|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
85.19.92.6
In Reply to: RE: Relevant loudspeaker tests posted by BigguyinATL on July 09, 2014 at 10:26:07
Hi, thanks for the very interesting paper
By the way i see that nobody mind about distortion measurements
I think that in the end what is really detrimental for sound is distortion
Even a not very flat speaker but with low distortion could be perceived as good sounding
Still distortion tests are common like the water in Sahara ... this i cannot understand.
Kind regards,
bg
Follow Ups:
In a thread over in Critics, John Atkinson said he does not test speakers for distortion because it would require an anechoic chamber to do it right.
Nonetheless, John Krutke (Zaph) has measured and published distortion curves (along with all the more usual tests) for a large number of drivers in a normal room, using frequency sweeps at 96dB at 1/2 meter. He readily admits that the room may introduce a few anomalies, but considers his findings essentially valid. His full methodology is described at the link.
His site is really a treasure trove for hobbyists and OEMs, since it provides full, independent objective tests of MANY popular drivers. In some cases, his results correspond closely to manufacturer's published specs, while in others the manufacturer's specs are shown to be based on fantasy and wishful thinking. Definitely check his results before using any of the tested drivers in a project!
Two reasons I suppose:
1) You can't reduce speaker distortion into a neat single number, you will need to publish a curve.
2) Speaker distortion is orders of magnitude higher than amp distortion for example and this will look quite bad to the untrained eye hence there is no marketing potential in publishing them unless the speakers in question are exceptionally good. Very few are.
Hi and thanks for confirming a feeling
Today i am obsessed by a question ... have i gone on always looking at the wrong things ?
Two statements of yours tell me yes
" Speaker distortion is orders of magnitude higher than amp distortion "
" there is no marketing potential in publishing them unless the speakers in question are exceptionally good. Very few are "
So i am now mainly targeting distortion as the worst of the problems.
Distortion i think can come from a speaker badly driven or from a speaker poorly designed/built.
And i stop here not to go OT.
I only say that i am looking to less conventional speakers, like HE ones.
A speaker that is an easy load, high efficient and especially low in distortion even during music peaks
It is a complete change of perspective ...
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
bg
Edits: 07/10/14
If you want to see what exceptionally good distortion performance in a speaker looks like try the ones in the link provided.
Distortion also rises with output, these have been measured at a rather loud 100dBspl.
Hi and thanks a lot indeed.
This is very unusual i mean ... to find distortion figures in the specifications ... impressive speakers indeed.
I am afraid out of my budget also.
You say " Distortion also rises with output "
That is indeed my thinking.
If i listen able to keep distortion let's say under 1% at 100 dB when i will be listening at 90 dB distortion should be extremely low.
Commercial speakers have usually 10% of distortion at 100 dB
Good pro speakers are lower. Much lower because they use compression drivers, efficient woofers and so on
Thanks again.
P.S. Geithain speakers have a characteristics that i do not like
The mid and high sections cover the woofers
I much prefer the coaxial arrangement ... like Tannoy to say one.
Very much actually.
Kind regards,
bg
German companies seem more likely to publish distortion curves than others.
ME Geithain and Neumann do for complete speakers, Eton, Accuton and BMS do for bare drivers.
Unfortunately they don't all measure at the same level. The speaker manufacturers use a certain SPL while the driver manufacturers usually use 1W except BMS who use something close to max power for cone drivers and 1 or 10W for compression drivers.
The only non-german company to publish those I can think of at the moment is Beyma.
Hi thanks a lot again for the very interesting information
My interest for HE and low distortion speakers has started after listening to speakers like Avantgarde.
The bass was not right ... but the mid to high was very exciting.
I was impressed by the action of the horn on very commong drivers
So i can only image what a right horn can give to a good driver.
Then i listened to a JBL 375 and i was floored ... immense dynamic with cristal clear sound
I really do not think that unloaded drivers are able to give a similar performance
When i see speakers like these i wonder why they do no use horns ,,,
ok ... better not to start a fight ... let's say that they are speakers for very big rooms but with conventional drivers and cost 200 kUSD
I cannot explain this approach ...
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
bg
As so many things horns create as many problems as they solve.
You need to pick the compromise you are happy with.
Personally I do not like the sound of high efficiency speakers at low volume but I also don't like low efficiency ones with higher power. To me for home use the sweet spot are drivers/speakers with an efficiency in the low to mid 90s.
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: