CES 2008: Pioneer Rocks with Volcanic Stone-Loaded Speaker Cones

Pioneer has announced at the CES 2008 their new line of in-car loudspeakers, the TS-D series, sworn to deliver even better audio than before, boasting new technologies and coming with intriguing manufacturing.

Indeed, the new TS-D series loudspeakers have taken the cone-craftsmanship to a whole new level. If up until now, ceramic-composite speaker cones were a really common thing, it's now time to witness Pioneer's new invention - the basalt fabric.

Basalt is a very hard volcanic type of rock, used in durable constructions and wherever very sturdy stonework is required.

In the loudspeaker industry, the ideal diaphragm would have infinite rigidity and almost-zero mass; since such specs belong only to a theoretical model, audio engineers all over the world have been striving for decades in search of materials to get their speakers closer to such ideal characteristics.

The new Pioneer TS-D series speakers' cones are manufactured from a special fabric into which Basalt powder has been embedded. As the Pioneer specs claim, the Basalt is ground into a powder, then pulverized and melted at 2700 degrees prior to setting it into the fiber. This process ensures that the new diaphragm will be stronger while retaining a minimal mass; increased rigidity translates in less distortions and more pressure handling.

The TS-D series comprises no less than 13 speakers in different shapes and suitable for various purposes, many of them with coaxially-loaded tweeters. Each model comes with rear chambering for enhanced audio performance and a wider frequency dynamics, reaching up to audiophile-grade 33kHz upper cutoff points.

"Our speaker engineers are extremely passionate in their quest to build speakers that reproduce the highest sound quality possible. They are constantly looking at different materials that can be used to make a more efficient speaker with a stronger more rigid cone. The basalt rock achieves this goal without adding weight to the cone, resulting in an open and smooth frequency response," Pioneer's mobile division vicepresident of marketing, Mr. Larry Rougas, said.

The new Pioneer TS-D speakers will be available pretty soon, with prices starting around $150 a piece.











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