Ribbon headphones

[jzagaja]

Does anyone tried?

This could be reference transducer and perfectly suited for binaural signal reproduction however the bass response is not known for me from such small diaphragm. No commercial products due to unsolved problems or ... ?

[ak_47_boy]

I was thinking about trying a few months ago. To do a good lightweight job you need a mill. Bass should not be a issue, since the ribbon won't have enough length to flap it can be driven hard. I might start thinking about it again, i don't see any reason it wouldn't work.

In any case its going to be heavy and require a few watt or so to drive.

Edit: How about 20 1" x 1/2" x 1/8" to form 4 5" strips? Might not be too heavy.

[jzagaja]

It would be fine to try 2,5um thick, 3/16"x1,5" foil with offset:

http://tinyurl.com/2sjb33

One strip in microphone mode and horizontals stack in reproduction mode (if necessary).

[setmenu]

I have made ribbon headphones myself.
I did not go for the low impedance single conductor
approach, but used an etched coil on polymide film.
I used the thinest flexi circuit laminate for this.

They sound nice,I would love to take the project
further but time does not allow at present.

[oshifis]

Hi setmenu,

Could you write me in private how did you photocopied and etched the coil? I want to repair my Technics orthodynamic headphones. The diphragm of one side is damaged, the other is intact, and I intend to use the intact diphragm as masking film in order to produce the copy. But I have no experience in photoresist copying process.

Thanks,

Laszlo

[setmenu]

Hi Laszlo
I am not familiar with the Technics phones.
Do you have the correct spec diaphragm material to make your replacement from?
Are the coil traces very thin and closely spaced?
Could be pretty difficult to get match with the original.

I designed mine using pcb design software and sent the the gerber file and my flexible copper clad laminate sample off to a professional to do the etching.

Though for my first attempt I actually drew the traces with a needle pen filled with etch resist ink.
That worked well for the first model but was too difficult for finer traces on very thin film for the second model.



Mark

[oshifis]

Hi Mark,

Yes, I have correct diaphragm material (I think). It is a household pvc foil aluminized on one side. It is very thin, it seems suitable for the purpose. The traces are very thin and closely spaced, indeed. There are about 10 traces in 5 mm.
I do not need to make a film/file, because the good diaphragm can be used as a photomask. My problem is to find a company who can do the photographic and etching procedure in small quantity. Maybe I will try with a PCB photoresist lacquer (Positiv 20), but I am not confident in the success.

Laszlo

[setmenu]

Hi Laszlo
When you say 'household pvc foil aluminized on one side' , What is it exactly?
Do you mean that very thin stuff used in food packaging?


Mark

[I_Forgot]

Originally posted by oshifis
I want to repair my Technics orthodynamic headphones. The diphragm of one side is damaged, the other is intact, and I intend to use the intact diphragm as masking film in order to produce the copy.

Even if you manage to find someone to make the copy for you, chances of it matching the mass, tension, and performance of the original are nil. I think it would make much better sense to look for another pair of those headphones on Ebay and then do some surgery if necessary. You'll get exactly what you need and it will probably cost less in the end.

I_F

[oshifis]

But then where is the joy of DIY-ing ;-) ?