Speaker design myths revealed


I found this at the Jordan web site. Maybe the experts can say whether this is true or not. I will say I have not heard the big improvement with a narrow baffle vs. wide baffle that I am "suopposed" to.
Q: In your VTL box design, why is the JX92S fitted in the wide face when it is common knowledge that the box should be as narrow as possible?

A: 'Common knowledge' and scientific fact are often very different. The narrow front face is a fashion concept supported by some very questionable marketing rational. The indisputable scientific fact is that the ideal mounting for a loudspeaker is an infinitely large flat baffle and this is the concept used for all loudspeaker analyses. A wide baffle always sounds better.

Q: What are the recommended advantages of positioning loudspeakers as close to the wall as possible?

A: This positioning secures, to some extent, the advantages described in the previous question. In addition it minimises the time delayed reflections from the rear wall which contribute to confused imaging.

Q: Will placing next to a wall ruin the stereo image?

A: We cannot see any reason why this would impair imaging. Possibly more than any other manufacturer, we have concerned ourselves with accurate and stable imaging and certainly would not promote a design that would impair this.
cdc
I give you the one about the circular baffle, was mostly to show the size problem with open baffles.
With regards to the infinite baffle let me quote the "Audio & HiFi Engineers handbook":
'Infinite Baffle
The rear wave is'smothered' by mounting the speaker at the front of a sealed box.'
Where,then, is the difference between IB and closed box?
Now I am baffled.
Completely different system parametres... one is a relatively small box trying to absorb the back wave and operating partly in 2pi and 4pi, the other has complete separation of the front & back waves (as in the driver mounted in a wall) the separator being larger ("infinite")than the longest wavelength reproduced by the transducer (i.e. radiates 2pi always).
Cheers
Ok everywhere I searched I can only find IB=sealed box,even in some white papers and the relevant formulae are identical. Also at least two manufacturers(Linn,Quested) refer to their closed box designs as IB's. Driver manufacturers too use the terms interchangebly.
So could you elucidate a bit more on the differences?
Thanks
Golix: differences basically as above, in my 1st answer to your post.
It dawns on me (belatedly) that what you read in the handbook probably refers to the fact that the closed box is an approximation of an IB -- since it's quite impractical to install drivers on the front wall of our house, the back wave radiating into the street beyond:)

Some differences, as above, the IB completely separates front & back waves; the box does not (because the enclosure radiates sound). The IB (take a wall of yr house, for example) is larger (i.e. infinite) than the longest wave-length radiated by the driver...
Of course the resulting ectromechanical system parametres of the two systems are completely different too. Cheers!
golix@macunlimited.net...The term "sealed box" means that the box is relatively small and air tight so that air compressed within the box contributes much of the spring effect on the driver cone. Because of the air spring (which is very linear) the mechanical cone suspension of the driver must be very soft and floppy.

Infinite baffle is also a sealed box, but it is so large, and imperfectly sealed, that there is essentially no spring provided by air pressure. Accordingly the mechanical cone suspension must be designed to do the job without any help. A typical IB installation would be a large LF driver mounted in a door leading to the attic.
Parts Express sells some drivers that are designed for IB use.