Full Range Driver Research Project

[lpgfullrange]

Is anyone in the community interested in doing some lab tests with different drivers and different cabinet designs?
I’ve built Fostex MLTQW speakers in the past, and I generally enjoy researching different speaker drivers. I’d like to build some new speakers comparing different drivers, though I don’t like the research that’s out there because each speaker designer does their tests in different environments.
What I want is a catalogue of real world frequency response charts and waterfall plots, to compare to the manufacturer’s T/S parameters and computer simulations.
Ideally, I would like do some independent lab measurements with several drivers and cabinets, all done in the same room environment and equipment.
We could make it a group buy, and collectively pay for the lab/measurements perhaps even loan our drivers and cabinets temporarily to get it done.
Has this been done before? If not, who wants to do it with me?

[lpgfullrange]

No takers? Any suggestions where else I should post? Thanks!

[chuyler1]

Since I'm a software engineer and work with rich internet technologies like adobe flex and flash, I keep tossing around in my head this idea of an internet app that contains a repository of all the current open-source box designs, actual T/S parameters for popular drivers, and calculators for common box designs. With Flex and Flash, you could even render box plans for people to print out.

Frequency plots and comparison reviews would be a great part of such an application, but in order to get accurate information, all speakers would have to be analyzed in the same room as you said...and it would always beg the question, what will it sound like in a larger/smaller room?

THe application could also be user-based, so a user could login and submit photos of speakers they have built and the database could keep track of how many people build each design.

Do you think such an application would be useful to the community? Or would people just continue to post over and over again the same questions on forums looking for a different answer.

[Colin]

Have a look at http://www.zaphaudio.com

[ChrisA]

Look what Eminence has done with some of their drivers. Of course you'd want to do it differently but this kind of gets the idea, you can actually listen (with a pair of good studio headphones) to each driver used three different ways. I don't know how you'd work this with HiFi speakers. But this actually provides sound sample in MP3 format.

Perhaps you could make a web site where people post raw recording made with a measurement mic and describe the room and amp used. Maybe even provide a "standard" audi track in FLAC format. Say a solo piano, jazz, vocals and so on.

Here is the link
http://www.eminence.com/soundclips.asp

(I bought the Legend GB128)

[fakeout]

I kind of like this idea although I wouldn't mind seeing tests on Wavecor and Beyma.

[tuxedocivic]

Originally Posted by fakeout

I wouldn't mind seeing tests on Wavecor.

Zaph|Audio

After March 31, 2011 and before Feb 20, 2011. Not a full ranger though.

[planet10]

to compare to the manufacturer’s T/S parameters

actual T/S parameters for popular drivers

What does actual T/S parameters mean? I have never seen any truly representative parameter sets published. I have seen lots of points taken off the curves (which leads to the misunderstanding that T/S are scalars).

From experience the points taken using LMS or LEAP tend to give the most reliable starting point when you actually build a box.

A set of actual T/S parameters would be a multi-dimensional chart for every parameter.

For an accurate representation of a speaker in the frequency domain an anechoic chamber is really needed, and the ability to take the complete set of curves specified by Toole.

dave