Ribbon ESLs?

[Spasticteapot]

Would an ESL still work if it were made as a "ribbon", with a single strip of membrane attached only at the ends between two stators?

 

[bigwill]

I was also considering this for dispersion reasons. I think it would work well. I think you'd need a small baffle either side, as well as some kind of membrane support every so often along the panel.

 

[stokessd]

No it will not work, unless it's very short. The charge on the diaphragm is pulling the diaphragm to one of the stators. the only force to prevent the diaphragm from getting glued to the stator is the diaphragm tension. If it's only held by the top and bottom, and it has any tension, then it will roll up side to side.

A ribbon with no signal has no destabilizing force, but an ESL does. That's why the diaphragms are highly tensioned and held on all sides.

For stability the supports should be less than 100 or so stator spacings.

Sheldon