early enabl design? check it out

[gripracer]

I came across these on eBay, they are old Lomo Kinap 10" full-range speakers with a giant alnico slug, made in the 70s.

Look at the cone! It looks like they had the same idea as planet10's enabl pattern!

I just thought this was neat.

[InclinedPlane]

Yar...I've seen this design on those handmade russian fullrangers that are on and off ebay. Exact same pattern, actually.

[auplater]

luv the "loosey-goosey-logic" here. these patterns are much larger than enabl patterns, are impressed into the cone, so how exactly are they the "exact same pattern"???

enquiring minds want to know

[gripracer]

Ugh... i'm drawing similarities buddy, I never said it was enabl. I implied that it was LIKE enabl.

Make sure to enjoy things at face value sometimes instead of looking too far into them. This is what we call a fun thread. The internet is not always serious business.

[benb]

Originally Posted by auplater

luv the "loosey-goosey-logic" here. these patterns are much larger than enabl patterns, are impressed into the cone, so how exactly are they the "exact same pattern"???

enquiring minds want to know

I haven't posted about it, but I've read through much of the Enabl threads, read the patent, the magazine article, and I've been wondering about the logic of Enable itself. I have no doubt putting stuff on cones and diaphragms can change the sound, but if there was something justifying the specific pattern used, I missed it.

Originally Posted by gripracer

Ugh... i'm drawing similarities buddy, I never said it was enabl. I implied that it was LIKE enabl.

Make sure to enjoy things at face value sometimes instead of looking too far into them. This is what we call a fun thread. The internet is not always serious business.

Serious or not, I'm gonna give my analysis of what I see.

Yeah, it's some sort of change in the cone, and Enable is some sort of change, but I'm not sure they're for similar reasons (even presuming Enabl is exactly what it claims, which I'm skeptical of) other than the most general idea of attempting to make for better sound.

Enabl is adding (quite small) mass to the cone at certain points (near the edge?). This (photograph in the OP) appears to be a crimping/compression of the cone along arcs near the edge to reduce its strength/stiffness along those arcs. It looks similar to the concentric compressed "rings" in a paper cone of a larger full-range speaker, done so the higher frequencies only activate the smaller, inner area of the cone (though I only recall reading about that many years/decades ago and seeing it on older drivers - is this still done?)

I forget what all the Enable threads are and what they're for - is there a "True Science of Enabl" discussion thread???

[chrisb]

minor correction: while Planet10 is a licensed fabricator, "EnABL" is the patented invention of Bud Purvine, also the purveyor excellent audio transformers.

As benb notes, there have numerous methods of cone modifications over the years designed to deal with different issues.

At the risk of revisiting the often rancorous debates that have ensued here and elsewhere on the subject, it's probably fair to say that understanding the "science of EnABL" is perhaps harder than appreciating the perceived effects.

benb, have you actually experienced the difference this process makes? While not likely to satisfy rigorous objective standards, a rudimentary A-B test with 2 pairs of identical enclosures and stock and treated drivers can be very revealing. For many interested DIYers, building the boxes would be simple.

[InclinedPlane]

No I was comparing the pattern on these vintage units to the pattern I saw on some recently home made units on ebay. But quite different from Purvine's design, to be sure.