Loudspeaker Knowledge Inside and Out in Voice Coil March 2021

In this edition of Voice Coil, Steve Temme explains "How to Measure Free-Field Speaker Response without an Anechoic Chamber," Mike Klasco writes about "Plastics and Composites for Audio Products in 2021," and there's an updated Speaker Enclosure Vendor Directory. James Croft provides a fascinating patent review of a speaker assembly design for low-frequency control using an acoustic dipole. And Vance Dickason characterizes two new tweeters: the D2404 Ellipticor Tweeter from Scan-Speak, and the Satori AT60NC-4 AMT Tweeter from SB Acoustics. Now available in print and online!

In this report, Klasco once again shares his knowledge with loudspeaker enclosures and reports on the progress in enclosure materials and technologies in 2020. And if someone has interesting things to share about wood enclosures, composites, plastics, improved plastic-based formulas, ABS/PA (polyimide), thermoset and thermoplastic resins, bulk-molded and sheet-molded thermosets and more, it's certainly Mike Klasco. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, March 2020.

The March 2020 edition of Voice Coil is now available online and in print. In this edition, Vance Dickason gets hands-on with the Audio Precision APx500 Flex Audio Analyzer, Mike Klasco writes about Loudspeaker Enclosure Materials, and James Croft explores a new patent of a novel orientation of a cardioid speaker design. And in Test Bench, Dickason characterizes a home audio transducer from Eastech's Punktkilde line, the cosmetically pleasing AUGWL0016-JN02 6.5” midbass driver.

In this article for Voice Coil, Mike Klasco (Menlo Scientific, Ltd.) reviews and looks ahead at all the materials and design approaches for loudspeaker enclosures. This article discusses enclosures using wood, MDF, plastic, plastic composites, moldable materials, coatings and pairings for those materials, while also looking at new cutting-edge bio-plastics materials. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, March 2019.

What are my two cents on criteria for sustainable product design? Bioplastics, sustainable, biodegradable, or end of life recyclable attributes are all aspects of a truly green product. I think that a conscionable green design philosophy focuses on the total integration of “good citizen” eco-friendly materials and processes and long, useful life.

The new AudioQuest ‎NightHawk headphones, introduced at ‎CES 2015, are a bold effort to set new standards for performance, value and innovation. The NightHawk headphones have earcups made of Tecnaro’s “Liquid Wood” ARBOFORM composite material, use a 50mm pistonic driver with a biocellulose diaphragm, and feature a patented split-gap motor to minimize intermodulation distortion.

Established in 1958 in Pomona, CA, Globe Plastics, Inc.became a leader in the electronics industry and expanded into advanced engineering materials and compression and injection molding high-strength composites. Since 1992, Globe Plastics found a niche in the sound and lighting industries using processes proved to be far superior and a better value than existing thermoplastics and die-cast aluminum components.