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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
simonmoon's avatar
simonmoon
526 posts
 
In fact there’s no clear evidence that even the original cone material (paper) has ever truly been improved upon.

I believe, it is pretty demonstrable, that other materials other than paper, are: lower in resonance, lighter (improving transient response), stiffer (decreased flexing lowering distortion), better magnet materials and coil materials, better damped, and more.

Yes, there are some great paper divers around (SB Acoustics Egyption papyrus mids, for example), but even these have a lot of technology beyond original paper cone materials.

Two recent approaches I am aware of include the Monopulse designs which are distinctly different with their obsessive devotion to timing to merit an audition.

The other is the approach taken by the Ohm Walsh 2000s which are steadily generating a good word of mouth following.

Also, check into bending wave technology, as produced by Goebel speakers. They are pretty impressive, to say the least.
cd318
2,636 posts
 
@simonmoon  Taken from their website - "Continuous Bandwidth

The Göbel Carbon Excellence bending wave loudspeaker has a continuous bandwidth from 170 Hz to over 31.000 Hz with only one driver! Through this seamless coverage of the entire frequency range, all problems with phase and time are completely solved from the outset."


Impressive specs to go with a no less impressive price tag. I think Zu have tried to do something similar but only the other way around with the tweeter lending only the smallest of hands. 

The day when a single driver can handle the entire frequency range from 20 Hz - 20 kHz (or even say 40Hz - 20Hz) will be a great one for audio playback. 

The next major step in loudspeaker design?






johnk's avatar
johnk OP
1,975 posts
 
I've worked with a lot of mangers and have heard other types. I see a good num of design flaws in the Gobel and its nothing new. 
johnk's avatar
johnk OP
1,975 posts
 
http://www.itishifi.com/2010/05/western-electric-mother-of-all-coax.html
larryi
4,047 posts
 
Wow, that coax looks interesting.  Now if they only made a coax with a 597 tweeter in the center.  I have been sort of casually looking at an M10 and 597 combination.  I also got word that someone I know is selling a pair of drivers that have never been installed that is essentially an M10 without the power supply. 
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