Loudspeaker design prerequisites??

[Mark S.]

I'm no stranger to building kits but REALLY want to learn to design my own systems. What would be the best path? I've read several people say that in order to fully use a program like LspCad you need a good understanding of acoustics, electronics and the physics behind it all. So, how do I get there from here? I have a good understanding of electron theory and basic electronics but that is where it ends Am I going to have to go back to school to learn this stuff (I will if that's what it takes) or can I do it on my own by reading the right books? If so, what books to you recommend? Understand I'm DETERMINED to learn all I can so please hit me with your best advise.

Mark

[purplepeople]

Start with Dickason's Cookbook. Read the Thiele/Small papers. Study King's Transmission Line Theories. Some light reading for the beach.

ensen.

[Paul H]

I'm still very much a student rather than a teacher, but my 2 cents is as follows:

I don't think you need to go back to school, particularly if you have a technical background. Read, read and read some more. There is a wealth of information available on the internet.

I've at least skimmed through most of the popular speaker design and acoustics books and would recommend the two I ended up buying "Testing Loudspeakers" by D'Appolito and "Speaker Building 201" by Alden. Be warned that both books are relatively complex and technical.

Have fun,

Paul

[Mark S.]

Just wanted to thank Purplepeople and Paul H. for their advise. :T I have the three books you guys recommended on order.
I Found the T/S papers on the web and have already read through them. I will need to brush up on my math to fully comprehend it all but I did learn a heck of alot. I also found a great site on the mechanics and build of dynamic drivers that helped me to better understand T/S params. My eyes and tiny brain hurt from all the reading the past few days. :tired: But its has been fun. Someday it will all fall into place...someday....at least that's what I keep telling myself.
If anyone else has any more advise I would love to hear it.
Back to the math books...(yes, I really am determined.)
:later:
Mark S.

[Dennis H]

Once you start diving into the AES papers, like Thiele's stuff, it's probably cheaper to buy the 4 loudspeaker anthologies. Enough math to cause serious vertigo for a few months but there are some real 'historical gems' in there.

http://www.aes.org/publications/anth.cfm

[JonMarsh]

I fully agree with Dennis, those are worthwhile for many reasons, including the historical perspective- I've had the first two since they were published... a long, long time ago! (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, daddy? No, not quite that long ago...)

~Jon