All items in category Magazine Articles
Speakers: Parts Is Parts - High-Polymer Film, The Lost Speaker Technology (Part 1)
by Mike Klasco and Steve Tatarunis

Speakers: Parts Is Parts - High-Polymer Film, The Lost Speaker Technology (Part 1)

This article explores Polyvinylidene Fluoride Film (PVDF), a piezoelectric polymer used in various transducers for headphones, microphones and loudspeakers. It seems that the audio engineering community at large is either not familiar with PVDF film or misunderstands PVDF piezoelectric film technology. Hopefully, this article will serve as an introduction (or reintroduction) to the technology. This article was originally published in audioXpress April 2013.
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The TechTube Blackburn E813CC: A New Approach to Tube Design
by Neville Roberts

The TechTube Blackburn E813CC: A New Approach to Tube Design

We invite our readers to a return to the past, when the original Blackburn manufacturing site where Millard tubes were once made, was shipping the TechTube Blackburn E813CC - an engineering effort to redesign the ECC83 dual triode, claiming more accuracy and more consistency. "The famous Blackburn MicroTech Solutions tube factory has launched the first in a line of audio tubes featuring the first radical re-design in tube technology in over 40 years," writes Neville Roberts in his original 2009 report for audioXpress.
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Fresh From the Bench: Dayton Audio Test System (DATS) V3
by David Logvin

Fresh From the Bench: Dayton Audio Test System (DATS) V3

After a decade of widespread use, the Dayton Audio Test System (DATS) has acquired an impressive reputation for fast and accurate testing. Now, Dayton Audio has taken the easy-to-use audio test system and improved it in almost every way when creating the DATS V3 Computer-Based Audio Component Test System. This is an ultraportable audio test system that provides a reliable method for collection of Thiele-Small parameters, loudspeaker measurements and component measurements. This article was originally published in audioXpress, March 2020.
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Speaker Cones — Fabrication, Materials, and Performance
by Mike Klasco

Speaker Cones — Fabrication, Materials, and Performance

This Voice Coil Focus article explores the fabrication, materials, and performance aspects of speaker cones, a critical component in driver design. With the author's extensive experience in dealing with innovative speaker designs and bringing concepts into production, the article explains vital aspects of both paper pulp cone fabrication and polypropylene cones, addressing even the lesser known aspects, such as software simulation programs used to model results before starting tooling. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, February 2020.
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Fresh From the Bench: The Linear Audio Autoranger Mk II Measurement Interface
by Stuart Yaniger

Fresh From the Bench: The Linear Audio Autoranger Mk II Measurement Interface

Stuart Yaniger explores new possibilities in audio measurement systems, expanding on the basics of using sound cards combined with new accessible-to-all software tools, such as REW, and a recently improved measurement interface option. That option is the Linear Audio Autoranger Mk II Interface, which audioXpress’ Technical Editor Jan Didden designed a few years ago and which is now available as an improved Mk II version. This article was originally published in audioxpress, April 2020.
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Neodymium - The Perfect Storm... Part 2 - Recycling Loudspeaker Neodymium Magnets
by Mike Klasco

Neodymium - The Perfect Storm... Part 2 - Recycling Loudspeaker Neodymium Magnets

In this article, Mike Klasco provides a unique overview of the neodymium supply chain, rare earth minerals trade, and its implications for the loudspeaker industry. Part 1 of the article explored the Chinese influence on the supply chain for rare earth ores and how that might have strategic implications if the trade wars between countries. This article was originally published in The Audio Voice newsletter of August 23 and 30, 2018. An extended version, also divided in two parts, was later published in Voice Coil magazine in November and December 2018.
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Fresh From the Bench: Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Powered Speakers
by Stuart Yaniger

Fresh From the Bench: Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Powered Speakers

Stuart Yaniger reviews the Vanatoo Transparent One Encore speakers, the company’s second successful design since the Vanatoo’s Transparent Zero, which our author discovered and reviewed a few years ago. The new Transparent One Encore speakers clearly benefited from this Transparent Zero development effort to create a much improved model, retailing for just $599 per pair. This article was originally published in audioXpress, February 2020.
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Neodymium - The Perfect Storm... Part 1 - The Neodymium Supply Chain
by Mike Klasco

Neodymium - The Perfect Storm... Part 1 - The Neodymium Supply Chain

In this article, Mike Klasco provides a unique overview of the neodymium supply chain, rare earth minerals trade, and its implications for the loudspeaker industry. Neodymium magnets are a sensitive issue for the future, given the trend for escalating trade skirmishes with China. This article was originally published in The Audio Voice newsletter of August 23 and 30, 2018. An extended version, also divided in two parts, was later published in Voice Coil magazine in November and December 2018.
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Show Report: Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2019
by Oliver A.Masciarotte

Show Report: Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2019

AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) 2019 took place April 12-14 at The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center and Hotel. In this report for audioXpress, Masciarotte spent three days traversing multiple hotel floors packed with listening rooms, which this year included 50 new exhibitors, and writes about all the product highlights in most categories, from speakers to headphones, electronics and the traditional oddities. This article was originally published in audioXpress, August 2019.
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Fresh From the Bench: Cambridge Audio Edge W Power Amplifier
by Oliver A.Masciarotte

Fresh From the Bench: Cambridge Audio Edge W Power Amplifier

Oliver Masciarotte and Stuart Yaniger tested Cambridge Audio’s Edge series power amplifier, the Edge W, which the British manufacturer introduced in 2018 as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. audioXpress submitted this design, which claimed to be the culmination of the brand’s audio engineering expertise, to extensive listening and measurement sessions. This article was originally published in audioXpress, January 2020.
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