Hawthorne Audio - Speakers

Speakers

Our approach to building finished speakers can be best understood by looking closely at our two major design goals; value and performance. These two goals have guided our hand and helped us come up with a very innovative production speaker designs.

Duet Each speaker starts with a time proven platform from which we can build one of several popular configurations for you. We designate our different models based simply on the number of drivers they contain. All Speakers start with our Silver Iris coaxial. A finished speaker based on a single Silver Iris coaxial (whether PSI or SSI) is referred to as a “Solo”. If we then add in the Silver Iris bass augmentation driver (The Augie) we have transformed this Solo into a “Duet”. Taken one step farther, we can add in a second Augie to create a “Trio”

These three models make up the bulk of the production speakers sold. Over the years, we have built many custom speakers and would welcome the opportunity to discuss making something special for you.

Originally, each of these three configurations required a purpose built baffle assembly with no provisions for upgrade. I felt that this approach could be improved upon and an even higher level of value could be obtained. My idea was to design a basic platform that could be easily converted from Solo to Duet or from Duet to Trio. To make this especially attractive, I also came up with a design that allowed this transformation to be done in the field, simply and easily by the end user. I call this our field convertible design and it’s currently available in two sizes. Duet size would allow for the eventual buildup of a Duet and the Trio size would allow for the eventual buildup of the Trio.

I would like to go over some of the specific design considerations common to all Hawthorne Audio finished speakers.

We prefer to build modest sized baffles that are large enough to excel in music reproduction while maintaining minimal visual impact. This balancing act is made easier through the use of purpose built, open baffle specific Silver Iris drivers.

I like to use premium plywood and select a thickness that will insure rigidity and structural integrity.   From this main baffle we attach separate driver mounting plates, also made from premium plywood. These separate mounting plates help ensure driver rigidity and make it possible to remove, replace and upgrade to the different models as easily as turning a common screwdriver. I like to use premium fasteners to attach our drivers and also to attach these mounting plates to the main baffle. I stipulate ¼ -20 bolts, washers and Nyloc brand locknuts.

In order to minimize the transfer of vibrations from the drivers to the main baffle, we use a damping gasket between the driver mounting plate and the main baffle. This decoupling step is a component of our overall vibration and reflection management strategy. Each speaker is upholstered in acoustically transparent fabric. To further minimize the possibility of our baffle becoming a source for secondary reflections, we first upholster the baffle surfaces with high-grade felt cloth. We place this felt on both the front and rear of the baffle and also cover the separate driver mounting plates. All of this attention on minimizing the transfer of vibrations and reflections helps ensure that we hear the music and only the music.   Hawthorne Audio baffles are exceptionally quiet structures that let the music play through without any unwanted sonic contributions.

The main baffle receives hardwood trim on the top and a matching base. We offer Oak as the standard but other species are available. We offer black cloth as our standard but other colors are available, some at no additional cost.

The rear of an open baffle speaker needs to be constructed such that it does not in any way impede or impinge upon the rear wave of sound coming off the back side of the dipole driver. It is therefore unnecessary, from an acoustic standpoint, to have any sort of grill cover on the back of our speakers. We feel that despite this fact, an attractive rear cover is often a very welcome addition. We have developed an acoustically transparent rear grill cover that can be used or removed at will without disconnecting the wiring leads. This visually completes the speaker and makes a very attractive finished appearance. This cover is optional and can be added or omitted to your finished speaker. Each speaker is shipped in a custom shipping box with considerable attention to packaging. Your speakers will arrive in a ready to play state. Simply plug in, press play and enjoy.

The Solo:

This is the one that started it all. I want to make sure that you understand that although this is where we start to build your OB from, it is also as far as some will ever need to journey.

Solo This speaker can reveal things embedded deep within your music collection. I have watched this speaker cast a spell over an entire group of hard-core audiophiles. Minutes pass in total silence as the OB’s take center stage. Theater people understand this "stage presence" and these little speakers have this quality to them. They seem to communicate directly to your inner most places and convey a sense of musicality that is hard to define.

I cannot honestly say that this or any other speaker is without compromise. However, I will be the first to suggest that they are among the finest speakers I have ever heard with regard to "being there". I am a sucker for this 3D sound stage type presentation. I like to be fooled into believing that I am sharing my listening space with the performers. The Solo's do this for me. They play music. They convey the emotional message of the performance very, very well.

In evaluating my speaker creations, I sit for hours and listen to the performances. If I find myself listening instead to the equipment itself, I know I need to reconsider the design details. What you see here is the end result of this exercise. Countless reworks and total failures are the ingredients in the recipe for a fine speaker. I found out first hand how difficult it is to make something simple.

Please note, we offer these built up in either the 15” coaxial or the 10” coaxial. Sizes are listed for both drivers. We can also build these up in either of our two performance grades, “Performance grade” or “Sterling Grade”. See the driver details page for more info on these performance grade levels.

•   Dipole/Open Baffle design
•   Sensitivity: ~95dB/W/M
•   Impedance: 8 ohms
•   Power handling: 150 watts
•   Size: 22" X 38" X 11"(15” coaxial)
•   Size: 16” X 34” X 11”(10” coaxial)
•   Gold plated multi way binding posts
•   Custom minimalist crossovers using high quality       components
•   Felt covered baffle (front and rear) to reduce early reflections.
•   Acoustically transparent fabric upholstery
•   Fabric colors: White, Black, Gray and Brown
•   Oak trim: White, Black Natural Oak and Dark Oak
•   Field convertible to a Sterling Grade
•   Field convertible to a Duet style configuration

The Duet:

The “Duet” features one Silver Iris coaxial driver and one Silver Iris bass-augmenting Driver (Augie). Field convertible to a Trio. We offer these built up in either the 15” coaxial or the 10” coaxial. It is also possible to custom order a speaker with a blend of the two different size drivers. One common request is to use the 10” coaxial with the 15” Augie.

DuetBack The Duet was designed to address a desire for a deeper and more profound low-end response. While not necessary to enjoy most music, we find that the addition of a bass augmentation driver to the basic Solo produces a rock solid foundation to the musical presentation. The music has more authority and commands a larger voice. Comments like “The bass was truly awesome” are not comments normally associated with open baffle speakers. We have changed that perception. Owners of the Duet will no longer think of open baffle speakers as being bass shy! Deep, tactile and visceral impacts are terms that aptly describe the presentation of the Duet. They create a rock solid foundation to the music in any room. You will no longer need to make excuses for your room or equipment again. We provide the Duet with a bass augmenter driver that was designed to excel in an open baffle configuration. This driver is intended to be driven by a separate dedicated sub woofer plate amplifier (not included with the speaker). EQ or any sort of DSP are not required with these purpose built Silver Iris Augies.

•   Dipole/Open Baffle design
•   Sensitivity: 95dB/W/M
•   Impedance: 8 ohms
•   Power handling: 150 watts
•   Size: 24" X 38" X 11"
•   Silver Iris OB 15" Coaxial Audiophile Drivers
•   Silver Iris OB 15" bass augmentation driver
•   Gold plated multi way binding posts
•   Custom minimalist crossovers using high quality components
•   Felt covered baffle (front and rear) to reduce early reflections.
•   Acoustically transparent fabric covering both front and rear
•   Fabric colors: White, Black, Gray and Brown
•   Oak trim: White, Black Natural Oak and Dark Oak

The Trio:

Trio The Trio was born out of the old saying common among automotive Hot-Rodders that goes something like: “There is no replacement for displacement”. By adding in a second Augie we double the displacement capability and overall dynamics are ramped up to even greater levels.
By adding in a second Augie we also experience a dramatic transformation with regard visual impact. Three fifteen-inch drivers is an imposing package reserved for the most demanding music lover. With a speaker package of this magnitude it would be easy to assume that they would dominate the experience both visually as well as sonically. Interestingly, this is not the case. These speakers easily disappear sonically and gracefully get out of the way of the music. This is due in part to the open baffle configuration but also attributed to the attention to detail we place on the driver design as well as the focus on creating a silent baffle structure that is reflection free.

We can build a Duet that has the potential to be field converted at a later date into a Trio or you can order a Trio ready to play. Duets and Trios both lend themselves well to custom modification that take them to even higher levels of performance as well as aesthetic appeal. Sterling performance upgrades, sand filling, spikes, custom finishes, custom fabrics, custom resonance control plinth structures are some of the more common requests. By offering you options in the form of field convertibility and upgrades, we strive to bring you the speaker of your dreams at a price point that doesn’t break the bank. By upgrading over time you can stretch out your investment as budget permits.
Start out with just the basics and rest assured that higher levels of performance are already designed into the platform and are easily accessible when the time is right for you. We don’t believe in planning in obsolescence. We want these speakers to provide you with a lifetime of music listening enjoyment. To this end, we design products that can take you as far as your passion allows, one step at a time.

Hawthorne Audio:

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