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RE: Diffraction and front baffle and cabinet design

Caspian said:

"This topic has been kicked around numerous times over the years on the Madisound and PE DIY forums. The consensus of the "gurus" seems to be that at LEAST a 2" roundover is required on the baffle edges to measurably and audibly improve diffraction effects. This of course complicates cabinet construction, and adds cost."

Firstly, there aren't any "gurus" lurking about on any of the forums you listed - guru wannabees maybe but not real "gurus". Most of them are novices who have day jobs that are not related to the audio industry. And much of the advice given is either wrong, useless, or misleading. Consistent with that observation is the quote shown above. You will not find any professional in the audio business who'll support the assertion that "at LEAST a 2" roundover is required to measurably and audibly improve diffraction effects". As I noted earlier, there are a number of factors involved that determine whether or not a given speaker's response will be significantly affected by roundover at the baffle edge or lack thereof. Among these are baffle width and tweeter placement. In 30+ years of examining my own data and that of others, I've not encountered a single professional who has either offered or endorsed such a claim about 2 inch round overs. This is just one more example of bad advice from non professional wannabees.

Edit:

Btw, like most of the "advice" found on internet forums that are trying to sell speaker products, this statement by Caspian:

"The "ideal" baffle shape, from a diffraction POV, is a perfect sphere. I believe this knowledge goes back to F. Alton Everest, or earlier, but only a few manufacturers (like Gallo) have every really implemented it in a commercial design."

IS TOTALLY WRONG. The spherical speaker shape has the highest response drop off associated with diffraction precisely because of the equal distance from the "baffle edge" to the speaker driver over the entire speaker's circumference. This accentuates the affect of pressure drop at the precise frequency tied to the quarter wavelength that terminates at the circumference edge. For every accurate post on such internet forums, I've seen several stuffed shirt posts by people who are trying to impress others with all that they don't know - a lot of hot air from very insecure individuals. Unfortunately, they have good reason to be insecure because their "knowledge" comes more from reading a few old text books or trade articles rather than hard core engineering experience and testing that comes from working in the industry day to day for many years.


Edits: 04/16/12
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