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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 CF120-4 4-1/2" Woven Carbon Fiber Midwoofer

February 4, 2017 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: Dayton Audio CF120-4 4-1/2" Woven Carbon Fiber Midwoofer

In this Test Bench, Voice Coil characterizes Dayton Audio’s new 4.5” diameter carbon fiber cone midwoofer, the CF120-4. This new midbass driver from Dayton Audio features a pin-cushion style four-spoke cast-aluminum frame. For the cone assembly, Dayton Audio chose a rather stiff curved profile woven carbon fiber cone with a 1.13” diameter convex woven carbon fiber dust cap. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, February 2016.

Test Bench: SB Acoustics Satori TW29RN High-End Tweeter

February 1, 2017 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: SB Acoustics Satori TW29RN High-End Tweeter

This Test Bench focuses on SB Acoustics’ Satori high-end line of drivers, the Satori TW29RN. This neodymium 29-mm ring dome features a surround coated cloth ring-type diaphragm, a non-reflective cast-aluminum rear cavity, a two-part aluminum faceplate with integrated mechanical decoupling, dual balanced compression chambers, high saturation neodymium ring type motor magnet with a T-shaped pole and dual copper shorting rings, a CCAW voice coil, a foam mounting gasket, and gold-plated terminals. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, February 2016.

Test Bench: Morel TSCT 1044 High-End Tweeter

January 26, 2017 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: Morel TSCT 1044 High-End Tweeter

For this Test Bench I received Morel's new soft dome tweeter, the 28 mm TSCT 1044. As part of the Supreme line, the TSCT 1044 and the similar TSCT 1144 (which is the same tweeter with a larger faceplate) are both an entirely new design for Morel and incorporates the company’s Improved Dispersion Recess (IDR) faceplate design, which is a shaped inset in the round metal faceplate. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, February 2016.

Test Bench: MAG Audio 10N501 Woofer

January 16, 2017 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: MAG Audio 10N501 Woofer

This Test Bench characterizes the 10N501, a distributed neodymium magnet motor 10” woofer from Ukrainian pro sound OEM manufacturer MAG Audio. The MAG 10N501’s removable self-centering motor system is comprised of 12 28 mm × 8 mm polished neodymium slugs sandwiched between an 8 mm front plate and a two-part, cleverly designed T-yoke. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, January 2016.

Motus Audio UH130PW1 Midbass Woofer

January 4, 2017 by Vance Dickason

Motus Audio UH130PW1 Midbass Woofer

This month, the Test Bench samples came from a relatively new high-end home audio company. From high-end home audio OEM manufacturer Motus Audio, I received the UH130PW1, a 5.25” mid-bass driver, an impressive looking mid-bass transducer, with a similar feature set as several other European high-end mid-bass woofer brands. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, January 2016.

Test Bench: Scan-Speak Discovery 26W/4558T00 10" Aluminum Cone Subwoofer

December 27, 2016 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: Scan-Speak Discovery 26W/4558T00 10" Aluminum Cone Subwoofer

This Test Bench characterizes Scan-Speak's 10" aluminum cone subwoofer, the 26W/4558T00, a high-end home audio driver from the Danish brand's Discovery lineup. Scan-Speak obviously spent a lot of time designing the cone for this woofer, made with a thick black flat profile anodized aluminum, with an articulation that should add considerable stiffness. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, February 2011.

Test Bench: Scan-Speak Discovery D2604/833000 1″ Wide Surround Silk Dome Tweeter

December 18, 2016 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: Scan-Speak Discovery D2604/833000 1″ Wide Surround Silk Dome Tweeter

This Test Bench carachterizes Scan-Speak’s 1″ wide surround silk dome tweeter, the D2604/833000, a high-end home audio driver from their Discovery lineup. The D2604/833000 features a large surround 1″ diameter silk dome, a low 475Hz resonance, CRT shielding, a separate rear chamber, a ferrite magnet motor, an injection-molded faceplate with a five-point mounting configuration, voice coil wound with copper-clad aluminum wire, and gold-plated terminals. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, February 2011.

Test Bench: Eminence Maverick Guitar Speaker

December 14, 2016 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: Eminence Maverick Guitar Speaker

This Test Bench focuses on a new and extremely clever variable Bl 12″ diameter guitar speaker from Eminence — the 12″ Maverick, from the Eminence Patriot series, which uses their new FDM technology (Flux Density Modulation) to allow some really desirable distortion characteristics that have become the signature of blues and rock guitar playing. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, January 2011.

Test Bench: Wavecor WF120BD04 Midbass

December 7, 2016 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: Wavecor WF120BD04 Midbass

In this edition of Test Bench - already from Voice Coil’s archives, originally published in September 2010 - Vance Dickason measures the WF120BD04 midbass woofer from Wavecor, part of a complete range of 4¾” transducers, including the WF120BD03 (4 ohm version), which he found to be well-crafted drivers. Both were designed as high performance bass and midrange units for very compact monitors and high-end hi-fi speakers and feature a Balanced Drive motor proprietary structure.

Test Bench: Eminence Alphalite 6A Midrange/Midbass Woofer

November 24, 2016 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: Eminence Alphalite 6A Midrange/Midbass Woofer

Eminence sent a 6.5″ driver from their lightweight Professional Neodymium Series, the Alphalite 6A, which, along with the Kappalite and Deltalite series, makes up the neo woofer/midrange offering from Eminence. The Alphalite 6A is described as a lightweight pro audio mid/bass driver, designed for sealed, vented, or infinite baffle applications. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, June 2010.

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