Whats new and exciting in speaker design?

[nordhaven]

What's new out there? Is there any new designs that are out of the norm. Something other then a tower or bookshelf or line array.

 

[gmichael]

What's new out there? Is there any new designs that are out of the norm. Something other then a tower or bookshelf or line array.

Are you looking for something like these?

 

[fmw]

Or something in an aerodynamic V?

 

[j_garcia]

How about the O-3:

Or OB-7:

 

[j_garcia]

How about this guy:

A lamp with an integrated *wireless* omni speaker? (It has to be plugged into the wall for power, but the sound is wireless).

 

[Joe Schmoe]

None of those look like anything that could'nt have been done 20 years ago (except maybe the wireless part.) There have been huge advances in electronics, but speaker design has been too well understood for too long to allow for any fundamental breakthroughs. Materials, quality control, and computer acoustic analysis are responsible for most improvements in performance.

 

[j_garcia]

http://www.norh.com/

Speaker design hasn't really had to advance, but it sounds like the OP is just looking for something that doesn't look like your typical speaker.

 

[gmichael]

Go ahead, ham it up.

 

[nordhaven]

Cool stuff! That Norh stuff is an intriguing shape! not that bad of a price range either. Danny Richie's stuff is always cool. I cant even figure out what direction that V shape Jobie is supposed to point.

This is a full range BIB design I did last winter. It was a pretty simple build. I'm looking for a new project and like the enclosure work better then the component work I guess.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Ok I give...what's a BIB design?

Cool stuff! That Norh stuff is an intriguing shape! not that bad of a price range either. Danny Richie's stuff is always cool. I cant even figure out what direction that V shape Jobie is supposed to point.

This is a full range BIB design I did last winter. It was a pretty simple build. I'm looking for a new project and like the enclosure work better then the component work I guess.

Hi nordhaven,

Looks nice! but what's a BIB design?

SBF1

 

[Sheep]

Hi nordhaven,

Looks nice! but what's a BIB design?

SBF1

It stops soundwaves from falling on your shirt and ruining it.

Heyyooooo!

I think a new and interesting design would be a speaker that is built properly and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. But... those don't exist in the retail world.

SheepStar

 

[STRONGBADF1]

It stops soundwaves from falling on your shirt and ruining it.

Heyyooooo!

SheepStar

Ed,

I did not know that.

Johnny

 

[pzaur]

...but the sound is wireless...

Isn't sound coming from a speaker always wireless?

-pat

 

[j_garcia]

Wireless TO the speaker too

 

[nordhaven]

BIB is a folded horn design that naturally amplifies the low frequency sound waves off the back of the driver through a "horn" or megaphone shape. If you look at the drawings you can see the horn shape starting behind the driver and ever expanding down and back up and out the top of the enclosure. The higher the ceiling the bigger the bass (to an extent). You just need a full range driver. No cross overs or caps or any other electronics. Just hook the drivers right up to the binding posts.

http://www.zillaspeak.com/bib.asp

http://www.zillaspeak.com/bib-howtobuild.asp

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I have yet to hear a "full range" driver that actually does full range well. They tend to be especially poor at high frequencies. There is no substitute for a dedicated tweeter.

 

[nordhaven]

"I have yet to hear a "full range" driver that actually does full range well. They tend to be especially poor at high frequencies. There is no substitute for a dedicated tweeter."

Thats true it is pretty tough to get one driver to do everything perfect. Full range speakers are a compromise. I think the little you loose in sound is a fair trade off for the low cost and ease of building. A compromise!

 

[nordhaven]

"I think a new and interesting design would be a speaker that is built properly and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. But... those don't exist in the retail world."

SheepStar

AMEN!!!!