Linesource, Collin, thank you for the input,
I'm building a tri amp active speaker from an existing passive speaker (the electronics reside in the speaker stand, added side panels are the part of the stand), so those links are very inspiring.
I'm building a tri amp active speaker from an existing passive speaker (the electronics reside in the speaker stand, added side panels are the part of the stand), so those links are very inspiring.
Several Sonus Faber Speakers are wide with gently sloping baffles which blend into large radius end terminations. One famous speaker Cloner cleverly thought that an American Indian name like, " Speakers which bring their own room with them" best described their sonic presentation.
Modern manufacturing materials are often used to create organic round shapes which reduce the frontal area. LeCleach' has made organic round edge horns popular. Tractrix curves have been extended to include similar round-overs.
Modern manufacturing materials are often used to create organic round shapes which reduce the frontal area. LeCleach' has made organic round edge horns popular. Tractrix curves have been extended to include similar round-overs.
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peterbrorsson, yes, that's what I'm talking about. ATC used to design radius edge ones, but almost all of their current speakers are sharp edge for some reason.
I think that round edges make manufacturing harder and in speakers low cost manufacturing is king. These companies aren't really worried about sound quality - no one knows what that is anyways. Make it cheap and good looking and spend the rest of your money on marketing - that's the philosophy that I see.
It can only "improve the sound" to the extent that it is a problem. If the speaker has far more sever problems then edge diffraction is not going to be a substantial issue. You can virtually always find these kinds of changes in the measurements and if accuracy is your definition of "improve the sound" then "yes" reducing edge diffraction will do that.
You have to learn to let the measurements guide your perceptions, not the other way around.
Hi Earl,
Great, I think I'll make side boards with 1.5" edge radius (3/4 MDF x 2). One problem is I can't still find big router bit for 1.5" edge radius. The largest one Grizzly carries seems to be 1-1/4. Does anyone know where I can get one? Maybe 45 degree miter cut instead.
Edit: 1/8 + 1/2 + 3/8 laminated together is better for 1.5" board to reduce the resonance? Maybe I'm wrong...
Great, I think I'll make side boards with 1.5" edge radius (3/4 MDF x 2). One problem is I can't still find big router bit for 1.5" edge radius. The largest one Grizzly carries seems to be 1-1/4. Does anyone know where I can get one? Maybe 45 degree miter cut instead.
Edit: 1/8 + 1/2 + 3/8 laminated together is better for 1.5" board to reduce the resonance? Maybe I'm wrong...
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As an alternative to fabricating corners one might check their local lumberyards moulding section. They used to make several sized "bed" mould with quite a radius on them. Worth a look.
Hi puppet, I will check local lumberyards. I have checked Home Depot web, but they only carry 3/8 and 1/2 mould.
I have never seen a 1-1/2" bit for a router. I once used a 1-1/4" bit and it was a real pain. I use a shaper and for that you can get a 1-1/2" bit. Funny thing is that the shaper bit has three blades instead of two and costs about 1/2 as much as the router bit - go figure!
That's unfair in the case of Harbeth, who go to great lengths to make sure their speakers sound accurate. They are firmly in the BBC tradition, so not exploring new ways of achieving their goal with any great vigour, but as the tradition began with comparison with live sound they had a good starting point.
Despite the boxy shape and sharp edges, they seem to be well appreciated. (I've only heard them in passing in a studio context but they sounded fine on spoken voice.)
A shaper is to a router, as a cabinet saw is to a skilsaw.
Same type of blades for each family of tools, one is stationary and heavy, the other is portable.
Same type of blades for each family of tools, one is stationary and heavy, the other is portable.
Tradition, death to new ideas.
Listen, the size of the baffle with sharp edge diffraction will reinforce a certain instrument of the same dimensions. Which will reinforce that timber or more accurately a certain bandwidth of frequencies, which will sound very realistic for that application. We are trying to reproduce the acoustic scene. As speaker designers, we have to reproduce the event, not cater to the limited ideas of times past, no matter how nostalgic they may seem.
The Harbeth/BBC tradition is simply a reference to where the original idesigns originated. The reference was live sound - their designers and critical first users had the benefit of being able to walk thru the control room door and hear what the loudspeakers were reproducing, played live.
Despite the sharp edges, boxy shape etc the reviews I've read seem to indicate they're getting some of this right.
Despite the sharp edges, boxy shape etc the reviews I've read seem to indicate they're getting some of this right.
Jay111, Renton, thank you for the input.
I wonder if BBC still use those classic BBC monitors in their studios. I liked them a lot.
I wonder if BBC still use those classic BBC monitors in their studios. I liked them a lot.
I'm sorry but I didn't understand what you exactly mean "reinforce". Do you mean the baffle with sharp edge diffraction makes certain instrument sound very realistic?
an example of what Melo means would be a baffle the width of a chello will enhance the sound characteristic or "spectrum" of similarly wide instruments.
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