All items in category Magazine Articles
Speaker Cones — Fabrication, Materials, and Performance
by Mike Klasco

Speaker Cones — Fabrication, Materials, and Performance

This Voice Coil Focus article explores the fabrication, materials, and performance aspects of speaker cones, a critical component in driver design. With the author's extensive experience in dealing with innovative speaker designs and bringing concepts into production, the article explains vital aspects of both paper pulp cone fabrication and polypropylene cones, addressing even the lesser known aspects, such as software simulation programs used to model results before starting tooling. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, February 2020.
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Fresh From the Bench: The Linear Audio Autoranger Mk II Measurement Interface
by Stuart Yaniger

Fresh From the Bench: The Linear Audio Autoranger Mk II Measurement Interface

Stuart Yaniger explores new possibilities in audio measurement systems, expanding on the basics of using sound cards combined with new accessible-to-all software tools, such as REW, and a recently improved measurement interface option. That option is the Linear Audio Autoranger Mk II Interface, which audioXpress’ Technical Editor Jan Didden designed a few years ago and which is now available as an improved Mk II version. This article was originally published in audioxpress, April 2020.
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Neodymium - The Perfect Storm... Part 2 - Recycling Loudspeaker Neodymium Magnets
by Mike Klasco

Neodymium - The Perfect Storm... Part 2 - Recycling Loudspeaker Neodymium Magnets

In this article, Mike Klasco provides a unique overview of the neodymium supply chain, rare earth minerals trade, and its implications for the loudspeaker industry. Part 1 of the article explored the Chinese influence on the supply chain for rare earth ores and how that might have strategic implications if the trade wars between countries. This article was originally published in The Audio Voice newsletter of August 23 and 30, 2018. An extended version, also divided in two parts, was later published in Voice Coil magazine in November and December 2018.
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Fresh From the Bench: Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Powered Speakers
by Stuart Yaniger

Fresh From the Bench: Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Powered Speakers

Stuart Yaniger reviews the Vanatoo Transparent One Encore speakers, the company’s second successful design since the Vanatoo’s Transparent Zero, which our author discovered and reviewed a few years ago. The new Transparent One Encore speakers clearly benefited from this Transparent Zero development effort to create a much improved model, retailing for just $599 per pair. This article was originally published in audioXpress, February 2020.
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Neodymium - The Perfect Storm... Part 1 - The Neodymium Supply Chain
by Mike Klasco

Neodymium - The Perfect Storm... Part 1 - The Neodymium Supply Chain

In this article, Mike Klasco provides a unique overview of the neodymium supply chain, rare earth minerals trade, and its implications for the loudspeaker industry. Neodymium magnets are a sensitive issue for the future, given the trend for escalating trade skirmishes with China. This article was originally published in The Audio Voice newsletter of August 23 and 30, 2018. An extended version, also divided in two parts, was later published in Voice Coil magazine in November and December 2018.
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Show Report: Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2019
by Oliver A.Masciarotte

Show Report: Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2019

AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) 2019 took place April 12-14 at The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center and Hotel. In this report for audioXpress, Masciarotte spent three days traversing multiple hotel floors packed with listening rooms, which this year included 50 new exhibitors, and writes about all the product highlights in most categories, from speakers to headphones, electronics and the traditional oddities. This article was originally published in audioXpress, August 2019.
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Fresh From the Bench: Cambridge Audio Edge W Power Amplifier
by Oliver A.Masciarotte

Fresh From the Bench: Cambridge Audio Edge W Power Amplifier

Oliver Masciarotte and Stuart Yaniger tested Cambridge Audio’s Edge series power amplifier, the Edge W, which the British manufacturer introduced in 2018 as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. audioXpress submitted this design, which claimed to be the culmination of the brand’s audio engineering expertise, to extensive listening and measurement sessions. This article was originally published in audioXpress, January 2020.
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Book Review: Exploring High-Quality Horn Loudspeaker Systems
by Mike Klasco

Book Review: Exploring High-Quality Horn Loudspeaker Systems

The book High-Quality Horn Loudspeaker Systems — History, Theory and Design, written by Bjørn Kolbrek and Thomas Dunker, was presented during the 147th Audio Engineering Society (AES) Convention in New York, NY, and is available in a limited first edition. The massive 1,070-page hardcover book caused quite an impression among Audio Engineering Society (AES) members and audioXpress authors. Mike Klasco took the review copy and submitted a “first impressions” review. This article was originally published in audioXpress, February 2020.
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Book Review: A Look Inside Sensory Evaluation of Sound
by Richard Honeycutt

Book Review: A Look Inside Sensory Evaluation of Sound

Sensory evaluation is a field of study that bridges physical measurement and human perception, helping us to improve product design and aural environments. Richard Honeycutt reviews this extended work, which was edited by Nick Zacharov, exploring the latest sensory evaluation techniques, specifically applied to the evaluation of sound and audio. This article was originally published in audioXpress, February 2020.
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Voice Coil Spotlight: The Smith & Larson Audio Analyzers
by Dean Rivera

Voice Coil Spotlight: The Smith & Larson Audio Analyzers

The “Woofer Tester” range of speaker test solutions from Smith & Larson Audio is one of those systems that thousands of speaker designers have learned to use and continue to rely upon in their daily activities or hobbies. This review looks at the system's possibilities and compares the company's Woofer Tester 2, Speaker Tester, and Woofer Tester Pro products. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, March 2012.
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