Anyone else find speakers incredible?

[Howard]

Lowest distortion, more accurate to original waveform, etc.

That's why cone/box speakers are called "distortion boxes".

I doubt that they produce less distortion, whether THD or IMD, especially as SPL goes up. I think the reason why some people prefer them over conventional cone-driver monopoles is because of the smoothness of the polar response... which can be a characteristic of cone-driver monopoles as long as you design for it (and you know what you're doing).

I've never heard of box speakers being called distortion boxes.

 

[Meghan54]

Isn't it amazing how vibrating paper cones pushing air can reproduce just about any sound within the human audible range?

The concept is so simple yet so hard to believe at the same time.

Then the concept of how humans hear is surely mindblowing!

Imagine if you tried to assemble a mechanism for human hearing.....would you have used an 8-10mm circle of skin, stretched tight, attached to three miniature bones (the malleus, which is attached to the incus, which is attached to the stapes), which all move in unison to the tympanic membrane picking up vibrations in the air.

And then the bones transfer their movement to a semi-circular canal filled with fluid, and the fluid's movement moves fine hairs inside the canal which translates the mechanical action into electrical potential? (The hairs create nerve impulses which are then transferred to the brain and interpreted.)

I think the human's system of interpreting sound is much more fantastic in its function....despite the Rube Goldberg design.

Loudspeaker design is almost a simplistic challenge, in contrast.

 

[SandEagle]

i'm amazed at how cameras work. unbelievably magical

 

[Lean L]

can i hit that shit too?

seriously

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I doubt that they produce less distortion, whether THD or IMD, especially as SPL goes up. I think the reason why some people prefer them over conventional cone-driver monopoles is because of the smoothness of the polar response... which can be a characteristic of cone-driver monopoles as long as you design for it (and you know what you're doing).

I've never heard of box speakers being called distortion boxes.

I've seen it before...

What the heck are you talking about?

Piezo horns have been used forever in speakers. Next you'll be saying electrostat speakers aren't used to replace cones/coil (distortion box) speakers.

Meh, stay away from the distortion boxes and come over to the planar side.

Well cheesehead, we'll just have to disagree. I don't like distortion boxes. Never have, never will.

But good for you for keeping the volume in check. I've got some damage, but tone and soundstage aren't affected much by this.

Hell, most all but the serious music listener don't have their speakers setup well anyway.

Interesting that they used distortion boxes, aka woofers and tweeters for their comparison.

-edit-
Try that on electrostats/planar speakers and then maybe I'll bite.

WOW!

You can't be serious???!!!!

Most tweeters in distortion box speakers are a dome tweeter. That dome being what makes sound, specifically the wave that makes sound. It is NOT a dust cap.

As far as getting a replacement, if you call up the maker of your speaker they'll sell or give you a tweeter.

Why not look at non conventional speaker designs like electrostatic and other "non woofer/tweeter distortion box" approaches?

They sound really nice.

I'll never go back to distortion box speakers ever again.

really not even the same league unfortunately. Distortion boxes are still distortion boxes.

 

[Rubycon]

I doubt that they produce less distortion, whether THD or IMD, especially as SPL goes up. I think the reason why some people prefer them over conventional cone-driver monopoles is because of the smoothness of the polar response... which can be a characteristic of cone-driver monopoles as long as you design for it (and you know what you're doing).

I've never heard of box speakers being called distortion boxes.

Important part in red.


Piezo horns are horrible. They are used in the cheapest speakers for a reason. They are much cheaper to make and hold up (meaning they continue to produce something that resembles sound after feedback has shrilled far too long!). Conventional dynamic drivers that can withstand such abuse are far more expensive. (and better sounding)

 

[hanoverphist]

How so? It's just a pressure wave of air. There are other speakers that use different means than just a paper cone you know. Electrostatic, planars and piezoelectric come to mind.

And electrostatics are the most accurate there are, everybody knows this.

liar. i didnt.

 

[vi edit]

I'm still in awe at wall bending power of modern subwoofers. The volume and depth that well designed subs can hit is literally breathtaking.

 

[iRONic]

 

[kalrith]

I'm still in awe at wall bending power of modern subwoofers. The volume and depth that well designed subs can hit is literally breathtaking.

Does this mean you finally got your MFW15 set up right ?

 

[iRONic]

Lulz @ Jello the quote whore...

 

[Red Squirrel]

It's funny because I've actually sat and pondered this too myself. They are incredible indeed. What makes them even more incredible is that something that small can produce such a loud noise. For example take the beeper speaker in an alarm or smoke detector or other such system. Those things are super tiny but very good ones can probably be heard from a block away if it's outside. They may not exactly be speakers but they use the same concept pretty much.

 

[Rubycon]

It's funny because I've actually sat and pondered this too myself. They are incredible indeed. What makes them even more incredible is that something that small can produce such a loud noise. For example take the beeper speaker in an alarm or smoke detector or other such system. Those things are super tiny but very good ones can probably be heard from a block away if it's outside. They may not exactly be speakers but they use the same concept pretty much.

Well yes they can be loud and tiny because they only have to produce a single tone.

What's impressive is the amount of sound that comes out of the TINY iphone speaker! Scale that one to the size of a car and it would be scary.

 

[dighn]

in the abstract sense they don't seem that amazing to me, but when I'm staring at one, hearing the sounds coming out of it, I must admit that it seems a bit surreal.

 

[spidey07]

I've seen it before...

LOL! You rock.

And Rubycon, you're right. Electrostats/planars can't be beat for tone and accuracy. Their con is dynamic and outrageous SPL. Although this probably overcomes that limitation just by sure panel size.

 

[Rubycon]

La Scalas for surrounds?

Back in the '80's I heard one such outrageous system (Martin Logan Monolith IIRC) and while it sounded good there was strain under high passages. They were using Krell on both high and low cabinets and there is no way $100K worth of amplification should be SOMEWHAT underwhelming.

What was ridiculous was the VMPS booth. They had these speakers called Super Tower III that were available in kit form. Their price was much more reasonable (under $6k per pair assembled!) and they were using Crown Macro Tech pro amps and turned up the volume and put on Dark Side of The Moon. Track One, BREATHE. Well let me tell you that place was breathing alright. That pounding was outrageous and I was waiting to hear woofers bottom out and it just got louder and louder and was just ridiculously smooth. From a relatively unheard of speaker builder as well!

 

[Howard]

LOL! You rock.

And Rubycon, you're right. Electrostats/planars can't be beat for tone and accuracy. Their con is dynamic and outrageous SPL. Although this probably overcomes that limitation just by sure panel size.

Tone? A speaker should not introduce anything not present in the recording; it is not a musical instrument.

Accuracy? Give some hard numbers and then we'll talk. I am of the firm belief that electrodynamic transducers can beat electrostats at their own game if that is what they are designed for.

 

[spidey07]

Tone? A speaker should not introduce anything not present in the recording; it is not a musical instrument.

Accuracy? Give some hard numbers and then we'll talk. I am of the firm belief that electrodynamic transducers can beat electrostats at their own game if that is what they are designed for.

Exactly. Violins, guitars, vocals all just don't sound right on cone speakers. Not tonally accurate. Same with symbols - more of a tss-tss-tss than the splash they sound like in real music.

 

[marincounty]

I think the finest sound I ever heard was the Martin Logan Statement speaker with a Versa Dynamics air bearing turntable. However, that system cost in excess of $200K.
I think the conventional box speaker gives you the best sound for the money.
Not a fan of Klipsch or other horn tweeters. Fatiguing to my ears, although they are incredibly efficient with respect to power.

I will agree with Spidey that electrostatics sound best, if you can afford it and stay within its limitations. I'm not sure about the distortion however. I think a box speaker has the lowest levels of harmonic distortion.

Oh yeah, puff, puff, pass.

 

[Rubycon]

How many concerts do you guys go to?

Guess what you're listening to?

Do you think you can hear that Les Paul 200 feet from the stage without amplification? :hmm:

 

[zerocool84]

i'm amazed at how cameras work. unbelievably magical

I heard they steal your soul.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

How many concerts do you guys go to?

Guess what you're listening to?

Do you think you can hear that Les Paul 200 feet from the stage without amplification? :hmm:

I don't go to concerts... too loud

 

[destrekor]

How many concerts do you guys go to?

Guess what you're listening to?

Do you think you can hear that Les Paul 200 feet from the stage without amplification? :hmm:

What's next, you're going to tell me telephones don't use vibrating strings to transmit my voice to the other cup, I mean phone?

 

[Rubycon]

I don't go to concerts... too loud

That's what IEMs and digital recorders are for! Listen live and if you like you have the recording forever!

 

[lyssword]

I dunno, I find computers and programming more incredible