Wilson's new speaker the Sasha is coming.

With all due respect Mr Johnmaxx, to suggest that a phenolic resin is stiffer then aluminum is ridicules. Whatever flavor of phenolic you are using the Young modules of what is basically a polymer resin, is much lower than Aluminum or steel. You seems to be confusing strength with stiffness. A sq inch of X material, might be heavier and “stronger“ then a sq inch of aluminum, but it will not be stiffer and it will also have a much higher damping ratio. That is basically what your plots are showing. The X material is very good at storing energy. So is MDF. It says nothing of its “stiffness”. Where the aluminum, can be easily damped, the phenolic resin Young modules (stiffness) can’t be change. Aluminum is indeed a great material for loudspeaker enclosure since you get excellent strength-to-weight ratio, stiffness and a very easy material to damp due to low energy storage (That is why it looks like a “train wreck” in you plots. It releases all the energy out instead of storing it). Especial if used as a constrained layer construction, which IMO will be the best way to go.

http://www.wilsonaudio.com/sasha/science.html

As usual, Wilson reinventing physics. According to him, 6061-T6 Aircraft Grade aluminum is actually less “rigid” then MDF or epoxy. I propose the word Aircraft Grade should be applied to MDF now… All these spectral-decay plots are showing is simply levels of material damping. In other words, “how well they store or dissipate energy”. These plots show clearly that the ‘X” material is indeed highly damped (Stores energy very well). So, as he suggested, why not rubber? It will store energy even better and have no measurable resonant at all. Damping, without stiffness is bad for bass performance. The young modulus (Stiffness) of any epoxy resins type material is many folds lower than Aluminum or even plywood. That is why you do not see airplane wings build from epoxy. I am amazed at the willingness of these companies to expose their complete ignorance. Even worse, a total dismissal to the intelligence of their clients (Which unfortunately, they can get away with).

Dgad,

"Not sure if you are a Magico or YG fan"

I am neither. In fact I never heard them, but after reading Wilson spin, maybe I should. I was interested in a new loudspeakers, and having heard and liked the Sophia, I thought I will do some more investigating to Wilson other offering. I must say, as an engineer (Mechanical), I was mortified by some of the nonsense I read on Wilson web site. Regardless of how good the sound is, I can see now from where the high-end gets its “bad rap”. BTW, the functionality of a loudspeaker enclosure is completely opposite to a musical instrument one. A musical instrument enclosures role is to vibrate and amplify sound a loudspeaker enclosure need to do the as “quiet“ (but rigid) as possible.