Driver Selection for Multi-Way Speakers

It was recognized early on that the speakers benefited from having separate low-frequency and high-frequency drivers, each optimized for its own frequency range. Consequently, names were needed to easily identify the various speakers in a cabinet. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, January 2012.

Inspired by debates on the Internet about quarter wave designs with Tang Band 3˝ full-range drivers, the author decided to design its own quarter wave loudspeakers. This article was published in audioXpress, March 2007 and the results were simply spectacular, generating worldwide interest. Recently, Bjorn Johannesen created a successful business with his own speaker company, called KVART & BØLGE, which means Quarter & Wave in Norwegian and Danish.

Speakers evolved from a single sound source to having separate low-frequency and high-frequency drivers, each optimized for its own frequency range, to multi-way designs, with additional low-mid, high-mid and even super-high frequency drivers. Dr. Richard Honeycutt explains how to optimally choose these drivers. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, January 2012.

Voice Coil May 2015 features a great in-depth article from Dave on Loudspeaker Measurements, an article from Mike Klasco about MEMS Microspeakers, and the usual patents review by James Croft. This month’s Voice Coil Test Bench includes two shallow-mount subwoofers from Dayton Audio and a Bluetooth and loudspeaker kit from Tang Band. Great reasons not to delay on downloading the issue.

Do you want to build your own speakers with little risk of them ending up as unsuccessful souvenirs? Do you want to familiarize yourself with a speaker’s electronics and building aspects but still have a nice sounding system? Then the Tang Band D52-1 is definitely a speaker kit we can recommend. We already tried it for you!