At HornAudio, we believe in the power of collaboration to create something truly special. That’s why we are excited to partner with Ynse Heegstra, a social working place and my neighbour’s greenhouse to create our latest subwoofer, the “Sim.” In this blog post, we’ll take you behind the scenes of the making of the “Sim” subwoofer and show you the different stages of production, from the initial CNC cut to the final assembly.

CNC Cut by Ynse Heegstra

The first step in crafting the “Sim” subwoofer was to create the wooden parts. We partnered with Ynse Heegstra, who used his CNC machine to cut the wood to the precise measurements we needed. This step was essential in ensuring that the final product has the perfect shape and size.

Assembly at a Social Working Place

After the wood was cut, it was time to assemble the pieces of the speaker. We teamed up with a social working place, where the team members carefully put the speaker together, ensuring that each piece fit perfectly.

The social working place is a non-profit organization that provides training and employment opportunities to individuals who may have difficulty finding work due to various challenges. The team members at the social working place were highly motivated and dedicated to ensuring that the “Sim” subwoofer was assembled to the highest standards.

Working with the social working place not only helped us to create a high-quality product, but it also helped to make a positive impact in the community. By providing training and employment opportunities, we are helping to break down barriers and build a more inclusive society. We are proud to be able to support such an important cause, and we look forward to continuing to work with the social working place in the future.

Painting

After the speaker was assembled, it was time to give it a final touch of paint. I painted the speaker black at my neighbour’s greenhouse. At HornAudio we use a paint called “Warnex”. This step helped to give the speaker a sleek and professional look, and also helped to protect the wood from any damage.

Final Assembly

The final step in creating the “Sim” subwoofer was to add the 4-inch bass loudspeaker and wireless streaming amplifier. I did this step at my kitchen table, carefully connecting all the wires and ensuring that everything was working properly. This step was important for ensuring that the final product would have the best sound quality possible.

Conclusion

Creating the “Sim” subwoofer was a journey that involved the efforts and expertise of many different people. From Ynse Heegstra’s CNC cut wood, to the assembly at a social working place, to the painting and final assembly by me, Marcel from HornAudio, we are proud to have created a high-quality subwoofer that will add amazing bass and deep sound to the “PiXi” magical loudspeakers. And this is just the first of a series of 3 subs: “Sim”, “Sala” and “Bim”.

 

As a member of the Celtic folk band Rapalje, I spend a lot of time on the road, traveling from venue to venue and playing music for audiences all over the world. It’s an incredibly rewarding experience to be able to share our passion for music with so many people. But while most of my time is spent on stage, there’s another aspect of my life as a musician that I find just as rewarding: building and tinkering with equipment.

Passion for Building Loudspeakers

One of my passions is building loudspeakers, which I believe truly sound like magic. I’ve always been fascinated by the way that sound can be amplified and projected, and I’ve always been on the lookout for ways to improve the sound quality of our performances. So, I decided to start building my own speakers. I’ve spent countless hours soldering and tinkering, trying to perfect the design and get the product ready for our fans. These speakers are small enough to be easily transported on the road, but they have a big, powerful sound that can fill even the largest venues.

 

Challenges of Building on the Road

One of the challenges of building speakers on the road is that I often find myself working in hotel rooms, which are not always the most ideal locations for soldering and other technical tasks. But I’ve learned to make it work, by being creative and resourceful with the tools and materials that I have available. I’ve had to come up with clever solutions to problems like how to ventilate the room when I’m soldering, or how to set up a work area in a small space. But, despite these challenges, I find that building and tinkering with equipment is an incredibly rewarding experience.

Rewards of Building and Tinkering

Not only do I get to create something that I’m truly passionate about, but I also get to share that passion with our fans, by providing them with speakers that truly bring the magic of music to life. Our fans have told me that they can hear a noticeable improvement in the sound quality of our performances since we started using my speakers. That’s the most satisfying thing for me, knowing that I am doing something that can make such a big difference to the experience of the people who come to see us play.

 

Advice for Musicians

So, if you’re a musician who loves to build and tinker, don’t let the challenges of life on the road hold you back. With a little creativity and resourcefulness, you can make it work, just like I do. Building and tinkering with equipment is an incredibly rewarding experience that can make a big difference to your performance and the experience of your fans. So, don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty and start building something amazing. It may take a bit more effort, but the satisfaction and results you’ll get from it will be worth it.

Conclusion

Building speakers is just one example of how as a musician you can combine your passion for music and your passion for building and tinkering. It’s not always easy, but with a bit of creativity and resourcefulness, you can make it work. And not only will you have the satisfaction of creating something you’re truly passionate about, but you’ll also be able to enhance the experience of your fans. So, don’t be afraid to explore other ways to combine your passions and make a difference in your performances.