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Speaker Analysis for Armchair Critics

Hello everyone,
There’s a very important discipline called "Speaker Analysis" or "Speaker Testing" which though complicated, is brilliantly illustrated in this breakdown of the B&W 685.


http://www.audioexcite.com/?page_id=6070

Speaker analysis is to measure each of the components both separately and as they come together in a complete system. It is a part of creating a new loudspeaker, but it can also be used to analyze an existing speaker, to understand it and perhaps to make it better.  I prefer the term Analysis because it better reflects that the goal is not merely quality assurance, but to build a complete electro acoustical understanding of the system as a whole so changes can be considered, and their final results predicted.


This particular article does just that, and comes up with a couple of suggestions for re-working the crossover to end up with hopefully a better end result. At the very least, it is a significantly different speaker at the end, and achieves a far greater level of change than cables can.


I share this with all of you just as an example of the work that goes into making a loudspeaker from parts, and the tools, and how much of what we hear has to do with choices made in the crossover.


Best,

Erik
erik_squires

Showing 8 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires OP
15,802 posts
 
Hello @xyobgyn

Thank you for your kind words.

I think crossover parts are pretty cheap en masse. I don’t think that’s the biggest factor, but I do think that trends and product differentiation are important motivators for speaker makers. Having speakers that sound different than the masses, as well as making sure your more expensive speakers sound better than your mid range speakers is very important.

If you can get enough reviewers to agree that your speakers are among the finest, then you can turn public opinion around.

There’s also a lot to be said for having hills and valleys in your response curve. It makes your speaker accentuate certain notes, and like I said, different is often perceived as better.

So, back to the word "hamstring." From a sales stand point, this may be no hamstring at all, plus there is something to be said for having a variety of sound profiles to purchase from. The world would be a very boring place if every speaker sounded like mine. :)

But, I think the write-up does a fantastic job of showing just how much lee-way a crossover designer has in making the speakers sound one way or the other.


erik_squires OP
15,802 posts
 
There is no signature sound its a myth.


Really love being called a liar without evidence.

erik_squires OP
15,802 posts
 
The purpose of this thread was not to bash B&W and say "Look, they could have done it better, but their crossovers are crap."

I happen to dislike the B&W sound nearly universally, but!! the point here was to demonstrate how speaker analysis is done, and how a designer applies his intention to the crossover and simulation to achieve a desired outcome.


Even if the article had gone the other way, started with a neutral sounding speaker and moved to a W shaped frequency response, it's still an excellent primer.

Past that, it also helps to explain how a brand can develop their signature sound.


Best,
Erik
erik_squires OP
15,802 posts
 
Only the capacitance value is used in the filter design. No hocus pocus hogwash.


Please see my previous message.

Erik, have you checked your filter design is adequate to avoid cone breakup? I heard you were doing 6db slopes



Are you under the mistaken impression that the B&W write-up is mine? It's not.

If you are talking about a published speaker design of mine, I assure you, you are wrong. I've never published a speaker using such a low filter slope.

In either case, your concern is something any speaker designer should be able to answer from the measurements.

Best,
Erik


erik_squires OP
15,802 posts
 
by swapping the parts for ones that cost a few dollars more?



@kenjit 

Looking forward to you learning AC circuit analysis, followed by filter design so you can come back to that statement in embarrassment.
erik_squires OP
15,802 posts
 
I think these particular speakers are a real good example of how disjoint the driver development can be vs. the crossover and system.
erik_squires OP
15,802 posts
 
@avanti1960

The diy community has a very different take on what a great loudspeaker should sound like compared to mag reviewers.

As I have said more than once, the high end sound has been driven by king makers to something very far from neutral and for old ears.

Kill the Buddha (reviewer) and find your own nirvana.
erik_squires OP
15,802 posts
 
Duke @audiokinesis

You are killing me.

😆😆😆


I meant to say that "the goal of speaker analysis is..." 

and for consumers, this is a decent introduction, not a comprehensive guide.


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