Why are woofers getting so small?

Bobby Dipole · 8th January 2011, 04:16 PM

I'm an old-time HiFi enthusiast, long on the electrical theory, but short on speaker tech. Over the years it seems that woofers have gotten smaller and smaller. Are they really kicking out the bass like the old 12 and 15 inch units? Does a foam surround make an 8 inch woofer equivalent to a 12 inch woofer? Bookshelves are shrinking to shoebox. How small can you make a full range speaker?

Bobby Dipole

Norris Wilson · 04:27 PM

Just my opinion, there is no substitute to radiating area when it comes to bass frequencies. As with all speakers that use 8 inch or smaller drivers to attempt to reproduce a wide bandwidth of frequencies, to include all bass.
They sound small to my ears, unrealistically so.

"Where's the BEEF???"

Salas · 8th January 2011, 04:25 PM

Smaller means less cost in everything. From transportation and storage to domestic space & WAF. Its a practical thing and a trend. In acoustics, size matters. Smaller drivers are much smarter these days squeezing out more performance than traditionally able, but there is nothing like area for creating long waves in high SPL without stress.

454Casull · 8th January 2011, 04:30 PM

Woofers are the same size. What speaker integrators choose to do with them is a different issue (but not what you asked about).

Aucosticraft · 8th January 2011, 04:31 PM

this thread would partly answer your question.

Use Linkwitz Transform to reduce size of Enclosure?

Moondog55 · 8th January 2011, 10:28 PM

Woofers aren't getting smaller, wives and girlfriends are getting more and more antsy about big boxes making their rooms look less pretty

dantheman · 8th January 2011, 10:41 PM

They are tracking the evolution of the human brain. Our Brains Are Shrinking. Are We Getting Dumber? : NPR

Dan

Andrew Eckhardt · 8th January 2011, 10:44 PM

Some later suspension and motor technology does actually allow for increased output from smaller sized drivers compared to 20 or 30 years ago.

Very small high excursion drivers are still less efficient. Aside from efficiency, the arrangement of choice for most acceptable distortion at a particular output level depends on whether you prefer the sound of huge flapping rubber surrounds or big flexing cones.

Brett · 8th January 2011, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moondog55

Woofers aren't getting smaller, wives and girlfriends are getting more and more antsy about big boxes making their rooms look less pretty

And too many guys long ago relinquished ownership of their 'nads.

Cal Weldon · 8th January 2011, 10:46 PM

Stronger magnet, more beefy coil, more travel, less cone area, happier wife. It's all in the evolution.

8th January 2011, 04:16 PM	#1
Bobby Dipole diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2010	Why are woofers getting so small? I'm an old-time HiFi enthusiast, long on the electrical theory, but short on speaker tech. Over the years it seems that woofers have gotten smaller and smaller. Are they really kicking out the bass like the old 12 and 15 inch units? Does a foam surround make an 8 inch woofer equivalent to a 12 inch woofer? Bookshelves are shrinking to shoebox. How small can you make a full range speaker? Bobby Dipole

8th January 2011, 04:24 PM	#2
Norris Wilson diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Oklahoma	Just my opinion, there is no substitute to radiating area when it comes to bass frequencies. As with all speakers that use 8 inch or smaller drivers to attempt to reproduce a wide bandwidth of frequencies, to include all bass. They sound small to my ears, unrealistically so. "Where's the BEEF???" Last edited by Norris Wilson; 8th January 2011 at 04:27 PM.

8th January 2011, 04:30 PM	#4
454Casull diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada	Woofers are the same size. What speaker integrators choose to do with them is a different issue (but not what you asked about). __________________ Building a 2.1 system out of a 3/4"x4'x8' sheet

8th January 2011, 04:31 PM	#5
Aucosticraft diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pune	this thread would partly answer your question. Use Linkwitz Transform to reduce size of Enclosure? __________________ There is always a first time....

8th January 2011, 10:28 PM	#6
Moondog55 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Norlane; Geelong: Victoria: Australia	Woofers aren't getting smaller, wives and girlfriends are getting more and more antsy about big boxes making their rooms look less pretty __________________ QUOTE" The more I know, the more I know, I know (insert maniacal laugh >here<) NOTHING"


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8th January 2011, 04:25 PM	#3
Salas diyAudio Chief Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Athens-Greece	Smaller means less cost in everything. From transportation and storage to domestic space & WAF. Its a practical thing and a trend. In acoustics, size matters. Smaller drivers are much smarter these days squeezing out more performance than traditionally able, but there is nothing like area for creating long waves in high SPL without stress.

8th January 2011, 10:41 PM	#7
dantheman diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mountain View, CA	They are tracking the evolution of the human brain. Our Brains Are Shrinking. Are We Getting Dumber? : NPR Dan __________________ My Blog My Music Recordings

8th January 2011, 10:44 PM	#8
Andrew Eckhardt diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: PA	Some later suspension and motor technology does actually allow for increased output from smaller sized drivers compared to 20 or 30 years ago. Very small high excursion drivers are still less efficient. Aside from efficiency, the arrangement of choice for most acceptable distortion at a particular output level depends on whether you prefer the sound of huge flapping rubber surrounds or big flexing cones.

8th January 2011, 10:46 PM	#10
Cal Weldon Speakerholic diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: British Columbia	Stronger magnet, more beefy coil, more travel, less cone area, happier wife. It's all in the evolution. __________________ Next stop: Margaritaville Some of Cal's stuff \| Cal Weldon Consulting

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