narrow and wide baffles and imaging


According to all the "professional" audio reviews that I've read over the last several years, narrow baffles are crucial to creating that so-desired pin-point imaging.

However, over the last few weeks, I've had the opportunity to audition Harbeth 40.2, Spendor Classic 100, Audio Note AN-E, and Devore O/93.  None of these had deficient imaging; indeed I would go so far as to say that it was good to very good.

So, what gives?  I'm forced to conclude that modern designs, 95% of which espouse the narrow baffle, are driven by aesthetic/cosmetic considerations, rather than acoustical ones, and the baffle~imaging canard is just an ex post facto justification.

I can understand the desire to build speakers that fit into small rooms, are relatively unobtrusive, and might pass the SAF test, but it seems a bit much to add on the idea that they're essentially the only ones that will do imaging correctly.



128x128twoleftears
melbguyone
All I can say is i’ve read several reports from other owners who have experienced this behaviour at high volumes. With the Beta’s ...
There are a lot of poorly maintained, poorly modified and even abused Infinity IRS Beta systems out there, so there's nothing you might read that would surprise me. I bought my Beta system new and haven't had any of these issues. That's not to say that I haven't had issues, of course - the system is about 30 years old - but it plays loud with aplomb, and has actually been quite serviceable.
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melbguyone
I provided a technical basis to support my contention which you chose to ignore ...
I didn’t ignore your "technical basis" at all, I just don’t think it supports your claim that Infinity L-EMIMs are prone to "rattling." Instead, I provided the results of about 30 years of first-hand experience, as opposed to your remark:
All I can say is i’ve read several reports from other owners
In fact, in all my conversations with other IRS Beta owners, I've never heard the complaint you cite. If the Beta has a weak link, most think it's the EMIMs, not the L-EMIMs. That's why I have spares - although I haven't needed them.
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melbguyone

you’ve concluded your individual experience trumps that data
Yes, certainly. Your data does reveal differences between the two generations of L-EMIMs, but you haven’t shown any correlation between that data and actual, real-world performance or the defect "rattling" hearsay that you repeat. So yes, the experience I’ve had over decades of use, combined with confirmed first-hand reports from other users, trumps your hearsay and "data" acquired from other sources.

If my L-EMIMs suddenly start rattling next week, I’ll be sure to let you know.