Featured Reviews & Articles
Document Actions
Speaker Break In: Fact or Fiction?Driver "break in", "burn in" or "run in" is a topic that's been debated in various forums for years. This topic continues to ignite occasional flame wars, fueled by the contributions of both uninformed and enlightened alike. |
How to Judge Loudspeakers - Sound and AccuracyWhat do we really mean when we talk about "loudspeaker sound"? We've said it - we've heard it - but what should a good loudspeaker sound like? If we are being true to the goal of seeking higher fidelity, then an ideal loudspeaker should have no "sound" at all. In other words, it should be completely transparent, an open door to the musical performance. |
Recent Loudspeaker Basics Articles
Tech Article: Sound Bars with Chip-Based Technology Bridge Gap
by Claus Neesgaard — last modified June 26, 2008 04:52
by Claus Neesgaard — last modified June 26, 2008 04:52
High-quality audio is a critical part of creating a compelling home theater product line. With the availability of six- and eight-channel surround sound systems, consumers expect movie theater quality sound in their living rooms and bedrooms from their televisions. New Silicon-on-Chip Designs promise better and cheaper sound bar technology to fill the gap for those who can't build out full 5.1 systems.
Pro Review: Dayton Audio WT3 Woofer Tester Review
by Mark Sanfilipo — last modified April 17, 2008 19:07
by Mark Sanfilipo — last modified April 17, 2008 19:07
The WT3 Woofer Tester by Dayton Audio is a fast, accurate and affordable measurement tool that’s about as easy to use as it gets. Just load the included software, plug the probe into the nearest USB port, calibrate, and you’re good to go. It’s that simple! It’ll measure driver impedance and derive the all-important Thiele/Small parameters - critical to the loudspeaker design process. It will also measure the impedance of various components commonly used in the construction of passive crossover networks such as resistors, caps & inductors. Rounding out this feature set, the WT3 sports some useful extra utilities you’ll likely find handy. All in all, this is one item likely to be a favorite of the DIY community for a long time to come.
Tech Article: Audioholics Subwoofer Measurement Standard Part I
by Mark Sanfilipo — last modified March 06, 2008 13:24
by Mark Sanfilipo — last modified March 06, 2008 13:24
When it comes time to size up a subwoofer's performance, the proof is in the measurement! Audioholics takes a hard look at the science of subwoofer measurements in a two-part series covering a broad spectrum of measurement methods, useful to both pro and enthusiast alike. The purpose of both documents are to present a set of measurement guidelines by which a comprehensive objective assessment of a subwoofer’s performance can be developed. Included within this document’s definition of a subwoofer are: single & multiple driver subwoofer systems; powered and passive systems; systems featuring vented or totally enclosed cabinets; along with less common items such as dipole subwoofers. Let the science begin!"
Tech Article: Subwoofer Measurement Tactics: A Brief, Topical Overview & Method Comparison
by Mark Sanfilipo — last modified November 12, 2007 06:57
by Mark Sanfilipo — last modified November 12, 2007 06:57
You often see us measuring subwoofers using various methods such as: groundplane, in-room nearfield, outdoor on a pole, anechoic, quasi anechoic, etc in our product reviews and technical articles. This article discusses the different approaches to measuring subwoofers as well as tabulates the pros and cons of each method. Depending on the resources on hand of the reviewer, we will typically apply one or more of these methods and will note them as such in the reviews. The idea here is to eliminate external influences that complicate the measurements to yield similarly correct results for each methodology employed. The scope of this overview is limited to subwoofers only and the amplitude response frequencies range of 10 Hz to 320 Hz.
Tech Article: Speaker Spikes and Cones – What’s the point?
by Jim Lesurf — last modified September 18, 2007 12:28
by Jim Lesurf — last modified September 18, 2007 12:28
In recent years it has become common for items of audio equipment to be mounted using “spikes” or “cones”. These come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and materials, at all kinds of prices. The Hi-Fi magazines sometimes ‘review’ these accessories, and recommend their use. However, are they worth buying and using? In this article, we consider their use with loudspeakers, and discuss some alternatives.
Tech Article: Vertical vs Horizontal Center Speaker Designs
by Chris Seymour — last modified July 20, 2007 09:34
by Chris Seymour — last modified July 20, 2007 09:34
The center channel’s job is a tough one. The consensus is that around 75 percent of a movie’s content is routed to the center channel loudspeaker. Yet, the design criteria for center channels traditionally require that it fit as stealthily as possible around that big-box television, or that huge sheet of projection screen. The sound can’t go through your glass TV screen and projection screens are usually not acoustically transparent. Ideally, the sound should come from behind the image, through the screen as it does in the movie theaters. But while there are new options with acoustically transparent projection screens, this article will focus on the more traditional problem of what compromises result from the different approaches to center channel design.
Tech Article: Loudspeaker Impedance, Series & Parallel Connection Basics
by Gene DellaSala — last modified May 21, 2006 20:00
by Gene DellaSala — last modified May 21, 2006 20:00
More often than not a question pops up in our forum about speaker impedance and the result of connecting multiple speakers to a single amplifier. Thus we have prepared this introductory tutorial to help clear up some of these questions.
Tech Article: Inductor Coil Crosstalk Basics
by Mark Sanfilipo — last modified January 28, 2008 05:55
by Mark Sanfilipo — last modified January 28, 2008 05:55
As a fledgling electronics buff I gathered together the usual hodgepodge of spare parts, old TV's and all the other electrical odds and ends that youngsters bitten by that particular bug seems to collect. Among my most prized possessions were 2 25 lb. spools of insulated, 12 AWG copper wire. Their weighty status didn't spare them however from featuring in many of my early experiments.
Tech Article: Speaker Break In: Fact or Fiction?
by Mark Sanfilipo — last modified May 22, 2007 05:46
by Mark Sanfilipo — last modified May 22, 2007 05:46
Driver "break in", "burn in" or "run in" is a topic that's been debated in various forums for years. This topic continues to ignite occasional flame wars, fueled by the contributions of both uninformed and enlightened alike.
Tech Article: Lowering Mechanical Noise Floor in Speakers Pt 2
by Mark Sanfilipo — last modified July 04, 2005 20:00
by Mark Sanfilipo — last modified July 04, 2005 20:00
The mechanical & acoustical performance of a loudspeaker cabinet's panel will be assessed at various stages of construction, with an eye to noting any improvements along the way. This report will conclude with a simple before/after comparison of the acoustical output of one of the test cabinet's panels, followed by a subjective assessment of the system's performance.
Tech Article: Lowering Mechanical Noise Floor in Speakers
—
by
Mark Sanfilipo
—
last modified
March 16, 2005 19:00
Tech Article: Understanding Loudspeaker Frequency Response
—
by
Alan Lofft
—
last modified
April 06, 2007 09:41
Tech Article: How to Judge Loudspeakers - Sound and Accuracy
—
by
Alan Lofft
—
last modified
December 30, 2004 19:00
Tech Article: Wireless Surround Sound Speakers - The Future?
—
by
Clint DeBoer
—
last modified
October 14, 2004 20:00
Tech Article: Loudspeakers: When Is Good Enough, Enough? Part 3
—
by
Patrick Hart
—
last modified
January 18, 2008 14:16
Tech Article: Series vs Parallel Networks - First Order Comparison
—
by
Gene DellaSala
—
last modified
August 29, 2004 20:00
Tech Article: Loudspeakers: When Is Good Enough, Enough? Part 2
—
by
Patrick Hart
—
last modified
August 29, 2004 20:00
Tech Article: Loudspeakers: When is Good Enough, Enough? Part 1
—
by
Patrick Hart
—
last modified
August 29, 2004 20:00
Tech Article: Filter & Crossover Types for Loudspeakers
—
by
Gene DellaSala
—
last modified
August 29, 2004 20:00
Loudspeaker Basics
The following sub-folders are contained in this folder:
There are currently no sub-folders in this folder.
