[James Romeyn]

Taken today at The Plant w/ Brian when I picked up my piano black finish.  3 w/o flash, one w/ flash.  These speakers are sharp.  You must see them.  Probably the best looking loudspeakers I've seen.  They made me wish I ordered them instead of my black, in spite of the fact that black is more versatile.  Very limited availability.   

[John Casler]

Hi Jim,

Holy Macaroni!!! Those are good looking

Just imagine, RM30's with SUPERMAX OXO.

Makes my ears water just talking about it

[James Romeyn]

John
I got a pair, but they are still sitting in the back of my truck if you can believe it.  I may not get sound out of mine till I return from work, unfortunately.

[BradJudy]

These look very nice.  Just a quick correction though.  The ebony used by SAC (aka the MLS cabinets) is macassar ebony, not African ebony.  Macassar ebony is from the South Pacific/SE Asia, not Africa.  AV123 mistakenly listed the finish as "African macassar ebony" for a while and the name seems to have stuck. 

[James Romeyn]

Brad
Thanks.  I hope you don't mind me asking for the source of the information. 

I like the name!  It looks more exotic than just plain ole' "African".  How is it pronounced (not in MW's)?
Jimbo

[audionut101]

hey ribbon,

from your earlier post where you state- "As a function of increased cost, the $3500 Dodd must be 40% better than the $2500 MW to just equal its value."

so I am sure you would say that since the RM40 (FST tweeter) is $4,999 and the RM30c /fst is $3195, that the  RM40 is 56% better?? 

Ok, how about this one- RM/x w/FST -$14,900.00, RM40 (FST Tweeter) -$4,999.00, RM30C w/FST -$3195.00.  So the RM/x is 366% better than the RM30 and 198% better than the RM40 huh?

I wonder what Big B would say with your pricing logic?

[John Casler]

These look very nice.  Just a quick correction though.  The ebony used by SAC (aka the MLS cabinets) is macassar ebony, not African ebony.  Macassar ebony is from the South Pacific/SE Asia, not Africa.  AV123 mistakenly listed the finish as "African macassar ebony" for a while and the name seems to have stuck. 

Brad is 100% correct.

The first time Mark told us about that finish he called it "African Ebony" and the name has stuck.

We have been corrected numerous times, and probably should change, but how do you say "Macassar"?  Or Macassar Ebony?  Sounds like a bird or something

African Ebony, brings wild Zebra to mind and the Mystery and Adventure  of the Dark Continent.

How can we ever change?  (although we should)

[warnerwh]

I think Macassar Ebony sounds more elegant. That finish had been my first choice and I still love it. Actually I'd have ordered that if my female didn't strongly suggest the Rosewood instead. Although everyone who has seen the Rosewood RM 40's here has commented on how gorgeous they are I wished I'd have ordered these Ebony speakers. A stunning finish to go with stunning sound quality.

[BradJudy]

If you want to know how to say it, search on Makassar (alternate spelling) at webster.com and it has a pronunciation link (little speaker icon next to the word). 

AV123 was corrected many times on the point (I think they can also point to Mark as the source of the confusion ), although most customers wouldn't know the difference. 

I don't care if you change the name, I just wanted to make sure you knew the correct name.

[tbrooke]

I've got the 626's on order and I was wondering if the CDWG 626 has the slit/ebony front instead of the grill cloth like the RM30 apparently does in the pictures.It looks pretty Cool

Tom Bropoke

[Brian Cheney]

I ordered the 626 waveguides in piano black only because of the difficulty matching veneers.  The ebony in particular varies quite a bit in shade and grain.  I have received several complaints from RM 30 owners about their new waveguides not matching the cabinet finish, so black it is.

[john1970]

Brian,

From your previous post I assume that the RM40 CDWGs on order are also in black.  Pitty that some owners complained about the shade and wood grain not matching.  IMO  an RM40 in MLS maple cabinets with CDWGs in Ebony would have looked absolutely stunning!!! 

Best,

John

[tbrooke]

Piano black actually sounds better to me.

Tom

[John Casler]

Brian,

From your previous post I assume that the RM40 CDWGs on order are also in black.  Pitty that some owners complained about the shade and wood grain not matching.  IMO  an RM40 in MLS maple cabinets with CDWGs in Ebony would have looked absolutely stunning!!! 

Best,

John

B, has posted that he has veneered RM 30 grills in ebony, cherry, birch, piano black and satin black.

If some are concerned about the "matching", then it might be even more of a good look to "mix and match".

That is:

Piano Black or Satin Black, could use Macassar Ebony, Cherry, or Birch for a good look.

The wood grains, could use the Piano Black or Satin Black.

[john1970]

Brian or John,

What are the finishes of the RM40 CDWGs that are on order?  I assume that the only available color is piano black.  Ebony could be a great contrast for a maple MLS cabinet.

Thanks,

John

[Brian Cheney]

RM 40 CDWG's are all piano black.

[john1970]

Thank you sir,

John

[Bob Wilcox]

Brian,

From your previous post I assume that the RM40 CDWG's on order are also in black.  Pitty that some owners complained about the shade and wood grain not matching.  IMO  an RM40 in MLS maple cabinets with CDWG's in Ebony would have looked absolutely stunning!!! 

Best,

John

John

One reason that the Ebony RM 30s in the pictures look so nice is it appears that some matching occurred when they were built. This level of matching would be unlikely if purchasing random Ebony-finished wave guides.

My Ebony RM-40s look quite different from the pair Zybar had (his were darker over all in appearance) and there is quite a bit of difference in the grain appearance of my left and right speakers - much of this not obvious at the listening position due to the toe-in.

I agree that contrasting finishes can look attractive.

My early CDWs place the wave guide behind the grill cloth and look pretty much like regular RM-40s. I am trying to imagine how much of a difference the piano black front would make and whether all the difference is visual or whether there might be some impact in the sound as well due to differences in construction.

Bob