of the sprung kind, and recessed, but then some
idiot put the port on the back. Like huh?

I guess this is what you often find when they have a name as tacky as
Skytronic, which sounds like it ws made up in about 10 seconds roungd
the pub.

Not to say that they sound bad, but that their placement is critical.

I have some Skytronic kevlar mid-woofers that I bought to try as
replacements for some woofers that had died in some random JBL speakers I
had. They'd be fine in DJ or PA gear (their target market) but weren't up to
the task I bought them for.
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a cozy
little classification in the DSM*."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1)
(*Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

Once upon a time on usenet Jim Lesurf wrote:
The term "bookshelf" in this context has come to tend to be used to
mean "small enough to be placed on a bookshelf".

I have a pair of speakers that were sold as Bookshelf speakers by the
manufacturer - Goodmans Mezzo SLs. They're ... 530 x 320 x 250 deep
(but do have their small port on the front baffle). Even back in the
1970s when they were made "bookshelf" was a very loose term that had
very little to do with an actual bookshelf.

From a review in the March 1975 issue of Gramaphone:
"The Mezzo SL is described as a bookshelf speaker, but is moderately
large for such a description, measuring 21 x 12i x 10 inches."

Putting a boxed speaker close to a wall generally boosts the bass
output. Using an open port into free air also generally boosts the
bass output. Thus a designer might design the speaker to use one
effect *or* the other, depending on if the user chooses to place it
against a wall or not.

That same review says this of the Mezzo SL:
"Connections are made via, a recessed box which helpfully carries
both a standard 2-pin polarised DIN male socket and a pair of 4mm
(banana plug) sockets. The recess allows the speakers to be placed
flat against a wall, and such positioning is likely to give just the
level of natural bass lift which bookshelf-size speakers appreciate."

Cheers,
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief
has a cozy little classification in the DSM*."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1)
(*Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

So it may be that they had more "tech knowledge" than you think.
OTOH it may have been a clueless / fashion choice on the part of
the maker. Jim

In article , Brian Gaff
wrote:
I bought some fairly cheap bookshelf two unit speakers, and they
sound fine as long as they are at least a couple of foot away from
a wall as they have a port in the back of the cabinet. However they
are described as bookshelf design, and of cours as most bookshelves
are on walls this somewhat makes the port at the rear a silly
design. Not only that but they have the keyhole screw head
retainers and recessed terminals so you can hang them on the wall.
Do this and they sound like portable radios.

This is what happens when those in charge of selling stuff has no
tech knowledge of speaker design! Now if they had made the port in
the side or the bottom.... or the front for that matter! Brian

Silly design of speaker.
 

Not sure how one would get to the drive units on the dentons, they seem to
be sealed from what I can see.
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"~misfit~" wrote in message
...
Once upon a time on usenet Brian Gaff wrote:
The fronts are detachable so the unwary can damage the bass unit and
small children can poke things in the tweeter.
Luckily, I'll not be removing them and have no small children.

I do own a pair of Walnut Dentons by Wharfdale, which still sound
quite good considering their age.

I alos have some walnut veneer Denton 2s but the rubber surround of one of
the woofers has become detatched from the aluminium chassis (the glue has
gone brittle and let go, the surrounds themselves are fine). Consequently
I haven't heard them for a few years, they're in the 'round tuit' category
but as I'll likely have to move into a smaller home next year will
probably be a bargain for someone. The pink acetate coned tweeters are a
real curiosity.
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a
cozy little classification in the DSM*."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1)
(*Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

keskiviikko 11. huhtikuuta 2018 13.56.51 UTC+3 Brian Gaff kirjoitti:
Yes well the terminals were obviously designed on these by one
person, they
are of the sprung kind, and recessed, but then some idiot put the
port on the back. Like huh?

I guess this is what you often find when they have a name as tacky
as Skytronic, which sounds like it ws made up in about 10 seconds
roungd the pub.

Not to say that they sound bad, but that their placement is
critical. Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"~misfit~" wrote in message
...
Once upon a time on usenet Jim Lesurf wrote:
The term "bookshelf" in this context has come to tend to be used
to mean "small enough to be placed on a bookshelf".

I have a pair of speakers that were sold as Bookshelf speakers by
the manufacturer - Goodmans Mezzo SLs. They're ... 530 x 320 x 250
deep (but
do have their small port on the front baffle). Even back in the
1970s when
they were made "bookshelf" was a very loose term that had very
little to
do with an actual bookshelf.

From a review in the March 1975 issue of Gramaphone:
"The Mezzo SL is described as a bookshelf speaker, but is
moderately large
for such a description, measuring 21 x 12i x 10 inches."

Putting a boxed speaker close to a wall generally boosts the bass
output. Using an open port into free air also generally boosts the
bass output. Thus a designer might design the speaker to use one
effect *or* the other, depending on if the user chooses to place
it against a wall or not.

That same review says this of the Mezzo SL:
"Connections are made via, a recessed box which helpfully carries
both a
standard 2-pin polarised DIN male socket and a pair of 4mm (banana
plug)
sockets. The recess allows the speakers to be placed flat against a
wall,
and such positioning is likely to give just the level of natural
bass lift
which bookshelf-size speakers appreciate."

Cheers,
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief
has a cozy little classification in the DSM*."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1)
(*Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

So it may be that they had more "tech knowledge" than you think.
OTOH it may have been a clueless / fashion choice on the part of
the maker. Jim

In article , Brian Gaff
wrote:
I bought some fairly cheap bookshelf two unit speakers, and they
sound fine as long as they are at least a couple of foot away
from a wall as they have a port in the back of the cabinet.
However they are described as bookshelf design, and of cours as
most bookshelves are on walls this somewhat makes the port at
the rear a silly design. Not only that but they have the keyhole
screw head retainers and recessed terminals so you can hang them
on the wall. Do this and they sound like portable radios.

This is what happens when those in charge of selling stuff has no
tech knowledge of speaker design! Now if they had made the port
in the side or the bottom.... or the front for that matter! Brian





According to their brochure, Skytronic specialise in DJ and
karaoke equipment. You didn't mention the model number of
the speaker you have. But they have a bookshelf model that retails
at Euro 55. I don't think one can be too picky at that price:-)

Iain