JVC Wood Cone Speakers SP-EXD1 A Surprising Find Who Knew?

 October 11, 2022

#453

Gentle reader,

It's been quite a while since I found any audio items that interested me. Since I am completely happy with my listening room system as well as the more modest set of Yamaha -500U components I have stacked right next to my desktop computer.

But, a trip to the local Goodwill revealed a pair of JVC Wood Cone speakers. By component speaker size, one cannot expect much at either end of the audio spectrum, but they are heavy, solid, well built and were part of an "Executive Stereo/Video System".

I was able to find lots of these for sale on eBay, here in the US for various prices. I picked these up for $22.00 after testing them in the store.

This is the face of one of them. I did research them and found several web pages about them. Including JVC's own.

The markings done by someone at Goodwill were easily removed with an alcohol wipe.

There are some chips in the finish which bothers me not in the least. Nor does the loss of the grilles.

This image is from a current (as of this writing) sale on eBay, here in the USA. The seller wants $649 plus shipping for the set. $100 more than they retailed for in 2011.

These two images I found online. The upper one was titled: Wood Cone Speaker Kit. But, it is clearly these speakers in component form.

While this one was ripped from JVC's web page by someone else. It shows the final process used to create the wooden cone. The choice of wood after extensive testing was birch. They soaked the wood in Sake (Japanese Rice Wine) which allows the wood to be stamped without cracking.

I at first tested them in this room by placing them atop my Klipsch KG-4 speakers. They sound surprisingly good. No bass or high treble (but how much could my 66-year-old ears hear anyway?) to brag about. But, I expected that. "Now what to do with them?", I thought.

The LAST speaker find I had was a pair of Tannoy C-88 tower speakers. Shown below where I first placed them.

I was using the only vintage pair of speakers I have, Dynaco A25XLs, as rear surround speakers, but decided that was underutilizing them. So, I swapped them with the Tannoys.

The speaker cabinets of these JVC SP-EXD1 speakers weight three and a half pounds and were constructed in Japan of solid Cherry wood. Rather appropriate since the love of Cherry tree blossoms in Japan (and here in Washington, D.C. by the Tidal Basin). They have four tiny rubber feet which keep them in place. I feel they will do well as rear surrounds, especially since the drivers are much closer in plane to my ears that the tower speakers are.

Here are some links that I found about these speakers, starting with one announcing, in 2008, the upcoming line.

JVC Reveals Wood-Cone Speaker Technology > FutureMusic the latest news on future music technology DJ gear producing dance music edm and everything electronic

Here is JVC's own web page explaining the technology and other things they learned and tried in creating these and supposedly, an entire line of wood cone speakers.

JVC Wood Cone Speakers And within that page are links to bigger designs and (then) upcoming systems, such as this one: Wood Cone Speakers 2

Lastly, here is a CNET review by none other than Steve Guttenberg who knows a thing or two about good sound. JVC EX-A1 review: JVC EX-A1

I am on the lookout for the EX-A1 mini system which includes a DVD-Video/DVD-Audio player which outputs 30 WPC and was built (according to JVC) specifically to match and accent the wood cone speakers so they sound their best.

The only OTHER news regarding new audio equipment here is a Chinese designed Tube Buffer kit which uses two J61 tubes. They run on 6.3 volts and are sold in various guises and board component choices via eBay and, no doubt, other sites.

Photo is from an eBay seller. The case is clear plastic, and not wood as it seems to appear. 

I, and a friend up in D.C. were sent a kit by a mutual friend who lives in Mesa, Arizona, out of the blue. Both friends are readers of my blog and tracked me down on Facebook He wants all three of us to build the wee boards and even sprung for and sent us an extensive soldering kit. Which has a practice board among it's treasures.

I found a US seller on eBay, selling the boards assembled for well less than twenty bucks and bought one to have a completed board to work from. It is JUST the board and tubes. No case. But cases are easily found online for the kit/assembled board.

There are NO instructions with the kits, so I and our buddy were scouring the Internet to find out more. Which we did, lots of photos from all angles and even the schematic and parts descriptions including colors of each resistor.

The kits do NOT include the knob (no problem Parts Express: Speakers, Amplifiers, Audio Parts and Solutions ) OR the 12 VAC transformer. I looked and looked and trying to find the best solution, since they require more than one amp of AC (not DC) power. I found a few, which are AC/AC transformers made for home LANDLINE telephones. Parts Express was the only place that had the CORRECT one. It puts out 12 VAC at 4.17 amps which means this sucker will really amplify!

It sound's good too. Does is add the "tube sound"? I don't know. I've never owned any tube equipment. But, they are very inexpensive and unless you have extensive experience soldering components,  please buy them prebuilt. I've told you where to find the correct missing parts to make them sing.

Thank you SO much for taking the time to read my humble blog. Your doing so and your comments here (below) or via Facebook is what keeps me writing.

Scott Robb

October 11, 2022

#453

Virtually Volvo Racing: 242 Turbo Evo, 850 T5-R, S60R T5 and S60 R-Design T6 Class A

 September 15, 2022

#452

Gentle reader,

I am a Volvo enthusiast, nay, a Volvo LOVER! I have always liked them, having started driving my own car in September, 1973. My senior year in high school.

My career began as I planned it, as a novice, but trained, auto mechanic. I began at 16 at a Mobil gas station, just before the Arab Oil Embargo hit. The owner specialized in European cars, specifically Rovers and Land Rovers. 

We moved East in 1974 after I graduated. I met some local boys who were into foreign cars: Jaguars, Mercedes Benzes, and Volvo. One of them drove an Amazon sedan.

But, I was a Chevy guy. My first four cars being made by Chevrolet. I soon joined them with a Triumph Spitfire and Audi 100LS. DECADES later, I drive a 2005 Volvo V50 T5 turbo wagon equipped with the M66 manual transmission. So, those are my credentials. 

That's it, on the left. My buddies XC70 is on the right. V50s and their sedan brothers, S40s are compact cars. They were not that popular in the US. FAR more people bought S60s, V70s and XC70s than the compact cars.

A word on how Volvo USED to name their cars. C, as in C30 and C70 stood for Coupes and Convertibles. Both having only two doors. S stands for Sedan, cars with four doors. V stands for Versatile and all are wagons. XC stands for Cross Country. X stands for cross. All XCs are wagons or SUVs with all-wheel-drive and sit higher than their wagon siblings and usually have plastic cladding around the wheel openings and elsewhere on the body. See above.

I won't get into what Volvo now calls their vehicles. But to say they broke from tradition, would be true. 

As far as engines, ALL current Volvo cars and SUVs ONLY come with two-liter four cylinder turbocharged (and in some case also supercharged and/or electric motor or all electric motors.

A note on the photographs of the virtual Volvos and their specifications: IF there is a secret to make photographs of  1080p HD TV images look good, I do not know what it is. Therefore, they don't look that good. I sought to get all five cars in the same poses.

The VIRTUAL Volvos I have in my virtual garage all came from the factory with turbocharged inline engines. The oldest has a four cylinder and the newest a SIX cylinder turbocharged engine. Two, the latest, are all-wheel-drive. Two are front-wheel-drive and the oldest is rear-wheel-drive.

For the sake of parity (making them as equal, class-wise, as I could) all now have all-wheel-drive.  I did the EXACT same modifications to each car: Same wheels and tires (except the 850, I chose wheels which best matched what the actual race cars wear), same modifications to the driveline, stance, suspension, brakes, engine components, (I replaced all transmissions with a six-speed sequential type) and modifications to their drivetrain to make them all A Class. 

All five wear authentic "livery" race car speak for paint scheme(s), based upon real Volvo race cars from the past.

Are you ready to meet them? Oldest first.

This is one of the rarest of Volvos in real life. A 1983 242 Turbo Intercooler Evolution. It has a 2.1 liter four cylinder engine, the legendary "red block". Stock it put out: 225 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. It is a "body on frame" design and is the only Volvo offered in Forza 4 which is rear-wheel-drive. It wears one of the most famous BTCC* race winning liveries. In testing it, I found that the power overwhelmed the rear tires, as a result, I converted it to all-wheel-drive. It would be quite the trick to do that to a real 240 series Volvo. *British Touring Car Championship. To learn more about the real cars: Volvo 242 Turbo Evolution | Forza Wiki | Fandom

Here is the real car.

This is a 1997 Volvo 850 T5-R, one of the most iconic of vintage Volvos along with it's S60 T5-R sedan brother. It sports authentic BTCC livery of the two-car team. TWR read the rules very carefully and found that Estate (wagons) cars were not forbidden from racing. TWR stands for Tom Walkinshaw Racing. So, they built two cars for the series much to the fans delight. They did quite well. Both were raced with front-wheel-drive. This one is all-wheel-drive. Stock, it put out: 237 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. To learn more about the real cars: Volvo 850 T-5 R Technical Specs, Dimensions

Here is the sister car. Although the virtual one has driver RYDELL on it.

Hmm, no spoilers on the real cars.

This is a 2004 S60R, which, like it's much cooler wagon brother, the V70R, came from the factory with all-wheel-drive. UN-like the 850 T5-R, one could order either with a six-speed manual transmission. STOCK, it's engine puts our 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. To learn more about them: 

Is The Underrated And Overlooked Volvo S60R A Reliable Used Car?

While not the same livery, this is American driver Randy Pobst's S60.

Again, not the same livery, but a real C30 race car.

The virtual car is a 2009 Volvo C30. It and the C70, which is was a coupe also, but later was only a convertible with either a soft top, on the older ones, or folding hardtop on the newer ones. The C30 and later C70s, along with the S40 and V50 are "P1" Volvos. All share the same chassis, drivetrain, etc.* All came with inline FIVE cylinder engines, either "N/A" naturally asperated, or T5, turbocharged engines. All C30s could be ordered with the M66 manual transmission, but most have automatics. I have seen ONE C70 with the M66, but it is a Unicorn. STOCK, the engine put out 218 to 227 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. *The P1 Volvos shared chassis with (then) Mazda 3s and European Ford Focus (Foci?). The previous generation Focus RS was basically a C30 with a Focus body. It used Volvo T5 engines and M66 transmission. Here is a photo of the engine bay of one:

Basically, identical to P1 Volvo engine bays.

This is the engine bay of my V50. The main difference is the routing of the Turbo-to-Intercooler pipe.

Last and latest, this is a 2011 S60 R-Design. It runs an inline SIX cylinder turbocharged engine. Here is a photograph of a real T6 engine bay:

The livery is based upon one of two Volvo S60 race cars as raced in Australia and New Zealand as part of the V8 Supercars series. UN-like Touring car racing, they are all rear-wheel-drive with V8 engines from the various makers (then: Ford, Holden (GM), Mercedes Benz, Nissan, and Volvo. UN-like the Fords, Holdens and Mercedes which came from the factory as rear-wheel-drive with optional V8 engines. Nissan and Volvo cars were all front-wheel-drive. Both made V8 engines, however. Nissan used a pickup truck engine and Volvo the Yamaha-designed V8 engine from the S80 sedan and XC90 SUV. Here is said engine in a XC90:

Note that it is SIDEWAYS.

This is a photo of one of the actual V8 Volvo engines, race prepared and ready for installation in the cars. The V8 engines are mounted longitudinally, as God intended.

Below is Scott McLaughlin "jumping the kerbs" in 2014.

The S60 R-Design T6 engine is quite powerful, highest, STOCK of all of these cars. It puts out: 325 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque.

So, now that I have shown you all five Volvo race cars. Let's look at their specifications after being virtually run on a Dynamometer.

Each of these charts show the individual cars virtual performance. Algorithms and physics are put to use by the game designers to mimic each real cars performance based upon extensive testing of real examples of all the cars available to buy and race. This is the fourth and by many racer's opinions, the BEST version of Forza. 

242 Zero-60: 3.190 seconds. Zero-100: 8.736 seconds. Top Speed: 163.1 MPH. 60-0: 108.8 feet 100-0: 282.2 feet Lateral G Forces @ 60 MPH: 1.05 @ 120 MPH: 1.03 G.

850 Zero-60: 3.741 seconds. Zero-100: 9.344 seconds. Top Speed: 177.5 MPH. 60-0: 111.3 feet 100-0: 288.9 feet Lateral G Forces @ 60 MPH: 1.05 @ 120 MPH: 0.99 G.

2004 S60R Zero-60: 4.112 seconds. Zero-100: 9.428 seconds. Top Speed: 177.6 MPH. 60-0: 112.0 feet 100-0: 302.8 feet Lateral G Forces @ 60 MPH: 1.00 @ 120 MPH: 0.99 G.

C30 R-Design Zero-60: 3.719 seconds. Zero-100: 9.660 seconds. Top Speed: 168.3 MPH. 60-0: 105.0 feet 100-0: 278.5 feet Lateral G Forces @ 60 MPH: 1.06 @ 120 MPH: 1.00 G.

2011 S60 Zero-60: 3.978 seconds. Zero-100: 9.863 seconds. Top Speed: 176.7 MPH. 60-0: 118.7 feet 100-0: 301.3 feet Lateral G Forces @ 60 MPH: 1.00 @ 120 MPH: 1.02 G.

And now, Performance Specifications:

1983 242: Engine output: 329 Horsepower, 342 Pound-feet of torque. Empty weight: 2,952 pounds. Front to Rear Weight Balance: 51/49.

1997 850: Engine output: 400 Horsepower, 343 Pound-feet of torque. Empty weight: 3,082 pounds. Front to Rear Weight Balance: 50/50.

2004 S60: Engine output: 329 Horsepower, 342 Pound-feet of torque. Empty weight: 2,964 pounds. Front to Rear Weight Balance: 51/49.

2009 C30: Engine output: 361 Horsepower, 401 Pound-feet of torque. Empty weight: 2,968 pounds. Front to Rear Weight Balance: 54/46.

2011 S60: Engine output: 401 Horsepower, 433 Pound-feet of torque. Empty weight: 3517 pounds. Front to Rear Weight Balance: 59/41.

And now, calculated performance: Top Speed, Handling, Acceleration, Launch and Braking:

These bar graphs show each cars abilities based upon their torque (acceleration/launch) and horsepower (top speed) and braking. ALL have theoretically, identical brakes, wheels and tires. But, each car has different weight:

242: 2,952#, 850: 3,082# S60: 2,964# C30: 2,968# S60: 3,517#

The first four cars all weigh within a few pounds of each other. But, the newest car, a 2011, has far more weight due to: Extra airbags and stronger structural materials. Plus, it's engine is by far the heaviest. 

ALL five cars lapped Infineon's NASCAR circuit almost the exact same time despite the differences in their specifications. This shows how accurate the game designers are at recreating reality.

A word on ground effects: AKA, spoilers, splitters, wings, side skirts, etcetera. They do two things, reduce the amount of air going under the cars and provide downforce which makes for quicker cornering. However, they also create some drag at top speeds. Depending upon the car, each loses six to ten miles per hour top speed. Only on courses with lots of long straight sections: Le Mans for example or oval tracks and ones that add road courses to their ovals does this matter. For most racing, the increased traction makes the spoilers worth it.

LONG gone are the arcade versions of racing. Proper simulations have you sitting in the driver's seat, looking out the windshield (although other views are available) steering with a wheel, shifting the car's gears manually. Again, as God intended. And using pedals to stop and go.

Here are links to previous articles about Volvos and simulation racing. So that you can see my racing setup. 

The Robb Collections: My Hand Fabricated Simulation Racing Rig. "Vintage" Forza Motorsports 4 Racing.

The Robb Collections: Racing Volvos. Yes They Do Race Them. In Many Guises and Types of Racing. PART ONE.

The Robb Collections: Racing Volvos. Yes They Do Race Them. In Many Guises and Types of Racing. PART TWO

Thank you SO much for taking the time to read this extensive article. This blog is all about things and hobbies that Nancy and I passionate about. I also write a couple other blogs, which are quite different.

Pictures of Nancy. The Love of My Life.  

People Say I'm Special. But I Don't Know Why

Scott

September 15, 2022

#452

Direct-to-Disc LP Record verses dbx Encoded Record. Same Performance!

 September 9, 2022

#451

Gentle reader,

I was looking through and playing my dbx encoded LP records and came across one titled Digital Fiedler.

Any fan of Classical music will (hopefully) recognize "Fiedler" refers to the late, great, Arthur Fiedler, decades-long conductor of the famed Boston Pops Orchestra.

Well, it turns out, that in the autumn of 1977, when he was 82 years old, he agreed to do something he had never done with the Pops, before. Three things, it turns out. See below.

I was reading the back cover of Digital Fiedler and it reads, "Billboard Magazine headlined the event as 'World's First Three-Way Recording.'...Crystal Clear (Records) had made a simultaneous direct to disc, analog tape and digital tape recording of Tchaikovsky's 'Capriccio Italian', and Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Capriccio Espagnol' with Arthur Fiedler conducting the Boston Pops."

So, I thought to myself, "I must have a copy of the direct-to-disc record and do a comparison of the two." On to eBay I went and there were five copies available starting at $9.95 and climbing higher. Naturally, I went for the cheapest one. The seller, who has a stellar reputation on eBay described it as: 

N/MINT AUDIOPHILE ARTHUR FIEDLER Capriccio Italien CRYSTAL CLEAR DIRECT TO DISC

It arrived today and I put it on. A little surface noise at the beginning, but it played well and loudly. In fact, the last paragraph on the back cover reads thus, "In playing back this recording, for best results, and to achieve proper balances and enjoy the full dynamic range of the music, we strongly urge you to playback at high volume levels, and at the same time, pay proper attention to the fusing of your loudspeakers."

Who am I to argue with the record producer? Earlier, on the back cover, they wrote, "With a frequency response within plus or minus 3 dB from 7 Hz to 25 kHz... Dynamic range and signal to noise ratio exceeds 80 dB."

That seems awfully high for an LP to achieve, but, again, who am I to argue? Since I have only one turntable, and one dbx decoder, I had to play them one after the other.

Hopefully, you will be able to enlarge this photo [clicking on any picture will open a second window over this one (on a PC or laptop, anyway) and they will be larger] enough to read the text.

If you are not familiar with dbx encoded tapes and LP records, this sheet was within the cover along with the record. Other dbx discs I have, it is printed somewhere on the cover.

I have written about dbx encoded LP records before, here is a link to that article:

The Robb Collections: DBX Encoded LP Records. Are They As Amazing Sounding As Some Say?

I only had three at that point, but have many more now. That article shows the dbx decoder/encoder I have, the interconnects and more. Please read it when you finish this article.

Since I am 66 and aside from a few times playing music louder than I should and having attended rock concerts (also having season tickets to the Richmond Symphony), plus working in very loud shops for decades, I have some hearing loss. Thus, I turn the treble up higher than most. 

That being said, I heard distinct hiss at the beginning of the dbx disc. I turned the treble to normal and it went away.

The d-2-d record was played first. As I wrote above there was a little ticks and pops at the beginning, but all-in-all, the record sounded wonderful, and loud. I no longer have a dB meter, so could not verify their dynamic range claims.

The dbx record was next. It too sounded wonderful. While I have well over 1,000 classical recordings, analog and digital, I cannot pick out an orchestra just on it's sound alone. Both capriccios (capricci?) are two of my favorites and the Boston Pops did superbly.

Since they were both recorded simultaneously, I would love to have been able to do a blind test. But, I cannot. To me, they both sounded wonderful. Anyone out there have the wherewithal to be able to do a blind test of these two LPs?

Back to playing dbx records. One of them had a track titled, Boy With Goldfish by Jerre Tanner. It was an excerpt, but it was more than enough to get me excited. It is choral with full orchestra. I looked on eBay and found a sealed SACD and a sealed LP of the same (there may be only one?) performance. Done by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Lee Holdridge. That will be what the next article is about.

Thank you SO much for taking the time to read this article. Music is one of my passions as is writing and photography.

Scott Robb

September 9, 2022

#451

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