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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 - Faital Pro’s HF108/HF108R compression drivers coupled with LTH102 60° × 50° horn
March 2, 2016 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench - Faital Pro’s HF108/HF108R compression drivers coupled with LTH102 60° × 50° horn

In this Test Bench, Vance Dickason looks in depth at Faital Pro’s HF108/HF108R compression drivers coupled with Faital Pro’s LTH102 60° × 50° horn. The HF108/HF108R are the latest in Faital Pro’s series of Keytone Polymer diaphragm 1” compression driver series. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, April 2015.
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Test Bench - Wavecor SW223BD02 8.75” Subwoofer
March 2, 2016 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench - Wavecor SW223BD02 8.75” Subwoofer

In this Test Bench, Vance Dickason measures the SW223BD02 8.75” subwoofer from Wavecor, part of the brand’s rather extensive line of subwoofers. Wavecor’s SW223BD02, which is the 4-Ω version (SW223BD03 is 8 ohm), was designed specifically for high performance compact subwoofer applications and has a generous feature set. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, April 2015.
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Test Bench: Celestion G12H “GreenBack” 12” Guitar Speaker Reissue
February 17, 2016 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: Celestion G12H “GreenBack” 12” Guitar Speaker Reissue

This article focuses on a driver from Celestion, a historical reissue of the famous G12H “GreenBack” 12” guitar speaker: the G12H(55) “Greenback” from the brand’s Heritage Series classic guitar speakers. A detailed look at this absolutely iconic guitar speaker which could potential question Voice Coil’s own Test Bench criteria. Originally published in Voice Coil February 2015.
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Test Bench - PRV Audio Brazil 6MR500-NDY-4 Pro Sound Driver
February 6, 2016 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench - PRV Audio Brazil 6MR500-NDY-4 Pro Sound Driver

On its first Test Bench of a product designed and manufactured by PRV Audio Brazil, Vance Dickason characterized the 6MR500-NDY-4, a new 6.5” from the brand’s Midrange Series for professional audio applications. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, February 2015.
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Test Bench: Wavecor TW030WA12 30-mm Cloth Waveguide Loaded Tweeter
January 19, 2016 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: Wavecor TW030WA12 30-mm Cloth Waveguide Loaded Tweeter

This Test Bench is about the new Wavecor TW030WA12, a new 30-mm cloth waveguide loaded tweeter intended for home audio applications. The TW030WA12 features a 30-mm wide surround precision-coated cloth diaphragm optimized for high-frequency cut-off above 20 kHz. Its most differentiating feature is a waveguide faceplate for increased sensitivity and directivity. This article was featured on the January 2015 edition of Voice Coil.
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Test Bench - Scan-Speak 10F/8414G10 Small 3.5” Full-Range Woofer
January 5, 2016 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench - Scan-Speak 10F/8414G10 Small 3.5” Full-Range Woofer

Currently, some of the most popular transducers in consumer electronics are the 2”–3.5” diameter full-range drivers. These mini woofers are being extensively used in TV soundbars and Bluetooth speakers. Scan-Speak set out to make the one of the best 3.5” full-range drivers on the market with the 10F/8414G10. This article was originally published in Voice Coil December 2013.
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Test Bench - Eighteen Sound 18TLW3000 18” Dual Voice Coil Woofer
December 29, 2015 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench - Eighteen Sound 18TLW3000 18” Dual Voice Coil Woofer

The transducer under review this month is from the Italian pro sound company, Eighteen Sound. Designated a subwoofer, the 18TLW3000 is a high power handling woofer rated at 1,800 WRMS with substantial features, including what Eighteen Sound calls a “Tetracoil” dual winding and interleaved sandwich voice coil (ISV). This article was originally published in Voice Coil, December 2013.
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Test Bench - Dayton Audio ES140Ti-8 5.5” Midwoofer
December 20, 2015 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench - Dayton Audio ES140Ti-8 5.5” Midwoofer

This test bench looks at the ES140Ti-8 5.5” midwoofer, which is another model from Dayton Audio’s new Esoteric line. Features for the ES-140Ti are similar to the companion model ES-180Ti and include a well configured proprietary six-spoke cast-aluminum frame with narrow 9-mm wide spokes to minimize reflections back into the cone. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, January 2015.
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Test Bench - SB Acoustics SB65WBAC25-4 2.5” full-range driver
December 15, 2015 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench - SB Acoustics SB65WBAC25-4 2.5” full-range driver

Unquestionably, the 2” to 2.5” diameter full-range drivers are one of the most used transducers in consumer electronics. They are finding broad use in soundbars, and desktop speakers). Indonesian-based SB Acoustics sent its entry into this crowded field of play, the new SB65WBAC25-4.
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Test Bench - Dayton Audio ES180Ti-8 7” High-End Midbass Woofer
December 8, 2015 by Vance Dickason

Test Bench - Dayton Audio ES180Ti-8 7” High-End Midbass Woofer

In this test, Vance Dickason characterizes a 7” midwoofer from Dayton Audio’s Esoteric Series of home-audio oriented drivers. The ES180TI-8 is a very good-looking driver with a well thought out neodymium magnet motor design, FEA designed. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, December 2014.
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