Wave Guides - anyone remember those???

[Kyblack76]

When I was growing up and reading car stereo review, and Auto Sound & Security, Waveguides were coming on. Saw a set, made by USD, at a joint, & almost snagged em just because. Anyway, I left, and posted this after I looked around the Acura to see if I could use em. I don't see them anymore, and was wondering what the mass opinion was out there???.. As always, thanks for any and all help.

Edited June 7, 2012 by KyLar96

[8ight]

Waveguides? Sure, basically just fiber optic-like transmission for sound and EM waves. They have their uses, but none that I can think of in car audio..

[Chris Hammer]

Waveguides? Sure, basically just fiber optic-like transmission for sound and EM waves. They have their uses, but none that I can think of in car audio..

http://www.usdaudio.com/usd/wg.html

I think this is what he was talking about.

Looking around on other car forums real quick returned some results showing the general consensus is good...but used sets were going anywhere from 250-500$ a set. You could probably build your own 3 way component set for less.

Edited June 7, 2012 by Chris Hammer

[8ight]

Oh. I thought he meant waveguide waveguides. Not waveguide as a marketing term.

[Chris Hammer]

Oh. I thought he meant waveguide waveguides. Not waveguide as a marketing term.

I know what your talking about too...but no use in car audio as you stated.

[8ight]

Oh. I thought he meant waveguide waveguides. Not waveguide as a marketing term.

Nothing I would call practical

Otherwise, they are very expensive and more of a special application item or novelty at best. Discrete placement is a pain and a set of killer components will sound so good you could hardly tell the difference.

I know what your talking about too...but no use in car audio as you stated.

[Wicks]

Yup I remember them from CA&E back in the 90's.

Saw a set on eBay a while back and almost got em but I doubt they'll fit my dash.

Richard Clark used them in his award winning Buick so they must be good.

[Kevin M]

I use them in my car and for the cost of the horns, drivers, and eq you could get a sick 3 way comp set. They are really efficient. I have the image dynamic horns. They are still easy to find if you know where to look. My setup cost ~$400. not including the midbass in the doors so a figure around 500 is pretty accurate. Worth every penny though. You need an efficient midbass to keep up with them. I have a 10" on 8x the power than the horn and at 91db 1W/1M they are having trouble keeping step. There is also debate as to whether the midbass driver should be the same diameter as the horns mouth length. ~12" One of the reasons I am going to try a 12" PA driver. A couple pics of my horns and the ones Richard Clark had in his dash. I think he was using 2" compression drivers. JBL or TAD's; over a grand a piece! I can't remember which...

The beasts. I heard they weighed over 50 lbs. lol

They have become smaller as you can see. The ones I have crossfire extremely hard due to the center console. That's why I chose the full size horn bodies. The mini's are even smaller and couple to the dash much better.

Edited June 8, 2012 by TheScottishBear

[Kyblack76]

Damn,... Thanks for the great info,.. (Christ, those are huge!!)

Hey bear, I may hit you with a pm if that's cool...

I chatted with one of my "go to's" on the site,.. And where the option is there, placement (which seems to be key) and some tuning has me probably just picking up another component set in the future. I just came across these, they look in great condition and my head wondered back to the day....

You also don't see or hear of much, which, I like to do things a little off,so it was appealing.

Appreciate the info ..

Edited June 8, 2012 by KyLar96

[White Lightning]

I know Image Dynamics made them ... are they still in business ??