Home Speaker Asylum

General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

RE: Diffraction and front baffle and cabinet design

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.

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.

Felt is also good to absorb early HF reflections from the baffle. A nice thick blanket of natural wool felt covering the entire baffle surface around the drivers (as used by Spica, Vandersteen, and others) will of course be of more benefit than just a donut around the tweeter, but would probably work best if "designed in," along with the crossover, as opposed to being applied as an after-market "fix." Which is NOT to say that after-market products such as Jim's will be of no benefit. Even the tweeter donuts sold by Madisound can result in some measurable and audible smoothing of the response at the highest frequencies.


This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  Amplified Parts  


Follow Ups Full Thread
Follow Ups

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?
Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
  Remember my Moniker & Password  (What's this?)    Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:
Message:   (Posts are subject to Content Rules)
Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:  Automagically notify you when someone responds.