In this issue of Voice Coil, Vance Dickason continues his product review series of Outboard DSP solutions. This month he explores the miniDSP Flex, which is the fourth outboard digital signal processing (DSP) unit to be examined in this series. The Flex is the two channels in/four channels out, Sharc-based audio processor from miniDSP, a more cost-effective model than the previously featured DSP processors in the series, with a retail price of $570 for the TRS balanced IO model. While the primary market for miniDSP has always been DIY users, the Hong Kong-based company does have some OEM customers and that is another factor to bear in mind when considering the unit’s features. Besides the competitive price, the review confirms how the miniDSP Flex manages to measure and impress.Next up, on Voice Coil Spotlight, Dario Cinanni (SpeakerLAB) writes a first article addressing Enhancing Loudspeaker Efficiency and Bl(x) Symmetry with Virtual Voice Coil. This first article in a series allows Voice Coil readers to better understand the design and simulation possibilities of the SpeakerLAB software for speaker designers. In this article, the author explores its Virtual Voice Coil (VVC) module, for designing voice coils and predicting audio transducer parameters with maximum accuracy. As the author explain in this detailed analysis, one of the keys that allow the accuracy of VVC prediction is given by a complete temperature management involved in loudspeaker calculus.
And as scheduled for this issue, Mike Klasco and Nora Wong (Menlo Scientific) compiled the 2025 Cone and Dome Directory with a valuable listing and characterization of both cone and diaphragm suppliers, as well as relevant materials suppliers and component vendors, such as specialized treatments, additives, surrounds, spiders (dampers), tweeter, compression driver, and ribbon diaphragms. This is a specific segment of the loudspeaker industry that has seen some consolidation with multiple acquisitions, as well as new relevant entries. Voice Coil readers gain an updated directory with vendors of cone, diaphragm, and related materials from North America, Asia, India, and Europe.
For this month’s Test Bench, Vance Dickason writes about the 5PR120 5” Pro Midrange Driver from Faital Pro, the Italian company that is part of Alpine. Founded in 1958, Faital produced automotive and radio/TV speakers since the 1960s, and launched the Faital Pro division in 2006, becoming a major player in the pro sound OEM market. The speaker to be characterized in this issue is a dedicated high sensitivity and high-power handling 5” midrange driver, the 5PR120. In terms of features, the 5PR120 is built on a proprietary six-spoke cast-aluminum frame, with four vents below the spider mounting shelf, and additional cooling provided by a 4.25mm diameter pole vent.
The cone assembly for the 5PR120 consists of a curvilinear inverted single piece “bowl” shaped paper cone with black anodized aluminum dust cap. Compliance is provided by a raised planar EPDM (rubber) surround and a flat cloth spider with constant height waves. Voice coil lead wires are a flat ribbon-type cable stitched into the spider on one side of the frame. The motor is a FEA-optimized neodymium ring magnet type with milled and shaped plates. Driving the cone assembly is a 32mm voice coil wound with round copper wire on a non-conducting Kapton former.
This issue concludes as usual with a dose of Industry Watch stories compiled by Vance Dickason, including a highlight of the latest Scan-Speak TPCD tweeters, which the company is now offering in its Revelator line to replace the previous Beryllium dome models. Also, referenced is the latest Loudsoft release of an enhanced car audio version of FINEBox software.
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