Driver design

[auriches]

I want to design a good mid or bass driver. Does anyone know any resources online or have any tips on designing drivers?

thanks in advance!

[el`Ol]

I have come quite far with a concept for an FAL-style flat driver but never realized it.
http://www.sibatech.co.jp
http://www.fal.gr.jp
If you are happy with such a driver I will share my ideas here.

[sdclc126]

My question is why do you want to design your own driver?

[GM]

Got a well stocked library? This may help:

Loudspeaker Handbook
John M. Eargle
Chapman & Hall 1997
ISBN 0-412-09721-4

GM

[PeteMcK]

I wonder how good the sound would be making something like these,
Infraplanar: http://infraplanar.free.fr/infraplanar-english.htm
Podium: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/podium/1.html

Using old drivers, fill up the cone with polystyrene foam & clamp them to a piece of ply…???

[auriches]

thanks for the links and info guys, i will definitely look into it. i thought that there wouldn't be many people here with in depth knowledge of driver design but looks like i was wrong.

why would i want to design a driver? well, it just amazes me how a few basic components can make such different results and i want to find which claims by those manufacturers are even remotely true.

for example, does a minimal rear basket really reduce reflections? i don't know. i probably can't try this out because i can't custom make moulded plastic or metal parts. but i'll try the most i can do.

anyway, thanks again, and if you guys got any more ideas, keep posting!

[sdclc126]

Originally posted by auriches
...why would i want to design a driver? well, it just amazes me how a few basic components can make such different results and i want to find which claims by those manufacturers are even remotely true...

That would take a lot of work. If you're looking to build a nice sounding speaker system you're better off using existing drivers that are well reviewed and tested - others have already done your work for you. Nothing personal but your chances of coming up with something comparable to good existing drivers is not very good.

[CLS]

Originally posted by auriches
....

for example, does a minimal rear basket really reduce reflections? i don't know. i probably can't try this out because i can't custom make moulded plastic or metal parts. but i'll try the most i can do

....

You may try this in the other way round by treating a pressed steel frame which comes with large flat 'spokes'.

Some wool felt or the likes applied on the inner side of that basket can absorb some of the mid-high frequncy reflection. You may hear and measure this effect (especially on those wide range drivers).

OK, this might not be a 'direct' evidence to <a minimal rear basket really reduce reflections>, but pretty much, I think. (I haven't tried modifying midbass or woofers in such way, though.... )

So, maybe there're already many things to by modifying existing drivers before designing a new one from scratch.

[auriches]

Originally posted by CLS



You may try this in the other way round by treating a pressed steel frame which comes with large flat 'spokes'.

Some wool felt or the likes applied on the inner side of that basket can absorb some of the mid-high frequncy reflection. You may hear and measure this effect (especially on those wide range drivers).

OK, this might not be a 'direct' evidence to <a minimal rear basket really reduce reflections>, but pretty much, I think. (I haven't tried modifying midbass or woofers in such way, though.... )

So, maybe there're already many things to by modifying existing drivers before designing a new one from scratch.

commonly the basket frame is made of hard reflective material (steel or whatever), and i would therefore need to add that type of material to the back of existing drivers to test. if i added any absorptive material it would most definitely affect the mids/treble.

[CLS]

Oh! Yes, of course. I just didn't think of that

OK, let's drop that basket 'issue', since it's relatively 'easy' compared to other problems, like cone composition/profile, suspension(s), and the most important (I think) -- the motor.

Maybe it's a good start by studying the works of AE, 18sound, Steallus... etc. Wait, am I repeating what sdclc126 just said?