8-foot XL Horn Speakers pay homage to phonographs everywhere

There's no shortage of wacky speakers out there, but the custom built SPECIMEN XL Horn Speakers are probably among the most radical that we've had the pleasure of seeing. Designed specifically for musician Andrew Bird, these guys stand eight feet tall and are reportedly "extraordinarily efficient with an alarming bass response." Oddly enough, the phonograph-styled drivers are said to be "ideal for PA applications," and judging by the video hosted up after the break, they've been used quite delightfully in concert. Too bad these weren't around for our senior proms.

[Thanks, Adhemar]

[LondonConsultant @ Dec 22nd 2008 7:28AM]

The speakers in that photo look awesome!

[jared @ Dec 22nd 2008 7:48AM]

They make me want to re-play Bioshock.

[Gad Get @ Dec 22nd 2008 7:50AM]

Sweetness!

[Tankyu @ Dec 22nd 2008 7:55AM]

Anyone else think of the film Day of the Triffids?

[Dannyboy @ Dec 22nd 2008 8:14AM]

Come to think of it actually, no, because nobody knows what that film is

:D

[Oli D @ Dec 22nd 2008 8:28AM]

gee danny, someones really up on there classic novels..

never heard of John Wyndham? No?

Well get off the internet and read a damn book.

[Ian @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:04AM]

Your "I'm better than you because I read" attitude is a clear indication that reading doesn't improve social skills.

[Oli D @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:05PM]

correction, "i'm better than you because i read John Wyndham"

[Dach @ Dec 22nd 2008 3:05PM]

To me they looked more like something Dr. Seuss would have in his home.

[absinthe party @ Dec 22nd 2008 8:22AM]

If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary-wise; what it is it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?

/ Alice in Wonderland

[Oli D @ Dec 22nd 2008 8:29AM]

seems an accurate description of the engadget comments section to me.

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 22nd 2008 8:31AM]

Those aren't speakers, they are art. They belong in the Tate Gallery of Modern Art.

[Rick @ Dec 22nd 2008 8:42AM]

Too bad the video didn't show the part where the musician was ingested by one of the speakers which was actually an alien pitcher plant terminally offended by poor violin playing.

[doogan @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:10AM]

oh rick you poor ignorant slut. andrew bird is a virtuoso of all things stringed. check it: http://www.blogotheque.net/Andrew-Bird,2976

[absinthe party @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:38PM]

I don't think I've ever heard someone called a "poor ignorant slut" before. I'm gonna see if I can slip that into a casual conversation today. Thanks!

[Mal F4cti0n @ Dec 22nd 2008 3:00PM]

Poor violin playing?

I have seen Andrew Bird live many times, and poor violin playing is not something I would use to desrcibe his abilties.

Genius, yes. When you watch him up on stage by himself creating all the complex pieces to a song one at a time and looping them one over the other, it makes your jaw drop. Especially when he decides to change the tempo of one of his songs because he is a little depressed. To be able to re-time numerous parts to his song on the fly like that is nothing sort of incredible.

If you don't like his music, that is fine, he is not for everybody. But you shouldn't knock his skills because he is a musical genius.

[Lucretius @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:47AM]

I thought it looked a bit familiar:
Andrew Bird '05 http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/951.jpg

[bpc @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:24AM]

Andrew Bird is incredible to see (and hear) live. More impressive than these tall speakers is his Janus Horn, also built by Specimen: http://www.specimenproducts.com/amps/janus_horn.html

Hearing that speaker spinning live is unforgettable.

[Chase @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:39AM]

Ironically, these were at Hiro, where the engadget meetup was last weekend, just a few months ago when Andrew Bird did a show there.

[cnl24 @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:21PM]

I was at the Andrew Bird show where these speakers were debuted a few months ago. They sound freakin' *sweet* and looked great - check out Andrew bird if you haven't heard his work yet, it was probably the best show I've ever been to!

[Patriks7 @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:24PM]

I don't know why, but at first I read the title as "pornographs"..

[chase @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:56PM]

It's the internet...I think thats natural.

[Rick @ Dec 22nd 2008 4:37PM]

They are pornographs, look at the shape!


To: Doogan

Andrew Bird is not in the same class as true virtuoso players like Anne-Sophie Mutter, Yasha Heifetz, Pinchas Zukerman, Itzhak Perlman, etc., etc., etc.

[ED @ Dec 22nd 2008 5:38PM]

Phonography with big horns!

[Shawn Robinson @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:39PM]

These are amazing. A true piece of art.

[zed @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:02PM]

"8-foot XL Porn Speakers pay pwnage to pornnographs everywhere"

Dear Santa this year I think I'm gonna need a pair of new glasses...and.......got it?

[Matt @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:25PM]

can you hear me now? good.

[gojo @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:57PM]

They look very cartoonish but i dig 'em a lot!

[MikeWard1701 @ Dec 23rd 2008 3:47AM]

Aarrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooooooga!

[MikeWard1701 @ Dec 23rd 2008 3:49AM]

In all seriousness though, these speakers are amazingly cool.

Andrew Bird ftw!