Test Bench: Dayton Audio Epique E160CF-8 Midbass Driver

This Test Bench characterizes the new Dayton Audio Epique E160CF-8 midbass driver, from the company’s new Epique high-end transducer line. This new 5.25” midwoofer is Dayton’s entry into the ultra-high-end driver market. Dayton built it with the intention of competing with the likes of SEAS, Scan-Speak, Eton, Accuton, and Morel. Applications for the E160CF-8 include use as a midrange in a multi-way speaker or as a woofer in a two-way speaker. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, September 2018.

Voice Coil September 2018 edition is now available and features all the essential information about this year’s CEDIA Expo event. James Croft reviews a Harman patent for a multi-coil transducer approach to improve the cooling structure of loudspeakers, while Vance Dickason characterizes the ambitious new Dayton Audio Epique E160CF-8 midbass driver and two new 28 mm dome tweeters also from Dayton Audio — the RST28A-4 and the RST28F-4. Now available for download or in print.

For this month's Test Bench, Dickason characterizes a new 12” coaxial pro audio driver from B&C Speakers, a design typically applied in stage monitors, studio monitors, or distributed audio in large venues. B&C Speakers 12CXN88 is unique in that it uses a single neodymium magnet assembly for both the 12” woofer and the 1.3” throat exit compression driver. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, January 2018.

Beginning with the January 2018 issue of Voice Coil magazine, Vance DIckason implemented the Loudsoft FINE R+D analyzer into the Test Bench measurement protocol. This article provides details about the features in FINE R+D FINE R+D, a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analyzer packaged in a 1u rack, which is used with the recommended G.R.A.S. 0.25” Type 46BE microphone capsule and preamplifier body. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, December 2017.

Following our March Test and Measurement Focus edition, audioXpress April 2018 expands that focus to specifically include a comprehensive roundup of the latest earphone and headphone test solutions. Read the review of Audio Precision's AECM206 Binaural Headphone Test Fixture, learn about HEAD acoustics' latest modular measurement platform, and discover how Warwick Audio Technologies designed a completely new type of electrostatic transducer. Download audioXpress April 2018 now.

Voice Coil is gearing up for another exciting edition of the NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA, and this January 2018 edition features one of our most exciting Voice Coil directories, focusing on recent announcements about Headphone Measurement solutions. James Croft discusses a patent for an innovative flat speaker concept from Pioneer, while Vance Dickason characterizes a new 12” coaxial pro audio design from B&C Speakers. Download your Voice Coil now!

Don't miss Mike Klasco's overview of the latest trends in Audio Digital Signal Processing, a review of a new "knurled diaphragm," patent for planar magnetic drivers, and a User Report on LOUDSOFT's FINE R+D Analyzer, which, from 2018, will be implemented into the Test Bench measurement protocol. In Test Bench, learn more about a bass-midrange driver, and a woofer, from Eton and Volt, respectively.

November 2016 marks the beginning of Voice Coil’s 30th year and this issue celebrates it accordingly! The November 2016 issue is filled with great articles including a Spotlight by Mike Klasco on MEMS Microphones, and an extensive directory of Mic Capsule Vendors. In this month’s Acoustic Patents, James Croft reviews two different patents, which apparently should have been scrutinized by industry experts - and weren’t. While this month’s Test Bench features new drivers from two of the premier Italian Pro Sound OEM manufacturers, Faital Pro and B&C Speakers.

Following a preview earlier this year at the ALMA International Symposium and Expo 2016, in Las Vegas, Danish audio test and measurement specialist LoudSoft has now simultaneously released its new dedicated headphone/earphone hardware analyzer, FINE Hardware 2 with its new headphone/earphone QC software, FINE QC/Headphone. The solution is able to is able to test a headphone in 1 second, including Left-Right difference and Rub & Buzz for both, and the test cycle can also include Noise Cancel Test, both passive and active, in less than 10 seconds.

Much to read in Voice Coil July 2016, starting with an article by Mike Klasco about protection treatments for speakers and mobile electronics, followed by a discussion about “Boundary Effects on Sources at Low Frequencies” by Christopher J. Struck. James Croft reviews a patent of an improved speaker structure and Vance Dickason looks at one ribbon tweeter from Fountek, a new 1” dome tweeter from Tang Band Speaker and a closed-back midrange driver from B&C Speakers, and then reviews Revolution Acoustics’ SSP6 actuator, which is able to transform any panel structure into an audio speaker.