Tweet
A coaxial driver is a type of speaker driver that incorporates two or more drivers mounted concentrically within a single chassis. It typically consists of a tweeter mounted at the center of a larger driver, such as a woofer or mid-range driver. The coaxial design aims to provide improved integration and coherence between the different frequency ranges, resulting in more accurate and coherent sound reproduction.
Advantages of coaxial driver design:
- Point Source Radiation: One of the key advantages of a coaxial driver is its ability to act as a point source radiator. By aligning the drivers concentrically, the sound waves from both the tweeter and the larger driver emanate from the same point in space. This design allows for better time alignment and phase coherence, resulting in a more precise soundstage and improved imaging.
- Improved Off-Axis Response: Coaxial drivers often exhibit better off-axis response compared to traditional speaker designs. Since the drivers radiate sound from a single point, the dispersion characteristics are more consistent across different listening positions. This leads to a more uniform sound distribution throughout the listening area, reducing the impact of room reflections and providing a wider sweet spot.
- Enhanced Driver Integration: The coaxial design allows for better integration and blending of the different frequency ranges. With the drivers physically aligned and mounted in close proximity, their acoustic outputs can be carefully engineered to work together, minimizing interference and phase issues that may arise with separate drivers. This integration results in smoother frequency response and improved overall coherence.
- Compact Design: Coaxial drivers offer a more compact form factor compared to speaker systems using separate drivers for different frequency ranges. This compactness makes them suitable for applications where space is limited, such as in car audio systems, portable speakers, or installations with size constraints.
- Limited Driver Size Options: Coaxial drivers face challenges when it comes to size and driver selection. Due to the need to align the drivers concentrically, it becomes difficult to incorporate large-sized drivers, especially for low-frequency reproduction. This limitation can impact the overall low-frequency extension and maximum output capability of the speaker system.
- Interdriver Interference: Although coaxials aim to reduce interference between individual drivers, there can still be some inherent interaction, particularly at certain frequencies. This interference can cause minor colorations or anomalies in the frequency response, affecting the overall accuracy of sound reproduction.
- Higher Cost: Coaxial drivers often involve more complex design and manufacturing processes, resulting in higher production costs compared to traditional speaker designs. This cost factor can make coaxial speakers relatively more expensive compared to systems using separate drivers.
Main Page