30 Lumber Listening Devices

Since the early days of classical music, wood has always been a highly regarded material both for its acoustic properties and aesthetic appeal. Now designers are getting back to those musical roots in a number of different ways with speaker systems and headphones that are partially, or in some cases almost entirely, composed from wood.

Although low-tech in nature, these wooden sound systems have sophisticated acoustic chambers that create a rich and robust sound that you just can't get from speakers produced with conventional materials. And because the designs make excellent use of uncomplicated elements -- like the type, shape and thickness of the wood -- many of these products have fewer moving parts and are more durable than systems that contain a lot of integrated electronics.

Any way you look at it, wood is simply a great material for building a sound system - just make sure to keep them away from termites.