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Gilmore Audio planars revealed

The Gilmore Audio speaker have finally been photographed for the world to see: Gilmore Audio

Disclaimer - I'm a dealer for the Gilmores, though at this point I'm still awaiting my first pair, as they haven't begun shipping yet.

The Gilmores push the edge of the envelope for planar technology in several areas. Innovations include an extremely thin (3 mil) Kapton diaphragm; bass extension to below 20 Hz; easy 8-ohm load combined with 92 dB efficiency (you can drive 'em with Atma-Sphere M-60's!); and maximum output level in the mid to upper 120's.

Designer Mark Gilmore is the webmaster of the Atma-Sphere Owner's Group website, as well as of the Sound Lab Owner's Group site. He's been around for a while, but this is his first commercial loudspeaker design (to the best of my knowledge).

I haven't heard 'em yet so can't comment on the sound (I know, that's all that really matters after all). I'm expecting a pair before the end of the year, and will post comments then.

Duke
audiokinesis
metralla
945 posts
 
But you do agree that the membrane can be lighter than the total mass of the air it moves.

A confusing statement. In a longitudinal wave (such as a sound wave), molecules of "air" are displaced from a median position by varying amounts producing regions of compression (as the membrane moves forward) and rarefaction (as the membrane moves backwards) along the axis of propagation. The molecules end up where they started once the wave has passed. The wave moves - the air does not.

The very basis of a wave is the transmission of energy without the transport of matter.

I agree that it is desirable to have a membrane with as low a mass as possible without sacrificing stiffness. The thickness achieved in the design you are referring to is amazing.

Regards,
cdc
1,692 posts
 
A 2 ton jet is lighter than the air it displaces too. Otherwise could'nt get off the ground.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,150 posts
 
Sellerwithintegrity, your answer to my question is somewhat evasive. Are you saying that the speaker can produce a 127dB signal level from 17Hz all the way up to the speaker's upper frequency limits at the recommended seating distance? Is there absolutely no output compression until 127dB is reached? And yes, it is hard to believe that a sixty inch ribbon (the width is unspecified, but doesn't appear to be more than 2 inches wide) can produce a 127dB output level. It will be interesting to see if any independent sources can verify you bold claims. BTW, 127dB is about as loud as jet takeoff on the runway. It's really, really LOUD!
jimbo3
304 posts
 
Man, who keeps changing the laws of physics around here?! Only Congress can do that! Well, maybe the UN can, too, but they don't wanna.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
There are people who say that a solid state "watt" is different from a tube "watt". Maybe these are some different kind of dB.
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