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About Vance Dickason
Vance Dickason has been working as a professional in the loudspeaker industry since 1974. A contributing editor to Speaker Builder magazine (now audioXpress) since 1986, in November 1987 he became editor of Voice Coil, the monthly Periodical for the Loudspeaker Industry, today published by KCK Media Corp. His globally acclaimed book Loudspeaker Design Cookbook is now in its 8th Edition, published by KCK Media. A life member of the Audio Engineering Society, Vance received the 1995 AES Citation Award for his long term contribution to audio education, and the 2013 Beryllium Award, Lifetime achievement from ALMA (Associating of Loudspeaker Manufacturers and Acoustics, now ALTI Association). Since 2001, he also does business as Vance Dickason Consultancy based out of Portland, Oregon, working as an independent engineering consultant to loudspeaker manufacturers.

All items written by Vance Dickason
Test Bench: Dayton Audio DSA175 Designer Series 6.5” Woofer
August 23, 2017 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: Dayton Audio DSA175 Designer Series 6.5” Woofer

This month’s Test Bench samples came from US OEM, Dayton Audio. I received a home audio 6.5” woofer, the DSA175, from the brand’s popular Designer Series of aluminum cone woofers. Each product in this line incorporates proprietary stamped steel frame with a thin mounting lip that enables front mounting without insetting the driver (surface mounted), high relative XMAX, with paper cones for the DS series and aluminum cones for the DSA series. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, December 2016.
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Test Bench: B&C Speaker 8MBX51 Midbass Woofer
July 20, 2017 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: B&C Speaker 8MBX51 Midbass Woofer

This month’s Test Bench is part of B&C Speakers' MBX series of mid-bass woofers, the 8MBX51. The MBX series offer acoustic designers a new range of high efficiency, wide bandwidth alternatives that were not previously available from B&C Speakers, and are especially well suited for two-way loudspeaker applications. Features for the 8MBX51 are fairly impressive. Cosmetically speaking, this is also a good looking driver. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, November 2016.
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Test Bench: Faital Pro HF108R Compression Driver
July 12, 2017 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: Faital Pro HF108R Compression Driver

This month’s Test Bench samples came from a premier Italian Pro Sound OEM driver manufacturer. From Faital Pro, I received the HF108R compression driver coupled with a LTH102 60° × 50° horn. The HF108R is the latest in Faital Pro’s series of Ketone Polymer diaphragm 1” compression drivers. I reviewed the HF108 compression driver in April 2015, and included some data on the HF108R. However, this transducer is different enough that it deserves a separate review. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, November 2016.
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Test Bench: Wavecor SW223BD03 8.75-Inch High XMAX Subwoofer
July 1, 2017 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: Wavecor SW223BD03 8.75-Inch High XMAX Subwoofer

For this Test Bench, Vance Dickason characterizes Wavecor’s new 8.75” high XMAX subwoofer, model SW223BD03. As Dickason reminds us, this new subwoofer is part of the brand's rather extensive line of subwoofers — ranging in size from 2.75” to 12”. Voice Coil featured the 4 Ω version of this device, the SW223BD02, in the April 2015 issue. Wavecor’s SW223BD03, which is the 8 Ω version. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, October 2016.
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Test Bench: A Redesigned DE990TN-8 1.4” Compression Driver from B&C Speakers
June 28, 2017 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: A Redesigned DE990TN-8 1.4” Compression Driver from B&C Speakers

The compression driver/horn that I received for testing in this edition of Test Bench was the redesigned B&C Speakers DE990TN-8, a 1.4” neodymium motor compression driver with a titanium diaphragm coupled with the ME90 horn. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, September 2016.
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Test Bench: Tymphany GBS-135F25AL02-04 5.25-Inch Woofer
June 21, 2017 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: Tymphany GBS-135F25AL02-04 5.25-Inch Woofer

The driver I received for testing in this edition of Test Bench came from Tymphany, and is a patent-pending thin profile 5.25” aluminum cone mid-woofer from the company’s GBS line of thin profile woofers and midranges. Features for the GBS-135F25AL02-04 include a four-spoke stamped steel frame with a mere 27.4 mm (1.08”) total depth. The depth is significant as the motor assembly is obviously housed inside the frame. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, September 2016.
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Test Bench: B&C Speakers 21DS115 21-Inch Woofer
June 7, 2017 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: B&C Speakers 21DS115 21-Inch Woofer

The transducer I examined in this edition of Test Bench came from Italian Pro Sound OEM manufacturer B&C Speakers, who sent the neodymium motor 21DS115, a 21” high power handling woofer. The B&C 21DS115-8 is rated at 1,700 WRMS with a continuous power handling rated at 3,400 WRMS. The 21DS115-8 weighs in at a modest (for an 21” woofer!) 32.8 lb. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, August 2016.
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Test Bench: B&C Speakers DE1090TN Compression Driver
May 31, 2017 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: B&C Speakers DE1090TN Compression Driver

The transducer I examined this month came from Italian Pro Sound OEM manufacturer B&C Speakers, who sent the DE1090TN, a 1.4” neodymium motor compression driver with a titanium diaphragm. The DE1090TN compression driver is coupled with B&C Speakers’ ME90 80° × 60° constant directivity horn. At this time, the DE1090TN, with a 36 mm (1.4”) throat diameter, is the highest power handling model (120 W) in the brand's line. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, August 2016.
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Test Bench: Revolution Acoustics SSP6 Actuator
May 25, 2017 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: Revolution Acoustics SSP6 Actuator

The driver in this Test Bench is not so much an OEM product as an installer product, but it is a very interesting transducer: the Revolution Acoustics SSP6 actuator, which transforms nearly any panel structure into an audio speaker. As promised, I am doing a brief review of the this driver, primarily marketed to Custom Electronic Design & Installation (CEDIA)-type installers. However, that said, it is definitely an interesting transducer.
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Midwest AudioFest 2017 and DIY Speaker Design Competition Returns July 14-15
May 22, 2017 by Vance Dickason

Midwest AudioFest 2017 and DIY Speaker Design Competition Returns July 14-15

Parts Express will hold its annual Midwest AudioFest from July 14–15, 2017 at Parts Express’ headquarters in Springboro (Dayton), OH. The event includes the Parts Express Warehouse Tent Sale, an Audio Swap Meet, a Mobile Electronics Competition Association (MECA) sponsored Auto Sound Competition, and the highlight of the event — the DIY Speaker Design Competition.
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