Western Acoustics: The San Francisco Brand Crafting Sculptural Speakers
The brand just released its Type 2, a $5,000 USD set of bookshelf speakers with striking wave horns and bold grills.
From their office and workshop in San Francisco’s Dogwood district, Western Acoustics crafts high-fidelity systems that combine serene sound with a sculptural aesthetic — in layman’s terms, speakers that look just as good as they sound. In recent weeks, the small company has garnered attention with its new Type 2 model, a $5,000 USD set of bookshelf speakers that offer a striking look thanks to their mixture of donut-like wave horns and boldly-colored grills.
Powered by 350-watt Hypex plate amplifiers, the Type 2 boasts a Purifi USHINDI-series ultra-low distortion transducer 6.5’ woofer for rich bass, and its striking wave horn, made of solid wood, is custom-crafted for ultimate sound clarity. The brand also prides itself on its personalization, as the speakers offer a medley of bespoke options with several types of wood, finishes and grille cloth options.
Between its Type 2 speakers and the inaugural Type 1 — a price-upon-request floor unit with 12’ Japanese woofers from Fostex and a custom horn designed by Joseph Crowe — Western Acoustics is one of a handful of brands that brings hi-fi into a new generation by offering high-end speakers that double as desirable, collectible design objects, a la Devon Turnbull’s work with OJAS.
If you’re interested in a pair of Type 2 speakers, they can be ordered on the Western Acoustics webstore now.
