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Loudspeakers have we really made that much progress since the 1930s?

Since I have a slight grasp on the history or loudspeaker design. And what is possible with modern. I do wonder if we have really made that much progress. I have access to some of the most modern transducers and design equipment. I also have  large collection of vintage.  I tend to spend the most time listening to my 1930 Shearer horns. For they do most things a good bit better than even the most advanced loudspeakers available. And I am not the only one to think so I have had a good num of designers retailers etc give them a listen. Sure weak points of the past are audible. These designs were meant to cover frequency ranges at the time. So adding a tweeter moves them up to modern performance. To me the tweeter has shown the most advancement in transducers but not so much the rest. Sure things are smaller but they really do not sound close to the Shearer.  http://www.audioheritage.org/html/profiles/lmco/shearer.htm
128x128johnk
tmare
44 posts
 
I think this is where the comparison with violins falls apart. In theory there is no ideal violin - they are all different, but in theory there is an ideal speaker. My contention is that with modern methods we can get closer to that ideal.

Which speaker is closest to ideal, and why?
mikewerner
119 posts
 
Has an understanding of the physics involved in making a loudspeaker gone anywhere in the past 80 years? Of course it has. Ideal is a goal.

Colorations, resonances, compression, high harmonic and IM distortion, … BAD- not ideal. 

Consideration of driver integration, radiation pattern, power scaling, low distortion, preservation of dynamics, … GOOD- closer to ideal.  

"Computers; have we made any progress since the 1930's?" Duh.
It's a New World.

One size won't fit all, I know.  
But if you are going to build an airplane you should know that you want to fly. 



inna
7,296 posts
 
Wrong. If you are going to build an airplane you should know that you want to crash in style.
phusis's avatar
phusis
1,204 posts
 
[...] I wish that there were more current makers that are interested in the old-school sound that I like, other than the few makers of ultra expensive and massive systems like those using ALE, Cogent and Goto drivers.

Exactly my thought as well; a more widespread merger between old school design/sound and new(er) technology, so to see these older designs (or what's inspired by them) brought back to life with componentry and construction bang up to date, newer developed horn geometries, etc.
omsed
145 posts
 
Obviously you know the answer, but are having a bit of fun.  Of course sound quality has regressed, if the goal is for the sound to be more reminiscent of real music.  

Speakers are, for the most part, smaller.  But there have been big tradeoffs in efficiency, dynamics, distortion, and ease of the sound.  We are left with poorer speakers that have to work harder and that make larger amps work harder.  That all equals worse sound.  It all makes no sense until you consider the lack of room some folks have and the wife acceptance factor.  Course, most folks could fit larger speakers and they could grow a set so they could negotiate with their wives.  
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