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Tech That Flopped!

Every few months someone releases technology that seems to be revolutionary, but goes nowhere a couple of years later. Some tech gets acceptance and even imitation. Some goes wildly successful.

Ideas that are a huge success:
  • Acoustic suspension
  • Bass Reflex
  • Soft dome tweeters
Some ideas, well, it's not so clear:
  • Perfectly time aligned speakers ilke Thiel/Vandersteen
  • ESL
  • Line Arrays
  • Plasma tweeters
  • Transmission line
What tech have you seen come and go, was it worthwhile?

Best,

E
erik_squires
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,723 posts
 
The confusion comes from the older generic bass reflex enclosures that extended LF by adding almost random bass emphases at varying frequencies.  I had a few of these.

Change came from the application of filter theory as exemplified by Olsen, Beranek,Theile, Small and others so that tuned vented enclosures can offer controlled performance.

Semantics, I guess.
Post removed 
donvito101
278 posts
 
@erik_squires
I think you need to do a little more research . Sealed does not mean Acoustic suspension. Here you go!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustic_suspension
erik_squires OP
16,909 posts
 
Donvito,

1 - The point is, acoustic suspension, since it’s commercialization by Acoustic Research, is one of the two most common technologies used in home hi-fi speaker systems. Bass Reflex accounting for the rest, and horn and TL speakers a fraction of the total.

2 - Can you point me to any sealed speaker makers who claim to not use acoustic suspension?

We are talking about cabinets and dynamic drivers here, right?


Best,


E
donvito101
278 posts
 
Any current LS3/5A type speaker does not make that claim. BTW,please name the ones that do!
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