Are there any current high end dipole speakers (dynamic)?
@berner99 you're got it backwards, re. bipolar and dipole. https://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/1190mirage/index.html I'd like to repeat my question: is anyone aware of any currently produced speakers using similar sets of dynamic drivers firing forward and backward in phase? That old Mirage design was surely pretty rare. |
Definitive Technology still makes the bipolar BP-10B. It's comparatively quite inexpensive and I'm sure it's not in the same league as the other speakers mentioned here. But, it's a well made, true bipolar speaker. I have Maggie smmgs and 1.6's, both with magnariser stands. I held on to my Def Tech BP-10's because they are excellent, high-efficient, full range speakers and I obviously like the bipole sound. The Maggie's still rule with more life like sound...especially strings, horns and vocals at a cost of tricky placement and current demands. For low volume night listening, the BP-10's are actually better than the Maggie's. |
I read that there were some open baffles speakers on Capitol Audio Fest (I live in Europe and can't go to American shows). Going to a show is kind of a nice way to see what is out in the market right now, although they tend to mostly show the more expensive stuff. For example Spatial looks interesting and costs $4200 https://www.stereophile.com/content/spatial-m3-sapphire-loudspeakers-linear-tube-audio-z10-integrated-amplifier-lampizator-amber |
Audiokinesis is correct. Berner, A dipole is special because it radiates in a figure 8 pattern. It radiates very little to the sides. A bipole is omnidirectional radiating in a circular pattern. The dipole limits early reflections in the room. If the dipole is a line source the only reflections will be to the front (early) and rear (late) walls. No the side walls, the ceiling or the floor. The early reflection off the front wall is easy to control above 250 Hz. Below 100 Hz were things get critical the best way to deal is with subwoofers right up against the wall and in corners. That way the primary sound wave an first reflection are identical. All this makes room treatment easy. The resultant system will have relatively smooth bass response throughout the room and superior imaging. I am not prone to superlatives but the imaging is vastly superior in all dimensions. Getting a bipole to perform like this is difficult, maybe even impossible. It would require the right room, extensive room treatment and clever set up. Since I am dumb I'll go with the dipole every time:) Mike |
