Factory Tour of Japanese Boutique Speaker Company

[thewas]

I love most about Japan and Japanese culture but must also admit that many are quite prone to esoterism and irrational unquestioned statements, like for example almost for every task someone must follow at least 10 years one master to be able to do it and this shows also at their audio culture which is a weird mix of high end engineering and voodoo.

 

[Doenerkunde]

From the website: "It was founded in 1950 as "Genno Kaji'' in Sanjo City. Currently, we are engaged in the planning, manufacturing, and sales of DIY hobby tools, animal repellent products for pests, and our own brand home audio speakers (Hasehiro audio)."

Well, this certainly is an interesting assortment.

 

[Mnyb]

A guy that went to the same university as me worked for a company that had computer networking and electric cattle fencing on the meny...

 

[TLEDDY]

I do not care (almost) what they sound like! They are really handmade works of art... beautiful to behold!

I almost never view the manufacturing videos - that said, this one was both intriguing and aesthetically pleasing. I can almost imagine how he developed the techniques fifty years ago before computer driven manufacturing.

I do not need another set of speakers - members of the Forum: stop me from purchasing...please!

 

[shuppatsu]

From the website: "It was founded in 1950 as "Genno Kaji'' in Sanjo City. Currently, we are engaged in the planning, manufacturing, and sales of DIY hobby tools, animal repellent products for pests, and our own brand home audio speakers (Hasehiro audio)."

Zaibatsu gotta start somewhere!

 

[beeface]

Nice furniture

 

[MarkS]

Has any single-driver speaker ever come remotely close to meeting ASR standards?

I doubt it. So I don't get the fascination with these here at ASR.

 

[PristineSound]

Has any single-driver speaker ever come remotely close to meeting ASR standards?

I doubt it. So I don't get the fascination with these here at ASR.

The craft itself.

The Japanese are renown for their craftsmanship and attention to detail.

The only problem I see here is that, these speakers making is treated as a craft first and foremost rather than science.

 

[Keith_W]

I love most about Japan and Japanese culture but must also admit that many are quite prone to esoterism and irrational unquestioned statements, like for example almost for every task someone must follow at least 10 years one master to be able to do it and this shows also at their audio culture which is a weird mix of high end engineering and voodoo.

Every country's audio culture is a mix of engineering and voodoo. Take the USA: the same country that has the Harman Group also produced Danny Ritchie and Paul McGowan. And they're not the worst either, there's also Shunyata and Monster Cable. And the UK: the same country that invented microphones and the moving coil driver also gave us Peter Belt.

But yes, I do get what you mean about Japanese mysticism. I watched a documentary about traditional Japanese swordsmiths and knife makers. The apprentice spends 10 years shovelling coal and picking through metal slag before they are allowed to touch a hammer and anvil. Or that Sushi Jiro documentary, his son is in his 50's and he's still toasting Nori and fanning rice, because his father doesn't consider him experienced enough to touch a sushi knife. Or Kondo, where it is one guy's job to hand-wind every transformer. The Japanese made a hilarious send-up of this kind of culture in the movie Tampopo where a woman wanted to open a Ramen shop. She meets all kinds of weird characters along the way, including a Ramen guru who says the first step is to stare at the soup.

 

[tree]

Am I the only one that looked at the manufacturing process and thought holly . CNC machines in the open air without active vacuum. No hearing protection (can they even enjoy the sound of speakers after a couple of hours like that). No eye protection. All I could think was I'm glad I don't work there.
Also why the grooves on the inside of the channel. That can't be good.

 

[ernestcarl]

I do not need another set of speakers - members of the Forum: stop me from purchasing...please!

Do you seriously need another pair of speakers or do you have the space necessary in your room for such tertiary oriental furniture "display piece" which also just happens to be a speaker as well?

Personally, right now, I'm good and happy just window shopping.

 

[PristineSound]

Do you seriously need another pair of speakers or do you have the space necessary in your room for such tertiary oriental furniture "display piece" which also just happens to be a speaker as well?

Personally, right now, I'm good and happy just window shopping.

What so "oriental" about these speakers? I don't see any design cues that is of "oriental" culture with these speakers. They look like some random ugly speakers that could of came from anywhere.

 

[ernestcarl]

What so "oriental" about these speakers? I don't see any design cues that is of "oriental" culture with these speakers. They look like some random ugly speakers that could of came from anywhere.

I dunno. That's what I am simply subjectively seeing. I've seen similar designs of full-range single driver speakers using the same drivers used here that look more "western", or perhaps more "utilitarian" and boxy. These seem in opposition to that. Could be because of the Japanese language and accent of speaker makers. Take of that what you will.

Audio Nirvana DIY Full Range Speaker Kits, High Efficiency Speaker Projects

Audio Nirvana DIY Full Range Speaker kits, Open Baffle Speaker Projects, High Efficiency Speakers.

www.commonsenseaudio.com

 

[PristineSound]

Could be because of the Japanese language and accent of speaker makers.

I think that's it. Visual placebo.

As far as I can tell, those speakers looks just as ugly as these.

 

[ernestcarl]

I think that's it. Visual placebo.

As far as I can tell, those speakers looks just as ugly as these.

View attachment 539605

That could be it actually. Placebo. If the video presentation had a white family making the speakers, perhaps my perception would be altogether different I suppose.

From the same website I linked:

"Western" looking cabinet box (again, to my eyes)

Would you be happy if I agreed to you and say their speakers look western and ugly? Or just plain ugly?

 

[PristineSound]

That could be it actually. Placebo. If the video presentation had a white family making the speakers, perhaps my perception would be altogether different I suppose.

From the same website I linked:

"Western" looking cabinet box (again, to my eyes)
View attachment 539606

Would you be happy if I agreed to you and say their speakers look western and ugly? Or just plain ugly?

As much as I agree with you they are ugly, someone will come here and say "so tell me, exactly what makes these speakers ugly?"



But you and I have agreement nevertheless

 

[PristineSound]

Every country's audio culture is a mix of engineering and voodoo. Take the USA: the same country that has the Harman Group also produced Danny Ritchie and Paul McGowan. And they're not the worst either, there's also Shunyata and Monster Cable. And the UK: the same country that invented microphones and the moving coil driver also gave us Peter Belt.

But yes, I do get what you mean about Japanese mysticism. I watched a documentary about traditional Japanese swordsmiths and knife makers. The apprentice spends 10 years shovelling coal and picking through metal slag before they are allowed to touch a hammer and anvil. Or that Sushi Jiro documentary, his son is in his 50's and he's still toasting Nori and fanning rice, because his father doesn't consider him experienced enough to touch a sushi knife. Or Kondo, where it is one guy's job to hand-wind every transformer. The Japanese made a hilarious send-up of this kind of culture in the movie Tampopo where a woman wanted to open a Ramen shop. She meets all kinds of weird characters along the way, including a Ramen guru who says the first step is to stare at the soup.

It's called job security

 

[wwenze]

Harman can invite 200 people and poll them if a design is ugly or not.

 

[ernestcarl]

Apparently the same Japanese family or speaker company builds bluetooth stereo speakers as well:

How Japan Crafts Bluetooth Soundbars: From Wood to High-Fidelity Sound

I have to say, their speaker craft making surely has some subtle "oriental" touches/feels about it here and there. LOL

Could be just my imagination, though.

 

[Newman]

in case you were wondering: https://hasehiro-audio.com/

A bit like a modernised Lowther Acousta