Breaking with modern conventions - a highly musical 2-way system using an 8" woofer

By Jon Hancock

This article will describe the fruits of my efforts to build a moderate sized speaker which might be moderately above average in performance for a basic two-way system. I desired a speaker like this both for my own use in secondary systems, and to fill a need for some friends, who desired fairly full range response (i.e., “it’s gotta have good bass”). Also, though I have access to a good wood shop, many potential DIY enthusiasts may not, so I hoped to use a modified...

IB- F.A.Q.
1)What's an IB?
For purposes of this forum, an Infinite Baffle is a alignment where the drivers are free-air mounted, in a space adjacent the listening room. They fire into the listening area through a common opening between the two areas. This can be the attic, basement, or any room with shares a common wall with the listening area.

2)Which space is best?
Any space that provides a mounting location for the baffle, offers adequate volume for the IB, and...

Preface

I started this article with the intention of offering a guide to DIYers, mostly those new to the field, that defines and explains the terminology you often see in discussions on the topic of DIY loudspeakers. Now, I have plenty of learning to do myself, and am under no illusion that what I do know is complete and correct. Because of this, I want these articles to be living documents. By that I mean, I'd like the DIY community to offer input on each definition to expand and clarify...

Radiation Pattern

The radiation pattern, also known as the directivity pattern, is a graphical representation of how sound radiates into space. It shows the distribution of sound as a function of direction and is typically presented in polar coordinates. In the context of loudspeakers, the radiation pattern describes how the sound is dispersed from the speaker in different directions. It is important for understanding how a loudspeaker interacts with its environment and how the sound...

Xmax (Thiele/Small Parameter)

Xmax refers to the maximum distance the diaphragm can move from its resting position in a linear manner without causing undesirable effects such as distortion or damage to the loudspeaker. Excursion of the diaphragm is crucial determinant of a driver's performance, as it determines its ability to reproduce low-frequency sounds with sufficient volume and accuracy. Xmax is typically specified in millimeters (mm) and is measured as the peak-to-peak distance...

Coloration

Coloration refers to the alteration or distortion of the sound produced by a speaker system, resulting in a deviation from the original audio signal. It is characterized by an emphasis or de-emphasis of certain frequencies or frequency ranges, which can lead to an unnatural or colored sound reproduction. Coloration can be caused by various factors, including resonances, frequency response irregularities, phase issues, and nonlinear distortion. To minimize or eliminate coloration...

Faraday Ring

The Faraday ring, named after the English scientist Michael Faraday, is an electromagnetic component used in loudspeakers and other audio systems. It serves to minimize electromagnetic interference and distortion caused by eddy currents induced in the voice coil and pole piece of a loudspeaker driver. Faraday rings are typically made of conductive materials, such as copper or aluminum, and are placed around the pole piece of a loudspeaker driver.

When an alternating...

Pistonic Behavior

Pistonic behavior in a loudspeaker refers to the ideal movement of the driver's diaphragm, where it moves in a piston-like manner. In other words, when the speaker reproduces sound, its diaphragm moves uniformly and maintains a constant relationship between the applied input signal and the resulting sound output. This behavior is crucial for accurate and faithful sound reproduction.

Characteristics of Pistonic Behavior:

• Linear Motion: In pistonic behavior,

...

Noise

In the context of loudspeaker measurements made during the design process, noise refers to any unwanted electrical or acoustic signals that can interfere with the accuracy of the measurement. Noise can be introduced through various sources, and it can affect the reliability and precision of the measurements, making it essential to minimize its impact for accurate loudspeaker evaluation. Sources of noise include:

• Background Acoustic Noise: During loudspeaker measurements, ambient

...

Off-axis

"Off-axis" refers to any direction away from the central axis of a loudspeaker's radiation pattern. In other words, it describes the sound field and behavior of a loudspeaker when the listener is not directly positioned in front of the speaker at its primary listening axis. When a listener moves to the side, above, or below the central axis of the loudspeaker, they are in the off-axis listening position. Off-axis response is an essential consideration in loudspeaker...