OB Speakers Featured on DIY Network's "I Want That"

matevana · « **on:** 12 Sep 2013, 07:18 pm »

Thought this was kinda interesting, especially from a mass marketing standpoint. Wouldn't exactly call this "hi-fi" but at $399 pair it's interesting to see someone market open back to the masses. It's also a nice way of combining art with music.

Anyone wanna guess who manufacturers the drivers? They are said to be cast frames with a whizzer cone and made in America.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1671134483/urban-fidelity-speakers

http://urbanfidelity.com/collections/all
http://urbanfidelity.com/pages/tech
http://urbanfidelity.com/pages/about-us

Brad · « **Reply #1 on:** 12 Sep 2013, 07:53 pm »

From the description, looks like they are making the drivers in house.

Trying to warm up to the artwork. Quite reasonable price if the SQ is good.
Plus it may introduce some listeners to both OB and better sound

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #2 on:** 12 Sep 2013, 08:06 pm »

Quote from: Brad on 12 Sep 2013, 07:53 pm

From the description, looks like they are making the drivers in house.

Trying to warm up to the artwork. Quite reasonable price if the SQ is good.
Plus it may introduce some listeners to both OB and better sound

The drivers are probably custom made to their requirements by Eminence.

I think this is a good idea, and wish them luck. I imagine they are very bass light, though, and they will need to produce a matching powered sub soon.

It interests and gratifies me that there seems to be a taste for light and clean bass sound out there, such that these are well accepted, sonically.

srb · « **Reply #3 on:** 12 Sep 2013, 08:09 pm »

Quote from: Brad on 12 Sep 2013, 07:53 pm

Trying to warm up to the artwork.

You may want to take a trip to the Equator, maybe that would help. To this "art lover", each design is more hideous than the one before it. Maybe they'll offer it in satin black.

Quote from: Russell Dawkins on 12 Sep 2013, 08:06 pm

The drivers are probably custom made to their requirements in China.

According to their Kickstarter page their drivers are "manufactured for us by an experienced US company". Probably Eminence or similar company.

Steve

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #4 on:** 12 Sep 2013, 08:14 pm »

Yes, I hadn't seen that line ("manufactured for us by an experienced US company"). When I read it I changed my post, guessing Eminence, too.

Brad · « **Reply #5 on:** 12 Sep 2013, 08:30 pm »

Whoops - misread their page.

Eminence is a good guess of the mfr.

I almost don't dislike the print with the peacock looking bird.
Could freak the cats out and keep them away from the speakers though

Still, clean OB bass to the mid-50s would be better than a lot of budget speakers.

mix4fix · « **Reply #6 on:** 12 Sep 2013, 08:35 pm »

I would consider buying one if they would not paint it with one of those hideous designs.

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #7 on:** 12 Sep 2013, 08:42 pm »

Quote from: mix4fix on 12 Sep 2013, 08:35 pm

I would consider buying one if they would not paint it with one of those hideous designs.

They do custom designs for $49: http://urbanfidelity.com/pages/custom
so I would think that would include any solid color.

mix4fix · « **Reply #8 on:** 12 Sep 2013, 08:51 pm »

Quote from: Russell Dawkins on 12 Sep 2013, 08:42 pm

They do custom designs for $49: http://urbanfidelity.com/pages/custom
so I would think that would include any solid color.

So we have to pay $50 in order to have a plain color?

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #9 on:** 12 Sep 2013, 08:54 pm »

Quote from: mix4fix on 12 Sep 2013, 08:51 pm

So we have to pay $50 in order to have a plain color?

I don't know - that was a worst-case-scenario guess! You could contact them and know for sure.
I wouldn't be surprised if all the designs were printed over white and you could get the plain white for no up-charge.

JeffB · « **Reply #10 on:** 12 Sep 2013, 09:39 pm »

Might be interesting with your favorite album cover. Something like the "Dark Side of the Moon" maybe.
I don't see how they can get any where near 50Hz on what looks like a 12" to 14" baffle size.

You are going to need it to be a 14" baffle with a couple 12" drivers below.

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #11 on:** 12 Sep 2013, 09:55 pm »

They speak of "frequency range mid 50s to 20kHz" I'm guessing the response would be 15 or more dB down in the mid 50s and, as I said earlier, a sub would seem to be a logical addition.
I see in their newer model, a sub is included - also an open baffle variant:
http://urbanfidelity.com/blogs/news/6644104-mini-art-speakers

rodge827 · « **Reply #12 on:** 12 Sep 2013, 10:38 pm »

Maybe a Hawthorn Audio Augie for the bottom end?

www.hawthorneaudio.com/catalogs/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=19

matevana · « **Reply #13 on:** 12 Sep 2013, 11:48 pm »

If you think about it, the concept is pretty creative. Most flat panel OB's will be big and bulky by design, something the masses would find difficult to accept. Introducing the target market to OB by buying into the "art" concept makes the acceptance factor increase exponentially. I cant remember a non "boutique" audio company attempting to market OB to anyone but a fringe demographic. I give them credit for this.

And assuming the drivers aren't half bad, this could really help legitimize the merits of OB design to the casual listener.

mix4fix · « **Reply #14 on:** 13 Sep 2013, 12:46 am »

Quote from: matevana on 12 Sep 2013, 11:48 pm

If you think about it, the concept is pretty creative. Most flat panel OB's will be big and bulky by design, something the masses would find difficult to accept. Introducing the target market to OB by buying into the "art" concept makes the acceptance factor increase exponentially. I cant remember a non "boutique" audio company attempting to market OB to anyone but a fringe demographic. I give them credit for this.

And assuming the drivers aren't half bad, this could really help legitimize the merits of OB design to the casual listener.

But, that's what they are doing: marketing them to a fringe demographic. In this case, they are people that are more interested in something looking good versus it being a proper item. And, those same people will not even understand the idiosyncrasies of open baffle speakers.

And, ultimately, they will be listening to crap music. The same music they crank through their cheap ear buds on their iPods.

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #15 on:** 13 Sep 2013, 01:30 am »

Quote from: mix4fix on 13 Sep 2013, 12:46 am

But, that's what they are doing: marketing them to a fringe demographic. In this case, they are people that are more interested in something looking good versus it being a proper item. And, those same people will not even understand the idiosyncrasies of open baffle speakers.

And, ultimately, they will be listening to crap music. The same music they crank through their cheap ear buds on their iPods.

I see a lot of unflattering assumptions there.

You could argue Wilson, or any of the up-market esoteric and boutique manufacturers are marketing to fringe demographics. And they might just as likely be listening to "crap" music - and further, they might be more interested in something looking good than it being a "proper item". Why do 1/2 inch thick faceplates and piano-finish and ultra high gloss speakers flourish in the world of audiophilia? Because they perform better?

I think this is a different kind of "looking good", even if it appeals only to the young crowd, and it can't hurt that they are being exposed to many of the advantages of open baffle and crossover-less wide range drivers. Some of them will surely wonder about dipole speakers and pursue this further. I agree with matevana on this.

mix4fix · « **Reply #16 on:** 13 Sep 2013, 02:05 am »

Quote from: Russell Dawkins on 13 Sep 2013, 01:30 am

I see a lot of unflattering assumptions there.

You could argue Wilson, or any of the up-market esoteric and boutique manufacturers are marketing to fringe demographics. And they might just as likely be listening to "crap" music - and further, they might be more interested in something looking good than it being a "proper item". Why do 1/2 inch thick faceplates and piano-finish and ultra high gloss speakers flourish in the world of audiophilia? Because they perform better?

I think this is a different kind of "looking good", even if it appeals only to the young crowd, and it can't hurt that they are being exposed to many of the advantages of open baffle and crossover-less wide range drivers. Some of them will surely wonder about dipole speakers and pursue this further. I agree with matevana on this.

There is a big difference in high gloss piano black finish and something that some of us would consider gaudy.

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #17 on:** 13 Sep 2013, 02:23 am »

I'm guessing you would not be in the target demographic, mix4fix!

PMAT · « **Reply #18 on:** 13 Sep 2013, 03:02 am »

The drivers look well built. I bet that they will sound great to the target demo. Some sort of driver cover would help sell them I would think. Howerever, those People will be flabbergasted that they can't stick their I-phone in it.

Squidspeak · « **Reply #19 on:** 6 Oct 2013, 11:44 pm »

Don't understand the negativity, first off if it is an Eminence driver at that pricepoint it should
hold it's own. As far as ART, I thought there were alot of cool designs. Maybe Bose should start
offering a product like this, just kidding but at $399 with custom graphics you want to bash it?