Zaph's latest post

[NyxOne]

Hi everyone,

anyone else has read Zaph's latest post ? I'm glad to hear that his going to work for the industry and wish him the best luck but I must admit the at the same time I feel a bit sad... To me Zaph Driver's comparison page is an invaluable tool! Knowing that those pages won't be updated anymore ... well like I said it make me said.

Anyway, Good luck Zaph!

Chuck

[Smokinghot]

That is unfortunate...

Being a newb to the hobby. Sites like Zaph's really help me get up to spd with what I can expect from various drivers, and how to spend my $$$ more wisely.

I wish him the best of luck in his new endeavour

[JonMarsh]

That's exciting news! I can definitely imagine John being quite successful in this new direction, given the quality of effort he's put into this as a hobbyist! :T

[DeathMonk]

Good news for zaph. Too bad we wont be seeing any more great designs from him... At least in the DIY segment

[evilskillit]

Yeah I'm happy for him and his success. I find that if you go into business doing something you love sometimes it becomes work and you don't love it anymore, unless you still just fiddle around for yourself on the side. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that hopefully he will still occasionally throw out a free design and or help with crossovers and whatnot.

[kevinp.]

aw man... traitor!!







j/k, congrats :T

[Rick Craig]

I wish you well John in your new position with Bose. :T



A late April fools. :lol:

[Bent]

hehehe,
no highs, no lows - must be bose.

[Mudjock]

Or maybe Monster is starting up a new line of speakers....Oh wait - that would require hiring an attorney, not an engineer.

Seriously, congratulations John. The information on your website has always been a valuable resource for taking some of the guesswork out of the concept phase of new projects. :T

[technimac]

John,
S'about time you put your talents to $productive$ use. :W
Thank you for providing so many valuable measurements from so many drivers to help so many DIY'ers make better decisions to choose the most appropriate drivers for their needs. ;x(
Your posted measurements have given many of us "audio-peasants" a base of confidence to choose and build speakers that we continue to enjoy every day. :B
That you've given so freely to the DIY community with your speaker designs also speaks volumes about your commitment to this hobby/profession.
We're going to miss your straight-up assessments of drivers (and of those who produce/market them) and their performance.
Cheers to you and best wishes on your new journey. :T
Bruce

[fjhuerta]

Zaph's site is an invaluable resource for everyone. If it stayed like it is, it'd still be an incredible asset to the community.

Having said that, it's sad to see him stop testing. I sincerely hope the best for him in whatever it is that he does. But his tests will surely be missed.

[LING GOWA]

I'm still listening to the Seas all aluminum with great pleasure and will be building the SR71 for a friend.
Many thanks for all your great contributions and all the best.

[benchtester]

Hi everyone,

anyone else has read Zaph last post ?

BTW: I would feel a little more comfortable if we referred to this as Zaph's LATEST post.

[JonMarsh]

BTW: I would feel a little more comfortable if we referred to this as Zaph's LATEST post.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:


VERY good point.... it's just at some point, there will be a "last post" as regards contributions to the DIY community, that don't conflict with his new activity!

[jliedeka]

Good luck, John. I learned a lot from your site.

[Dave Bullet]

He's criticised one too many manufacturers and they've taken him out! :a> :rofl:

I just hope the venture / employer / company matches his skills with quality components. It's ironic in some ways that if the products John works on are intended for Joe Public, his reputation will not preceed him, whereas in the DIY world we wouldn't buy finished product, but have a healthy respect for John.

I'll chime in and also say thanks and I wish you well.

Who will take up the mantle for testing and publishing drivers as John has done so well? At least he's given us a good format to follow. (I don't have the money or time).

[fjhuerta]

It's ironic in some ways that if the products John works on are intended for Joe Public, his reputation will not preceed him, whereas in the DIY world we wouldn't buy finished product, but have a healthy respect for John.

????

[NyxOne]

BTW: I would feel a little more comfortable if we referred to this as Zaph's LATEST post.

Done! Sorry for the confusion but writing in english is always a trial for me.

Chuck

[ch83575]

It's ironic in some ways that if the products John works on are intended for Joe Public, his reputation will not preceed him, whereas in the DIY world we wouldn't buy finished product, but have a healthy respect for John.

????

I can see what Dave is trying to say here, but its not like John has said he is going to be responsible for designing the new line of outdoor speakers for Klipsch or anything...

He may have very well been hired to design the kit line for SEAS or SCAR or something along that line. In that case the the intended audience would be us... and the conflict of interests would be more obvious. I cant speak for John, but I don't feel that there would be much of a conflict of interest if he were to design a commercial product intended for sale as a finished product to an end user. Look at Nelson Pass, he is one of the most respected contributors to the DIY field in his specialty, and he has his own product line from preamps to speakers. Its not a conflict if the DIY info and products are intended for different audiences.

All of that makes me think that we, the diy community, may not be loosing John. Perhaps he has just finally found somebody who will compensate him for some of his fantastic work.

Speculation aside, good luck John on whatever it is you will be doing (even if it is designing speakers that look like a rock).

-Chad

[fbov]

I caught Dave's meaning, too, and understand enough about NDAs to know they can be even more restrictive if you're directly employed. As a seller of kits, John's a retail competitor at all levels, and I'd be surprised if any company would allow an employee that option - mine won't!

That said, we can all be thankful for what we've received and the legacy he leaves, and will hope things turn out well for him, and eventually allow him to come back to this endeavor if he is so inclined.

Frank

[LING GOWA]

Well it looks like he is going to do a last battery of tests. This would be a good time for suppliers such as PE and others to show their mettle by supplying the drivers that are listed. This type of testing has surely increased sales and this would be a good way to show appreciation for this man's work.

Peerless 830946
Usher 8948A (I checked and this is out of Stock)
Hi-Vi D8.8+ (the new rubber surround model)
Audax TW025A20
Audax TW025A26
Peerless TG9FSD10-08 (I checked and this is discontinued)
Jantzen JA-5006
Jantzen JA-6006
Accuton C90-T6
ATC SM75-150
Visaton AL130
Visaton AL170
B&C 6PEV13 6-1/2"
B&C DE180 1" Horn Driver w/ME45 Horn
Morel ET448
Morel EM1308
Tang Band W4-1720 http://pwkdesigns.com/review/index.p...y090115-100000

Tang Band W4-1658SB
Tang Band 25-1744S
Tang Band 25-1743S
Tang Band 28-537SH
MCM 55-3862
MCM 55-3595

No drivers 10" or larger
No ribbons
No vintage drivers
No botique drivers
No limited availability drivers

[jkrutke]

BTW: I would feel a little more comfortable if we referred to this as Zaph's LATEST post.

I was out for a run the other day and almost got run over by a truck. It could have actually been my last post. :B


Thanks all for the comments. I would like to say however that this isn't that big of a deal. I am still working my same old day job. This is a part time side project that I will profit from. If there is a profit to be made, a tester/reviewer type guy like myself would be subject to claims of conflict of interest, no matter how small the profit is. So, it's got to stop. Or just to rub it in, I'll still be testing drivers on my own - I just won't be sharing anymore. :twisted:

As of this writing it will be about 2 months before this project is made visible. I'll note that it does cater to the DIY market and not the retail world. Honestly, I think the retail speaker world is dying and I wouldn't want to be involved in that market anyway. (NHT rest in peace) DIY all the way. I will always be a DIY'er.

[jkrutke]

Tang Band W4-1720 http://pwkdesigns.com/review/index.p...y090115-100000

I have a couple of these on the way. That's pretty much it for my wishlist, though there are lots of other drivers being tested. I'm not really saying no to anything being sent at this time, since this is essentially "it" for the public testing. There are three 8" woofers on the way. Those along with the 8's I've already tested in my Tidbits section might make for an interesting comparison.

I hope Mark K, Jed and others take up my slack when I'm done testing.

[jquin]

Or maybe Monster is starting up a new line of speakers....Oh wait - that would require hiring an attorney, not an engineer.

Seriously, congratulations John. The information on your website has always been a valuable resource for taking some of the guesswork out of the concept phase of new projects. :T

Well actually I thought MONSTER employed voodoo priests as well as attorneys.

Maybe they have decided to go straight and learn about physics?
They can't live in denial of the Renaissance for ever, they'll never make any money that way, surely!!! :rofl:

[---k---]

John,
You're going to be missed.

I'm guessing that this means your experiment mailing speakers around this summer is off. Shame, but it will be all good.

[jkrutke]

John,
You're going to be missed.

I'm guessing that this means your experiment mailing speakers around this summer is off. Shame, but it will be all good.

I'm not going anywhere, it's just a wrap on my driver tests and reviews. The speaker test is still on, I just have to find the time to finish the boxes. I have the drivers that will be used in them. They are half done sitting out in my garage right now.

[---k---]

That's good to hear (both that you'll still be lurking and the test is still on). Looking forward to it.