Open Baffle Experience


Much has been said about open baffles, including an epic website by the late, great Dr. Linkwitz but I've only heard them really once, playing absolutely garbage music (thanks Pure Audio!) at a hotel.

I'm talking here about dynamic drivers in single baffles without enclosures, not ESLs or Magneplanar type systems.

I'm curious who has had them, and who kept them or went back to "conventional" boxes?

I'm not really looking to buy speakers, but I did start thinking about this because of a kit over at Madisound made with high quality drivers.

 

 

erik_squires

That is not true. Open baffle designs are WRONG. They emit sound that is out of phase out the back end. If you can show me an open baffle design that can emit sound IN PHASE not OUT OF PHASE from the back end then I will happily throw my box speakers away and we can all enjoy perfect sound with no cabinet resonances. I dare you

Out of phase compared to what?
It is more like they are focussed way back at infinity.

Just like back in your other post about about time domain, I am wondering what measurements would tell us whether these baffle speakers are more or less right than a box speaker??

 

Out of phase compared to what? It is more like they are focussed way back at infinity.

The front and back waves are not in time with each other. Show me an open baffle that has both back and front in time.

I am wondering what measurements would tell us whether these speaker are more or less right than a box speaker??

the frequency response is a mess.

@jaytor , I am a huge open baffle fan. I have been using open baffle loudspeakers exclusively since 1979, they are called ESLs. They are full range (except sub bass) line source dipoles. The entire range from 100 Hz to 20 kHz is open. I also have been building subwoofers since 1993. You can see my shop on my system page.

Granted, subwoofer enclosures are a royal PITA but trying to use an open baffle driver at wavelengths between 10 and 40 feet is a hopelessly inefficient way of going about making sub bass. What you have are floor shakers. It is also not about what you hear down there but what you feel. Who knows? Given the crappy construction quality of most subwoofer enclosures you might be better off where you are.

Just wanted to point out that I do hope to keep this thread focused on those using dynamic drivers instead of ESLs. 

Eric, click on my UN then click on picture to see my OB Emerald Physics 3.4s. You will notice 4 tall black tubes, 2 by the speakers and 2 on each side of my soon to be replaced vertical rack with a horizontal 2" thick solid Maple table. The 2 by the rack have been moved to the opposite sides of the 3.4s. The Oppo 105 was sold, and a LSA Voyager GaN 350 replaced the EVS 1200 and the subs were sold. I have recently rewired the entire system with Ali-E Odin Gold IC/PCs and Odin 2 speaker cables + 2 PCs from Amazon one from 20amp dedicated line to my Core Power 1800 and the Audio Alchemy PS 5, outboard PS

EPs can be picked up rather inexpensively if you have the patience