Major milestones in Speaker Technology.

[chadds]

I would pretty much agree with this. The basic function of a speaker is 100 years old or more. Horn loading them dates to the 1930's at least. Actual horns, think trumpets, tubas, etc. are centuries old. They just had to figure out how to work it with a speaker instead of buzzing lips as the sound-maker. Over-simplication there, I know, but you get the idea.

The last few decades have brought incredible improvements to the basic speaker, but, they could still be considered refinements/upgrades. Hi-fi came in with the 1950's. More advanced horn loading concepts and line-array technology came in later, but it's still speakers.

Perhaps affordable plasma designs getting into widespread use, or just beaming sound directly into people's brains will be the next real innovations. The CIA is already working on that and has some workable prototypes.

Beaming sound directly into people's brains? You mean Mp3s into earbuds? They already control us.

 

[fdeck]

One recent milestone has been widespread access to accurate information on speaker design, driver parameters, modeling software, and so forth. Regular bassists no longer need to be in the dark, and we can demand designs that are either more sophisticated, or tailored to our individual interests.

 

[B-string]

T/S made the single recent contribution to design. Horns, folded horns, "sealed" cabs, "infinite" baffles, bass reflex all from the 40's and 50's. Ported, labyrinth, Helmholtz from the 60's.
Speakers fallowed the motor assembly, from the mechanical connection of a needle by Bell, electromagnets, Alnico, ceramic and now NEO.

 

[Bass Unique]

One recent milestone has been widespread access to accurate information on speaker design, driver parameters, modeling software, and so forth. Regular bassists no longer need to be in the dark, and we can demand designs that are either more sophisticated, or tailored to our individual interests.

This certainly gets the lay person closer being able to "design" rather than throw together a box. The danger is that people will blindly put in numbers in to the software and just look at the graphs without understanding what the parameters mean. these people will not be able to look at a loudspeaker T/S parameters and know without the software approximately how it would behave.

I suppose it is a bit like using a computer to solve an equation without having enough maths knowledge to derive the formula manually.

Sometimes, a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. one example is sensitivity in dB/W. Do people really know what this means and how it affects the produced sound? If you purchase using this spec alone, you will still have no idea how much low end will be produced...

In general, sensitivity rises with increasing driver area (on axis). However dispersion narrows and off axis, it is common to not see any difference in output level from one driver to another (within reason). So, the increased number is a result of focussing the energy in a beam. Good for marketing specs but nto good to improve audibility on stage.

 

[rodl2005]

When you let the less capable loudmouths run out some of your most capable posters, be they meekly courteous or merely curt, the value of the board goes down for everyone. Have we let the wrong people get run out?

Should be a thread on it's own.

 

[Lowactnsatsfctn]

Should be a thread on it's own.

Yeah, I don't want to derail this one

 

[AlexanderB]

I would say many of the "breakthroughs" are direct results of improvements in the equipment around the speaker itself.
More powerful amplifiers has made it useful to develop long excursion, high otput woofers and low compression mid/high drivers.
Better microphones and measurement tool has pushed analysis and development further.
Computer simulations and analysis has improved cabinet design and construction.
Starting in the 80s, wide distribution and access of CD and other high resultion formats created some consumer awareness about lack in existing "domestic" audio systems.
And of importance to musicians and "pro users", the low cost speaker processors now availadle make it possible to achieve stunning performance from very compact speaker systems.

 

[Nev375]

I DON'T THINK SO ...

The Bose 2201, developed in the early sixties used an array of 22 5" speakers in each cabinet.

These guys were ENGINEERS. They didn't just cram speakers in a sealed box. There has been little or no improvement in sound quality since the 1950's.

True. But like in all technology the major leaps were taken in few first decades (1920's-1940's) and since then development has practically narrowed down to finer details.

When it comes to musical instrument apmplification though, expect that most of the "innovative" stuff was adopted in use about 30 years after it was actually innovated.

Permanent magnets started replacing field coils in the 1940's
That was probably the most significant milestone.
They could actually tune speaker cabinets to reproduce bass, and not hum from the field coil.

T/S made the single recent contribution to design. Horns, folded horns, "sealed" cabs, "infinite" baffles, bass reflex all from the 40's and 50's. Ported, labyrinth, Helmholtz from the 60's.
Speakers fallowed the motor assembly, from the mechanical connection of a needle by Bell, electromagnets, Alnico, ceramic and now NEO.

Good point. I edited the OP to a 100 year history instead of 50.

In addition to some of the ancient history and people and events that may not be well known to many I'd also like to know how this history ties in to the big brand names we are all familiar with and constantly GASsing over.

For example, when I think of Hartke, I think "aluminum cones" despite the fact that they also have a line of traditional paper-coned speakers. That was the big innovation that kinda defined them. Now, I don't know if they were the first with the innovation, or just first to make it a commercial success. That's why I'm asking.

But what about the other companies? What did they bring to the table, if anything? And if they got notoriety for it, but it was invented by someone else... who was that and what is the story there?

Anyway, great posts so far. Hoping to read some good history stories, facts and footnotes later in this thread, carry on!

 

[fdeck]

This certainly gets the lay person closer being able to "design" rather than throw together a box. The danger is that people will blindly put in numbers in to the software and just look at the graphs without understanding what the parameters mean. these people will not be able to look at a loudspeaker T/S parameters and know without the software approximately how it would behave.

I suppose it is a bit like using a computer to solve an equation without having enough maths knowledge to derive the formula manually.

Sometimes, a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. one example is sensitivity in dB/W. Do people really know what this means and how it affects the produced sound? If you purchase using this spec alone, you will still have no idea how much low end will be produced...

In general, sensitivity rises with increasing driver area (on axis). However dispersion narrows and off axis, it is common to not see any difference in output level from one driver to another (within reason). So, the increased number is a result of focussing the energy in a beam. Good for marketing specs but nto good to improve audibility on stage.

Those are good points. I think it's not necessarily just for those of us who design our own speakers. Understanding things like Xmax, and debunking some of the myths, has allowed us to cut through the marketing fluff and demand speakers that start out with a better chance of working for us. And I think that the higher end and cottage industry makers have responded to this demand with models that make technical as well as musical sense.

 

[1958Bassman]

There has been little or no improvement in sound quality since the 1950's.

That's so wrong, it's incredible. The difference in sound quality of consumer speakers has been tremendous, partly due to the improvements in driver materials, computer modeling, magnet technology, crossover design and testing. The understanding of how speakers interact with a room has also grown by leaps and bounds.

 

[JimmyM]

I miss Bill. Sometimes he could get a little "engineery," but everything he had to say was totally solid. He'd set this thread straight

 

[rodl2005]

+1 I miss Bill & TB misses his knowledge greatly imo.
I've learned so much from his info on all things speaker, enclosure & sound related.
Like I love Alex Claber's column in UK's Bass Guitar mag. Put the 2 together & you've a wealth of info

 

[Bass Unique]

Those are good points. I think it's not necessarily just for those of us who design our own speakers. Understanding things like Xmax, and debunking some of the myths, has allowed us to cut through the marketing fluff and demand speakers that start out with a better chance of working for us. And I think that the higher end and cottage industry makers have responded to this demand with models that make technical as well as musical sense.

Absolutely. And it is nice to see some of the better designs of boutique cabs are using good terminology and design to great effect.

Do you think with enough of a push we could encourage the mass commercial suppliers to follow suit? I doubt it as it would either show up the flaws in the design or it would eat in to the profit for these companies and they know that 80% of purchasers are not bothered about specs.

This does not stop us exposing those manufacturers for what they really are...

So to me the biggest leaps in the last few years have been neo bass drivers to reduce weight, computer modelling of drivers and cabs to improve clarity, understanding of dispersion (but implemented by only a few), improvements in materials to make cabinets lighter but strong. I don't consider computer simulation a big leap forward, it is purely making the design process available to the mass market - the techniques using T/S parameters have not changed.

 

[JimmyM]

You'll never convince the mass market to do that. There's nothing in it for them because the vast majority of folks have no clue what any of it means, nor do they care. All they care is what it sounds like when they plug in. And even though I've learned a little something about how to interpret specs along the way, that's still how I buy equipment.

 

[darius8]

Didn't Thiel Audio or Boston Acoustics or Polk Audio contribute anything? If Thiel Audio made a bass cab, do you think it would blow anything out of the water?

 

[dukeorock]

I've been playing bass through amps and speaker cabs since the late 70's...there was some awesome gear that I sometimes miss, BUT back then if you played bass, you pretty much had to own a van...now bassists are measuring to make sure their next purchase will fit into a Prius. My current cabs sound better than anything I've ever owned and are smaller and lighter...that's progress for sure. Heck, even just 2 years ago...my current rig sounds WAY better and weighs over 300lbs less

 

[dukeorock]

The modern designers like greenboy, Duke LeJuene, Alex Claber, and BFM Have been a huge help to the bass community...greenboy rarely comes around here for the same reasons as Bill FM...shame that all the armchair experts ruined it for the rest of us to really dig in and learn something.

 

[PlungerModerno]

I miss Bill. Sometimes he could get a little "engineery," but everything he had to say was totally solid. He'd set this thread straight

+1. For that level of expertise for free, I'd put up with a less than pleasant demeanor. But Bill has always been fairly nice IMO. By internet standards a perfect gentleman. A great asset to musicians & sound people, to have a pro willing to explain and reference the info.

 

[dukeorock]

The people most offended were the ones who routinely took their little pocket knives to gunfights, and instead of shutting up and learning from the masters, got their pride hurt, dug in their heels and became even more exasperating, IMO

 

[PlungerModerno]

The modern designers like greenboy, Duke LeJuene, Alex Claber, and BFM Have been a huge help to the bass community...greenboy rarely comes around here for the same reasons as Bill FM...shame that all the armchair experts ruined it for the rest of us to really dig in and learn something.

The good news is they have their own forums, which means we can still get their advice, just not on our delightful TB

IMO if people feel there is a conspiracy, that's fine, but come up with research that sheds light on the topic in question.
Don't give anecdotes and claim they are on the same level of trustworthiness as audio engineering theory & understanding. Sometimes the internet gets in the way of education and that kind of thing. Pity.