By LAWRENCE TAN

Taking its expertise several notes higher, Japanese maker of heat-resistant glass instruments, Hario Glass, has unveiled what the company says is the world’s first glass-cone speaker called Harion.

Comprising a subwoofer, two mid-range woofers, and two acrylic tweeters, the Harion speakers are individually hand-blown and tested by a 23-member team of glass-molding professionals, electricians and sound recording engineers.

It took three years and eight months, and a princely sum of 16 million yen (US$168,000) to complete this glass act, which features a patent-pending diaphragm made of heat-resistant glass.

Cutting the wafer-thin glass, measuring 0.8mm into glass cones proved to be the major obstacle during the speakers’ production. Hario says glass’ unique properties of moisture-resistance and stiffness makes it ideal for producing powerful low-range sounds.

Not one to shy from a challenge, the Japanese company, traditionally known for its teapots and other glass tableware accessories, has previously made headlines five years ago, when it unveiled a glass violin, also made of heat-resistant borosilicate glass.

Only two out of the original 20 glass violins planned were successfully completed, one of which now belongs to Japanese violinist Ikuko Kawai, and the other resides in Hario Glass’s headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.

All images are copyrighted and courtesy of Hario Glass.