Michigan Tech students craft 20,000 watt snow horn

While we've seen water-based, cement cast, and speaker-shaped speakers make their respective debuts lately, this Michigan Tech project might just take the proverbial cake. Seeking to becoming kings of university's annual snow statue building contest, a few zany students crafted a monstrous snow horn, fully equipped with tweeters, mid-range drivers, and subwoofers. The horn was unfortunately disqualified from the competition due to using "materials other than snow," but how can you not hand over a gold medal to a team that braved the freezing cold in order to craft a 20,000-watt megaphone? You heard right, powering this immense array of drivers were nine Behringer EP2500s and a Crown XLS602, and while we've no way of confirming, we have every reason to believe that folks have "called to complain from miles away." So if you've ever wondered what (is probably) the loudest speaker to ever be constructed primarily from snow looks like, be sure to hit the read link for a bevy of in-progress and finalized snapshots.

[Via Audio Junkies, thanks Lukas G]

[Nick @ Feb 14th 2007 2:40AM]

Turn it up to 11!
Why not just make 10 louder?

[rtolson @ Feb 14th 2007 3:12AM]

Where have you guys been? They've been doing giant snow speakers at Michigan Tech for years, although I can't say for sure how those previous efforts compare this one.

I've heard the snow speakers before and they sound awesome.

[ms @ Feb 14th 2007 8:22AM]

What rtolson said -- the local branch of the Audio Engineering Society has been doing snow speakers during my entire time at Tech. They usually also put up a wall to project movies on, as well as a "snow couch" to sit on (very few takers, incidentally). Looks like they topped themselves this year.

[Terry @ Feb 14th 2007 9:49AM]

Looks like garbage.

Bose will always be better.
Plus, it's 20,000 watts, it's 200 watts.

[Tim @ Feb 14th 2007 11:13AM]

bose; better sound through marketing. lots and lots of marketing.

and cheap paper cones with foam surrounds. YES INDEED.

[Meltz; @ Feb 14th 2007 1:51PM]

I can't stand Bose and their tiny crap speakers.
And what the crap does this mean?:
"Plus, it's 20,000 watts, it's 200 watts"

[mcspacebar @ Feb 14th 2007 11:23AM]

Bose Is all HYPE.
get a real opinion buddy.

[Thomas Donahue @ Feb 14th 2007 12:57PM]

Michigan Technological University Rocks. I was there when they had it blasting. It was amazing. You could hear this from about a mile a way clearly.

Rockin. Can't believe we're on engadget.

-Tom

[blackfeather @ Feb 14th 2007 2:20PM]

The best listening position is three miles away in a concrete bunker...

[John @ Feb 14th 2007 3:15PM]

They have been doing this every year, I personally think last years looked better. I didnt listen to this one for very long, but I can tell you it was freakin loud. The community knows that winter carnival will be loud, so really, not that many people complain.

As I recall, last years was louder, but this year I was also drunker.

BOSE = Buy Other Sound Equipment

[benharmless @ Feb 14th 2007 4:09PM]

Yeah, but can they put one in their car?

[Buck @ Feb 14th 2007 5:37PM]

my brother goes to school at Michigan Tech. and im going up there from Fri to Mon, so i am going to check it out if there still there.

[Chadwick359 @ Feb 14th 2007 6:15PM]

Last year was indeed better put together, but the snow did kinda suck this year.

It still does me a world of good to see my school on one of my favorite sites.

Mike C

[Dan @ Feb 15th 2007 12:49AM]

No high's, no low's....well it must be Bose

I'm not thrilled about Behringer stuff either

[Andy @ Feb 15th 2007 12:58PM]

Go Huskies!

[John @ Feb 15th 2007 8:36PM]

Behringer at least doesn't pretend to be the best. Want a cheap amp that might last a few year and puts out the watts? Then go Behringer.

[Paul @ Mar 31st 2007 2:59PM]

Thats right, go HUSKIES!

Not that it really has anything to do with this article...