Hey guys...

**Darrel Hawthorne** · **05-31-06, 08:27 PM**

Hey Guys,

My Name is Darrel Hawthorne and I am an audio /video junky,,,, Yes it's true.
I started using when I was 12 and it's only gotten worse . I now operate Hawthorne Audio and manufacture many fine audio related offerings. I found out about you guys from my friends over on the IB cult forum..

I would like to get to know much more about home theatre and also get to meet some new friends along the way. I promise to keep the self promotion to an absolute minimum .I will however be most interested in how I can help you all to further enjoy this hobby. We have managed to make the 2 channel boys very happy and now I want to extend ourselves into my personal favorite area of audio... Home theatre.
Looking forward to working with you all.
Best regards
Darrel

**Sonnie** · **05-31-06, 11:53 PM**

Hello Darrel and welcome to the Shack!

lol... I think we are all junkies and gotta have our fix of toys and fun in the AV world.

We've been tossing around the idea of a two channel forum here... got a poll going over in Home Theater.

So tell us what Hawthorne Audio manufactures... we'll give you a free plug right here... how about that?

**JCD** · **06-01-06, 02:13 AM**

Hey, goodto have you here!

Looks like your beta run of your 18" has gone well.

When do you think you'll be starting full scale production?

For those that don't know, among other things, Hawthorne Audio is developing an 18" IB driver. I just saw over at the Cult that they've gotten to beta testing stage.

I'm sure I'll have a few more questions for you in the future, butsince ou're new, thought I might give you a break.

JCD

**Darrel Hawthorne** · **06-01-06, 06:38 AM**

Hey Sonnie, JCD

Thanks for the welcome, Congrats on such a fine job with the site. I like the format and layout of everything I have visited so far.
I think there are many guys that are into both high end 2 channel audio that also enjoy their HT time as well. I am using the same basic gear for both.
I have a dedicated music room and am still working on my HT, I have a room dedicated for this but am realistically a year out. Diana and I tore our house down and are slowly rebuilding it . This room is 11 x 27 and I have three levels ( stadium style seating) planned .
I recently picked up a Sharp front projector and we just love it.... I did a simple bed sheet stretched over a wooden frame to get it workable . This is my first projector and I am very pleased with it. I used to be big into ( the idea of one day be fortunate enough to have) home theatre.. I have several years of "Audio / Video Interior" mag.that I used to spend hours looking over for design ideas.
I will post a link to Hawthorne Audio ( thanks for the go ahead on this).
I call it a fellowship of audio artists. I developed a line of drivers called Silver Iris drivers and we do finished speakers as well. We sell raw drivers to the DIY and help people learn all about Open Baffle and Infinite Baffle configurations. We do this through our forum and builders gallery that we host.
I have featured artists / affiliates that make tube amplifiers and tube component kits and we have a guy who specializes in high end cabling.
Lately I have been getting back into HT and am currently developing two new IB drivers.
The Silver Iris IB B.A.D. drivers are 15" and 18" high fidelity "air movers" with a focus on SQ. I will sell these raw drivers and again help folks learn how to best set up and enjoy them.
Hawthorne Audio is also working to cover the needs of the pro sound community .
I currently have a HIFI guitar cabinet using our new Silver Iris "Ecotone" driver and I just did a working mockup for a 2 15 bass cabinet.
We are working with Mr.Eddie Vaughn ( Vaughn audio) to give the acoustic players a very high end combo.Class A tube head with boutique grade components and utilizing a HiFi 15" coaxial Ecotone driver.
This is a snapshot view of our current focus. We basically are an ever growing group of artists that love audio and like building fresh new creations for the world to enjoy.

I hope to become a trusted resource for HT related products and materials for the DIY.
My personal focus is on customer service and very high value without the very high price tag that often accompanies these products.

Thanks again for the welcome. You guys are a doing a remarkable thing here and I wish you continued success. I will do my best to support and contribute.
Best regards,

Darrel

http://www.hawthorneaudio.com/

http://www.hawthorneaudio.com/forum/

http://www.hawthorneaudio.com/forum/

**lcaillo** · **06-01-06, 07:02 AM**

Great to have you in the forums, Darrel.

**Darrel Hawthorne** · **06-01-06, 07:16 AM**

Hey Leonard ,
Thanks for the welcome, nice to meet you.

system therapist ?

Darrel

**Phil M** · **06-01-06, 07:24 AM**

Welcome to the forum Darrel.
I've spent a lot of money and time trying to turn a good 2 channel system into a good 2 ch and HT system. It was the boutique market (a Dan Wright modded CD/DVD player) that put me on a path away from major brands and the usual sales channels. This blew away a universal player that was highy rated by stereophile, and double the price.
My speaker are B&W - very nice, not cheap - but I've also listened to a pair of speakers from one of your DIY colleagues in Texas, and shocked about the excellent quality and sound.
I've become a convert Darrel, hopefully you can help others save money and increase their enjoyment at the same time.

**Darrel Hawthorne** · **06-01-06, 07:30 AM**

Hey Phil.
Thanks for the welcome and the kind words..

Quote:

but I've also listened to a pair of speakers from one of your DIY colleagues in Texas, and shocked about the excellent quality and sound.

That's very cool..... Yes , Always wanting to help the DIY.... I remember when this hobby was dominated by solder slingers and Heathkits... ooops, showing my age...
Nice to meet you Phil
Darrel

**Sonnie** · **06-01-06, 01:50 PM**

Nice setup you got for Hawthorne Audio. I joined up over at your forum... although I'm clueless when it comes to IB. Looks like you got a good following there. I'm sure we will be able to benefit each other.

**Wayne A. Pflughaupt** · **06-01-06, 09:29 PM**

Nice to have you here, Darrel! I have a feeling you're going to be a great asset to this Forum!

Cheers,
Wayne

**Darrel Hawthorne** · **06-01-06, 09:35 PM**

Hey Wayne,
Thanks for the welcome and the kind sentiment ...
This has to be one of the most friendly forums I have had the pleasure of visiting...
You guys are a class act...
Cheers,
Darrel

**Darrel Hawthorne** · **06-02-06, 05:39 PM**

Hey Guys,
Here is a shot of our music room:

We occasionally like to watch music DVD's while evaluating speakers.
We also like listening to the system while we build. You can see a Solo Baffle being worked on in the foreground.

Cream 2005 Royal Albert Hall
Darrel

**Sonnie** · **06-03-06, 12:03 AM**

What are those two speakers on each side of the screen? The drivers look huge and the speakers look pretty thin.

**Darrel Hawthorne** · **06-03-06, 06:16 AM**

Hey Sonnie,
Those are a pair of our Duet ( Two drivers) Speakers.
The driver package consist of a Silver Iris 15" OB Coaxial, full range on top and a Silver Iris 15" OB Augie ( Bass augmentation) driver on lower half... The Baffle is thin because this configuration is designed to excel in an enclosureless " Open Baffle"
This open baffle or OB is designed to run in a free air, dipole radiating manner. They normally are covered and the baffles not seen. Sound is similar to some of the finer electrostatic or magneplanar style speakers....On steroids

The screen is just a bed sheet ,stretched onto a wooden frame. I can hang it up when needed and simply stow it away when we are critically listening to music in this room or simply don't want to see it.
The projector is a sharp xr10X DLP. I don't have much experience with front projection but this unit fit my budget and seems to be pretty nice. I am not a videophile or truth be told a hard core audiophile... I just love good music and we ( Diana and I ) like to spend time together ... watching movies at home is a favorite pastime of ours....
This is what the room looks like without the screen:

24' wide..... picture was taken about 35' from front wall....Several sets of speakers were in rotation at the time this picture was taken. The larger ones on the sides are my version of Jensen Imperials ( 1957) folded horns.....
Darrel

**Danny** · **06-03-06, 09:13 PM**

Hey Darell

nice system you got going there. Welcome to the shack
would be good if you could post some more info about those speakers over in the speaker area, they look awesome.

D.

**Darrel Hawthorne** · **06-03-06, 09:30 PM**

Hey Danny,

Thanks for the welcome and also for the nice compliments on our work.
Most of my speakers are part of our commercial product line and I am trying to limit my self promotion. The basics are that we developed a line of audiophile drivers ( Silver Iris) that are sold as raw drivers to DIY and also made into finished speaker offerings. They are very unique in that they are designed to excel in an OB configuration. We are currently Beta testing some new IB drivers that we will hopefully bring to market soon. These IB drivers should be of interest to many Home Theatre builders.

If anyone is interested in learning more about what we do, Please visit our site...
Nice to meet you Danny,
Best regards
Darrel

**Sonnie** · **06-04-06, 01:29 AM**

I wouldn't mind listening to those OB's one day... if the opportunity would ever arise. They sound interesting and have my curiosity going. The one time I listened to ML's I was impressed and had I found a good used set back when I was speaker shopping I was going to purchase ML's for my HT room... then got side tracked into going with the VMPS speakers. I couldn't afford new ML's... not the ones I was wanting.

I've seen a bigger pic of those folded horns too... somewhere. May not have been that exact model or design... but it was similar and again impressive.

**Darrel Hawthorne** · **06-04-06, 07:11 AM**

Hey Sonnie,

Quote:

I've seen a bigger pic of those folded horns too... somewhere. May not have been that exact model or design... but it was similar and again impressive.

This is the famous Jensen Imperials, actually a highly modified version of the original.
This particular pair was my reference speakers for quite some time. They were built because I like very low powered tube amps ( 3 watts) Some call them flea power amps and they go even lower (1.8 watts is common) . Obviously the need for very high Sensitivity or efficient speakers is way up on the wish list.
We call them the "Big Easy" Can be easily driven to live levels on just a few watts.

These took about 5 sheets of plywood each, including the bent wood lens on top.
It took me and one buddy about a week to make them working after work and weekends.
They are heavy! 80" tall x 36" wide X24" deep... appprox 350 pounds each.

They look like big pro sound speakers and we have used them for this.... They are also very capable of playing with considerable finesse and grace... hard to imagine.
It took a very special speaker to send these to the proverbial showers.... I worked for almost 2 years to come up with a better design...
These are not for sale.......
Darrel

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