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Kabuki??

J

JoeHar

New Member
Hi all,
Ok, I'm forced to ask. I have been reading numerous post over the days. (NICE website by the way) and I repeatedly see "KABUKI". What is it? :scratch2:

Thanks, Joe
 
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Speakers, (usually Japanise) that use LOTS of speakers to pretend to get more quality. Its hard enough to get decent sound out of 3 way speakers, how do they expect to get to get it out of 5 way or higher?
 
Definition of 'Kabuki'

Here is an AK thread about the origin of the term, including a post by the creator, Don McR, who is also the administrator of the Lansing Heritage Forum. Here is a thread from LHF, which links to the Urban Dictionary.
 
Kabuki ia a derogative name given to certain types and brands of speakers. It is based on the erroneous assumption that most speakers made by the major Japanese manufacturers during the 70s and 80s are junk. This is considered as the "Gospel" especially if (1) each individual speaker of a set had more than 2 or 3 speakers and (2) response is not as good in the lower frequencies. (They don't have the booming base that so many neophytes mistake for "good sound".)

There are exemptions to this rule though, the classic Pioneer CS-99As are speakers that come to mind. Ask around, many who say they are terrible secretly wish to own some 99s. But these naysayers have spent all their dough on the slapped together AR-3As. If ever there was a speaker that started to fall apart as soon as it left the showroom floor, but alas...I digress. :lmao:











LOL!!! Climbing into my bunker now and putting on the body armor. Sometimes it's just fun to stir the pot. :lmao:
 
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Thanks for your responses. Kabuki....ahh...

Well I haven't been an audio entusiasts for very long. I'm far from being an expert in any field. I don't have special interest in one particular speaker or component. I like Sansui, because that is the most I have listened to out of varied brands. I personally don't knock any particular brand because they are made a certain a way or made in a particular place. I listen to the sound and go from there.

I don't care if they are the ultimate wanted, or the bottom of the totem pole. Afterall, if we all had the same likes, wouldn't we be drones?

I wish I had kept many of the speakers I had. I've got 3 or 4 pair sitting around here now... that a tweeter or mid range or something doesn't work on them, but have in the past thrown others away that didn't work even if just parts worked, parts didn't. I'm still learning the terminology used with many speakers as well. I'm a newbie in many ways.

I'm an eBay seller and have sold numerous vintage speakers and equipment and don't know anything about repairs, etc,just really never had the interest of keeping them if they didn't work...I couldn't sell anything not working, not worth taking the time and listing fees to list and patience with packaging for little profit. But since visiting here, I may find a home for much of it in parts.

Many of you out there would most likely have loved to have had some of that stuff I tossed. Lesson learned.

Glad to have found this site though, some interesting material and talk.

Thanks again, Joe
 
Joe, before you toss anything, you could list it, as a 'parts unit', or check the 'Parts Wanted' in the AK Classifieds. Your DOA unit may be the saviour of someone else's gear.

Oh, and I don't think Don McR was specifically bashing Sansui, though they did have their share of stellar examples of Kabuki. Everyone here knows that each person lets their own ears be their guide.

Glad to see you have come out of the shadows, and started posting. Welcome to AK.
 
bob adams said:
But these naysayers have spent all their dough on the slapped together AR-3As. If ever there was a speaker that started to fall apart as soon as it left the showroom floor but alas...I digress. :lmao:
Click to expand...
I beg your pardon :saywhat:
 
I'm just pleased to know the definition of Kabuki. And here I was thinking it was form of mexican hat dance. :D But seriously.

I didn't take it as a personal attack on Sansui. Each and every have their own view or "hearing". I'm glad to have found my way back to this site.

Thanks for the welcome.

I will check into the AK parts classified listing. I never knew a thread was available. See how blind-sighted I can be? :D On with even more fun on the AK site.

Thanks again, Joe :banana:
 
Joe, you're definitely not the first to be confused about kabuki, I've seen it happen several times while lurking and it took me a while to figure it out as well. At least it looks like you've had your question answered well.

This has reminded me of a thought I've been toying with for a while. That is, perhaps we should put together a 'Kabuki Database' for a quick reference as to what is kabuki by listing models such as the Kenwood KL-10000Z:

ke1.JPG


Then again, it could be just a stupid idea.
- JP
 
JoeHar said:
...I will check into the AK parts classified listing. I never knew a thread was available. See how blind-sighted I can be? :D On with even more fun on the AK site.

Thanks again, Joe :banana:
Click to expand...
The Classifieds have a set of listings, but don't forget the Business and Vendor Ads, in a separate forum. You might just find something you have been looking for, over there.
 
Dalquist DQ-10 is an example....5 drivers, 4-way (3-way?) speaker. Cheap piezio horn tweeter. scattered speaker placement - trying to look like a competitor's expensive model (quad ESL-57).... :naughty:

now, the pair of Sansui SP-X8000 I have....that's another story...


(clue - I'm hinting at something here....)
 
At first I took issue with that definition until I realized I was confusing Noh with Kabuki. Kabuki is a most fitting description. Taken from the web:

"Kabuki theater is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by its performers."

Most fitting indeed, bring on the karaoke!

luvvinvinyl said:
Here is an AK thread about the origin of the term, including a post by the creator, Don McR, who is also the administrator of the Lansing Heritage Forum. Here is a thread from LHF, which links to the Urban Dictionary.
Click to expand...
 
mhardy6647 said:
Also not Kabuki (it's what's behind those diffusers that counts):
Click to expand...


if I could add a little insert in there....

"....it's what's behind those diffusers [and the rationale behind the driver placement] that counts"

then that's what I was hinting at... :)

...and the SP-X8000 actually do sound pretty good, but the 16 inch woofer is in no way an Altec 515 in terms of build quality.
 
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