ATC drivers.

[nigelb63]

Ever noticed that certainATC drivers have very large dust caps? So much so the the surface area of cones is reduced. There’s clearly a method behind this but what is it?

 

[Charles Darwin]

Their 6.5" woofer has a 3" coil so its dust cap can't be smaller than that.
That driver is basically their dome mid with a cone added.

The dust cap is part of Sd so its size does not reduce effective radiating surface.

 

[krivium]

Hi, except for the 3" mid dome which really stand out of the rest Atc driver aren t exceptional in my view.
The 10" and 12" i know well and really there are better thing than those one.
The smaller one i ve never heard.

 

[TMM]

This one clearly has a significantly smaller voicecoil than the dust cap:
http://www.acousticfrontiers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/ATC_Woofer.jpg

I would say the motivation is purely cosmetic. ATC are well known for their 3" dome midrange - why not make the dust cap of the woofers look like that?

It is not the best idea for performance though. A larger dust cap traps more air behind it worsening cavity resonances and large domes if not designed correctly can introduce severe breakup nodes. For a dedicated woofer in a 3-way it probably does not matter much though.

 

[tsmith1315]

I would say the motivation is purely cosmetic. ATC are well known for their 3" dome midrange - why not make the dust cap of the woofers look like that?

Sounds like brand recognition, not a bad idea for business.

 

[Charles Darwin]

This one has 3", it is the midwoofer from the SCM20: