Knowing that Timothy Hill, the designer, has experience in both aeronautical engineering and acoustics, lends further significance to the design. The creator of the upscale British speaker brand Ferguson Hill, he created the Jetstream loudspeaker system, which is shaped like enormous acrylic horns “that seem to defy gravity:”
Transparent Horn-Shaped Speakers by Ferguson Hill
“An unmatched hearing experience is provided by these translucent cones, which are more than just decorative elements. A minimum amount of distortion and optimal clarity is ensured by the horns’ intricate structure, which permits sound waves to travel freely and expand uniformly. Along with adding a unique and futuristic look, this design decision makes the Jetstream loudspeaker system a wonderful fit for both modern and occasionally traditional home decor. Form and function are prioritized, as evidenced by the use of high-quality materials and expert craftsmanship.”
The Ferguson Hill Jetstream loudspeaker system exemplifies the blending of art and technology. Its transparent horn speakers raise the bar for acoustic brilliance, providing an unmatched music experience and catching the eye with its futuristic appearance. create. This unique design is a statement piece that turns any living area into a symphony of sight and music, more than just a sound system.”
The horns are 1.65 meters (5’5″) in height, 0.92 meters (36″) in width, and 0.72 meters (28″) in depth. The bass units are the little globes, which have a diameter of 244 millimeters (600 mm).
The goods are shipped by the corporation internationally and arrive in flight cases that are shattered.
It’s unclear if the prices listed are for a single speaker or for a pair. The horn speaker costs £72,955 (USD 92,420), while the bass speaker costs £22,295 (USD 28,243). The additional cost of the separate bass amplifier is £9,950 (USD 12,602).
How many times have you entered your hi-fi listening room—which may also serve as your bedroom, laundry room, or TV room—and thought to yourself, “Man, I wish I had speakers that looked like inter-dimensional time portals so I wouldn’t have to go around the back of them to see what’s behind them”?
Ferguson Hill, a British manufacturer, has been developing these amazing machines for a long time—20 years, to be exact—since the launch of the company’s groundbreaking FH001. The expert from Kent claims that the Jetstream Loudspeaker System is their best-ever design.
Read More Article
Understanding Psychology: Useful Psychology Advice for Common Circumstances.
Hotfix 27 for Dark and Darker Brings New Maps and Class Balancing
This is preaching to the converted in my opinion because I already want this. How would one characterize the aesthetic? The larger horn speakers resemble the Avantegrade Trio G3 speaker system I saw at High-End Munich (scroll to point five) somewhat in terms of size and shape. Still, they have an otherworldly appearance due to their remarkable transparency, resembling floating orbs or possibly moon jellyfish.
Two Jetstream Horn Loudspeakers, two Jetstream Bass Speakers, and a Jetstream Bass Amplifier make up the entire Jetstream Loudspeaker System.
Although a large portion of the new system is transparent, many of the structural improvements are internal, such as the internal leg dampening and the dampening structures between the metal ring and the drive unit. Those magnificent horn speakers feature the company’s own manufactured semi-full range drive unit, developed in conjunction with Cube Audio of Poland.
Come on, how much then? The entire Ferguson Hill Jetstream System costs £105,200, or roughly $133,385 or A
U$202,530, before shipping and related duties. Keep in mind that because each horn speaker weighs 32 kg, installing them won’t be cheap. For £72,955.00 (about $92,550 or AU$ 140,510 before any extras), you can also buy the Ferguson Hill Jetstream Horn Speaker pair separately, but I believe that only the complete set with amplification would be suitable.
Viewpoint: reasons to take horn speakers into account
Undoubtedly lovely (Photo courtesy of Ferguson Hill)
I have stated it before and I will say it again: you may believe that contemporary speakers should be driver-filled towers, two- or three-way wooden boxes with crossovers to direct each frequency to the appropriate drive unit. However, after hearing what this type of design is truly capable of (I was able to hear Western Electric’s 1927 12B speaker blow out Led Zep last year), I have to disagree.
Although Ferguson Hill’s 2024 proposition is made of transparent acrylic, and the WE 12B snail horn used in the product above at High-End Munich was made of 180 pieces of hardwood, the design still makes sense to an audiophile because in this case, the rear wave cancellation causes the horn to roll off naturally below about 140Hz, with the horn’s size representing a quarter of the wavelength distance at 140Hz.
Horns are excellent for delivering sound because, in addition to not being trapped above or below other drivers in a box that needs damping and bracing to deal with resonance and interference, they consume much less power to produce loud music—a quality known as efficiency. In other words, nature dislikes straight lines and prefers curves and waves.
It would be unfair to compare this speaker to some of the best stereo speakers we’ve ever tested, but most of us have limited funds for speakers, and the majority of the items in our buying guide accommodate this.
In addition to not being confined above or below other drivers in a box that requires damping and bracing to deal with resonance and interference, horns are outstanding sound producers because they use much less power to produce loud music—a trait known as efficiency. Put another way, curves and waves are preferred by nature over straight lines.
To compare this speaker to some of the best stereo speakers we’ve ever tested would be unfair, but most of the products in our buying guide are affordable for those of us with restricted budgets for speakers.
At TechRadar, Becky is a senior staff writer who specializes in all things audio. She has been informed that her title is a reflection of her skill rather than her age. She worked for What Hi-Fi? for three years before joining the team, testing and reviewing everything from large, high-end sound systems to affordable wireless earbuds.
Any love of dance begins with a love of music, thus Becky combined her 22 years as a professional dancer and aerialist with a freelance job as an art critic before earning her MA in journalism in 2018. Becky has written for The Stage, FourFourTwo, and Stuff in the past. She still writes and sometimes throws shapes in a dance class, though her success rate has decreased over time.