Open Baffle Experience


Much has been said about open baffles, including an epic website by the late, great Dr. Linkwitz but I've only heard them really once, playing absolutely garbage music (thanks Pure Audio!) at a hotel.

I'm talking here about dynamic drivers in single baffles without enclosures, not ESLs or Magneplanar type systems.

I'm curious who has had them, and who kept them or went back to "conventional" boxes?

I'm not really looking to buy speakers, but I did start thinking about this because of a kit over at Madisound made with high quality drivers.

 

 

erik_squires

Showing 1 response by prof

 

My experience with such speakers is limited.  I remember hearing the Spatial speakers at a show but can't quite remember the sound.

But my general experience with dipoles (including my Quad ESL 63 with a dipole Gradient subwoofer), is that the sound was at first intoxicating "wow, it's so free of box coloration! I'm seeing right in to the recording."

The problem was that they didn't excite the room the same way. There was much less "feel" of the music - lacking the sense of instruments really being there, pushing air in the room.  So it was a bit more of an audiophile-intellectual experience.   I found going back to well designed box/forward radiators to be generally much more satisfying.  Of course it's all about compromises..