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...

Bandpass (Crossover Filter)

A bandpass filter refers to an electronic circuit or signal processing technique used to limit the frequency range of an audio signal that is sent to a specific driver or set of drivers within a loudspeaker system. It is employed to ensure that each driver operates within its intended frequency range and to achieve a desired frequency response for the overall system. For the DIYer, a bandpass crossover filter would typically be seen in a 3-way loudspeaker...

Cancellation

Cancellation refers to the phenomenon where sound waves from a loudspeaker system interfere with each other, resulting in a reduction of certain frequencies. This interference can occur due to several factors, including phase differences and spatial relationships between sound sources.

One common type of cancellation is known as phase cancellation. Phase cancellation happens when two sound waves of equal frequency and amplitude, but with opposite phase (180...

Efficiency

Efficiency refers to the ability of a speaker system to convert electrical power into acoustic output effectively. It measures how efficiently a loudspeaker converts electrical energy into sound energy. Efficiency is typically expressed as a percentage and represents the ratio of acoustic power output to the electrical power input. A more efficient loudspeaker requires less electrical power to produce a given level of sound output. Efficiency is influenced by several factors,...

Intermodulation Distortion (IMD)

Intermodulation distortion (IMD) refers to the generation of new frequencies that result from the nonlinear behavior of a speaker driver when simultaneously reproducing multiple input frequencies. These new frequencies are not present in the original audio signal and can degrade the accuracy and fidelity of the reproduced sound. IMD occurs when the diaphragm or cone of the loudspeaker driver is driven with multiple input frequencies. Due to the driver's...

Interaction

In loudspeaker design, the term "interaction" refers to the ways in which various components of the speaker system interact with each other and with the surrounding environment. These interactions can have significant effects on the loudspeaker's performance and overall sound reproduction.

There are several key areas of interaction in loudspeaker design:

• Driver Interaction: In multi-driver loudspeaker systems, such as two-way or three-way designs,

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Rear Wave

The "rear wave" refers to the sound waves generated by the backside of the diaphragm of the loudspeaker driver. When the driver's voice coil moves back and forth in response to the electrical signal from the amplifier, it causes the diaphragm (cone or dome) to vibrate and produce sound waves both in front and behind the driver. The front wave is the sound that radiates forward and interacts directly with the listener, creating the desired sound output. However, the...

Baffle

A structure that surrounds and supports loudspeaker drivers, providing a surface from which sound radiates into a listening space. Some may discount the baffle as simply being the front of the speaker upon which drivers are mounted, however its purpose is varied and it can significantly impact the overall performance of a loudspeaker:

• First, the baffle should be as rigid as possible to provide mechanical support for each driver installed and minimize unwanted vibrations or

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