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Tech That Flopped!

Every few months someone releases technology that seems to be revolutionary, but goes nowhere a couple of years later. Some tech gets acceptance and even imitation. Some goes wildly successful.

Ideas that are a huge success:
  • Acoustic suspension
  • Bass Reflex
  • Soft dome tweeters
Some ideas, well, it's not so clear:
  • Perfectly time aligned speakers ilke Thiel/Vandersteen
  • ESL
  • Line Arrays
  • Plasma tweeters
  • Transmission line
What tech have you seen come and go, was it worthwhile?

Best,

E
erik_squires
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Actually quantum entanglement is not really generalizable to apply to everything. It's a specific quantum mechanics term. For example, the team of Chinese scientists who recently established the new distance record for teleportation relied on quantum entanglement. They didn't actually teleport a particle from one place to another like Jeff Goldblum in The Fly. 

clarinetmonster2's avatar
clarinetmonster2
201 posts
 
Not to ruffle anyone's feathers, but how about liquid cables? Definitely a niche. Too early to say if it will stand the test of time?
bjg
29 posts
 
Sony Betamax 

Spent a lot of time borrowing CD's from the library 35 years ago and putting 4 albums on a L750 tape - PCM digital taping on the cheap -  still have two players gathering dust 
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
Re: liquid filled cables, I assume Randy means the Purist Audio Design cables. Bought two pair in the 1990’s (nicknamed "Texas Water Cables" by Stereophile).and they still sound very good. PAD is very much alive some 25 years later and continues to make and sell excellent sounding cables and power cords, albeit with different substances now inside the jacket.

Dave
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,319 posts
 
"What was old is new again.."  Over and over....

ESLs' are great when done properly.  Same for TLs' and pretty much any cabinet design and execution when the drivers are selected for the application.  

Line source has their adherents....you either love 'em or hate them.  They 'go loud' Beautifully.  Accurately?  Well, debate away....

Plasmas are beyond 'niche'.  Nowhere near 'practical', but interesting to hear....then go outside for awhile....take some deep breaths.

Time aligning....seems to matter most to the equipment used to measure such.  Some can hear its' effects, most don't.  Not applied to the majority of offerings, and is only noted by those that apply it.

As usual, cost and execution will drive what you pay for what you desire and consider important or necessary.  From the front equipment to the drivers you hear.  'Twas always thus, and no end in sight.

Yup...Capt. Obvious strikes again. *G*  Enjoy what you've got, lust for what you desire. ;)
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