Exploring Common DIY Terminology - Phase Plug

Phase Plug

A phase plug is a stationary structure placed at the center of the loudspeaker driver's diaphragm, just in front of the voice coil. It is typically a cylindrical or conical-shaped object made of materials like plastic, metal, or wood. The phase plug's design may vary depending on the specific driver and its intended application. Its primary purpose is to improve the driver's performance by addressing issues related to phase cancellation and dispersion. The function of the...

Magnetic Shielding

Magnetic shielding is a technique used in loudspeaker design to prevent the magnetic field generated by the driver's magnet from interfering with nearby electronic devices, particularly CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) displays. When a loudspeaker's magnet is positioned close to a CRT screen, it can distort the image by deflecting the electron beams in the CRT, causing color shifts and geometric distortions. The concept of magnetic shielding was developed to address this issue...

Ribbon

A ribbon tweeter is a type of high-frequency transducer used in loudspeakers to reproduce the treble and upper midrange frequencies. It is called a "ribbon" tweeter because its diaphragm is typically a thin, narrow strip of metal foil or film that resembles a ribbon. The ribbon diaphragm is suspended in a magnetic field, and when an electrical current passes through it, it vibrates back and forth to produce sound. This design comes with several advantages:

• Lightweight

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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,

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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

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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...