Raised edge around the cabinet

It's even possible it could divert energy through reflection before it diffracts, reducing the severity of the overall diffraction problem.

It's mostly a guess until proven so suffice it to say it's not something you'd want to hastily choose to do.
 
Someone on AudioScienceReview.com posted a thread asking for info about Mycetias loudspeakers. I commented that I have been in touch with the chap who builds the speakers and that I'm considering buying a pair.

A contributor wrote "I'm a bit concerned by the raised edge around the cabinet which could possibly cause diffraction. I would be hesitant to buy without spin data". That's why I posted the question here.

https://www.mycetias-audio.co.uk/store/Mycetias-complete-sound-solution-package-p540760052
 

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Yes, there will be mass quantities of eigenmodes to create an extremely fine 'film' panel same as a billiard table flat panel does that comb filters with the drivers, just the flat panel's BW is shifted lower due to its large pipe end correction, but is normally lost in the 'mix', so to speak, it's so low in SPL plus in this case the grill will completely disrupt it, so maybe measurable as increased HF noise.
 
surface-mounted drivers, plus what looks to be a baffle sunk 3/4" or more into the box... That doesn't mean the designer is unaware of diffraction effects, but at a minimum, I'd want a good explanation for that design choice. To me it looks like a choice made for aesthetics and ease of fabrication, but the designer may have other reasons.

They do look nice though.
 
It's even possible it could divert energy through reflection before it diffracts, reducing the severity of the overall diffraction problem.
It used to be pretty common, AR for instance even on the LST.

As it looks like it was an add on it increases cost but saved recessing the speakers.

An add on cover has a frame. No change there but the more recent ideas are cheaper to make and speakers still don't need to be recessed.

Stuff still sticks out when a speaker is recessed. A few recess to the level of the surround and radius/shape the edge of the aperture.
 
You will have A LOT of difraction. Worst case.
Yes it will mix with a lot of chaotic room reflections - but that doesn't mean it's not there any more. The better your room is, the closer you get to the speaker - the stronger you hear it.
 
Someone on AudioScienceReview.com posted a thread asking for info about Mycetias loudspeakers. I commented that I have been in touch with the chap who builds the speakers and that I'm considering buying a pair.

A contributor wrote "I'm a bit concerned by the raised edge around the cabinet which could possibly cause diffraction. I would be hesitant to buy without spin data". That's why I posted the question here.

https://www.mycetias-audio.co.uk/store/Mycetias-complete-sound-solution-package-p540760052
That's some deep recess!
Sound: drivers are not flush mounted, and the recess is too deep not to have an impact on diffraction.
Aesthetically, a miter joint looks better when you leave an apparent edge. The whole thing looks like poor worksmanship, a beginner woodworker DIY level (I wouldn't do any better! 😀 )
 
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Could the raised edge around a loudspeaker cabinet cause diffraction?

A speaker with a raised lip is normally intended to be used with a grille rather than without. With an appropriately designed grille in place the diffraction issues being discussed can be greatly reduced or avoided all together with an appropriate mini-waveguide in the grille around the drivers and/or felt or something similar.

Diffraction close to a driver is not always perceived as harmful. For example, the diffraction from the edges of small speakers seems to be considered by some to modify imaging in a beneficial way.
 
A contributor wrote "I'm a bit concerned by the raised edge around the cabinet which could possibly cause diffraction. I would be hesitant to buy without spin data". That's why I posted the question here.

They are £600 a pair speakers with 2 x 6.5" woofers and tweeter with waveguide. The lack of damping, raised edges,... suggests the design is not refined but that is not out of line with the low price. Measurements would remove the risk the implementation is poor. The advertorial review is irrelevant in this respect. A brief google came up with a facebook video of the chap "measuring" his speakers which didn't instill confidence. My guess would be the design is a bit more basic than a typical DIY one but, again, the price being asked is very low, possibly too low to be sustainable, for small scale design and manufacture in the UK.
 
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A raised lip around the cabinet coupled with a wide dispersion Hf driver causes alot of HF noise to radiate from all around the cabinet. It screws up linearity in thr upper treble and creates a fake very wide phantom stereo image.

If you want to run a grille and have the option to listen with it removed, you should build other blank grille frames, which are used in place of the regular grilles, providing a radius around the baffle perimeter.