Sony SS-G777ES

Sony's penultimate high-end loudspeaker - unknown worldwide and even in Japan...

Pity because this really was no toy, nor a gimmicky thing filled with far-flung technologies. Unfortunately, Sony didn't advertise about them at all and, as a result, the misconception did continue : Sony does not do worthwhile high-end audio.

The bass river uses uni-directional carbon fibers with a slightly exponential cone shape.

The high and mid drivers are based on Silicon Carbonate Fine Ceramics (SiC) which has an inherent dispersion speed of ds 12,400 meters /s.
Carbon domes are shaped, then vapor deposited with SiC ; the base domes are then discarded to retain only the SiC film/dome with 99,999% purity and geometrical accuracy.

Btw, SiC was first used by Sony in 1980 on the extra-rare SH-500 cartridge headshell.

AlNiCo magnets are used for all three drivers ; the network reduces the bass driver's back-current from influencing the mid / high circuits and is filled with large metalized paper and (european) polypropylene caps as was done in the APM-6 or SS-G7.

The work on the enclosure went through several phases, which the first publicly shown version was made of large (in width) style with rounded edges everywhere.
This pre-production proved to be bass-shy so a different design was devised : 4cm thick with 4x 3-ply beechwood, 4-ply birch, semi-edgy surfaces finished in real rosewood.

Polyurethane, resin washers and felt+rubber-damped screws further evacuate vibrations of the bass driver.

I have no idea of the production run but it should be around less than 1000 pairs ; where they all went is another matter...

The SS-G777ES represent Sony's quality, pre-1991 financial crash, pre-1991 Morita retirement, pre-whatever : delicate and discreet magnificence.