Open-baffle baffle length

[matejS]

Hi!

I've found open-baffle design very interesting. I plan to build an open-baffle speaker.
I've done some research on it and it confuses me

Linkwitz states that baffle length must be less than wavelength: L < lambda. Right? Why? Not to get cancellation? And if it's lambda/2 you get addition?

If I assume L < lambda, the best L is 0. Why not use no baffle at all? We all know how nature works and nothing is for free. What "anti-condition" am I missing here?

Thanks,
Matej

[LineArray]

Maybe You would like some further reading on OB:

---
In German:

www.dipolplus.de

A comprehensive Introduction to OB including
practical examples.
You will find interesting links there see below:

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In English:

http://www.quarter-wave.com/

- link to "Open Baffle Theory"

Very interesting Articles by Martin King

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This is a simulation program, it works with
idealized drivers, but you can experimentally
change baffle shapes and sizes and watch
the impact on the frequency response

http://www.tolvan.com/edge

_____________
Cheers Oliver

[bentoronto]

Thought I'd try an OB sub-woofer. This is an effort to push the limits... not sure it succeeded well enough.

See this long post.