Single Driver Theory
After a combined 22 yrs of my late boss’ research and our own, we have developed a type of single driver speaker that fulfills all the fabled possibilities of the single driver speaker that have been hitherto hard to obtain for most speaker manufacturers. Below are design features that separate us from the myriad of speakers that are using the same nearly 50 yr old outdated technology of the crossover and multiple driver speaker model.
Through our single driver technology, we are employing one polypropylene composite speaker that produces a broad spectrum of sound. This driver is then coupled with a very fast, accurate, deep subwoofer that provides a full, uninterrupted frequency from the top to the bottom of the frequency range. Polypropylene composite allows the driver to have definition without having a slight metal cast like some metal composite speaker drivers or be too dull like many paper cones.
The face area where the speaker sits is also minimized to diminish high frequency reflection, which gives better location to the speaker. It also helps to make the speakers disappear into the sound stage and give a wide airy presentation.
The drivers we use for the speakers have an impregnated cloth surround. Both foam and rubber are to a degree both sound absorbing and resistant to the natural motion of the driver, thus, slowing it down, and decreasing quickness in the driver, which translates into highs that are not as accurate, clear, spacious or airy. Definition of mid range and bass is also effected by a slower, less accurate driver that is inhibited in it’s movement and innate quickness. Voices are also recessed and not as defined in the sound stage. Impregnated cloth allows the driver to move freer and more quickly. The driver, therefore, produces a more accurate, clear, and defined sound. This impregnated cloth surround, actually allows you to use drivers ranging from 4-6.5 inches, and be able to get plenty of top end without a traditional tweeter. Without the cloth surround, voices are recessed and top end is not as clear, defined or spacious, even with other single driver surrounds that employ rubber or foam surrounds.
One of the main advantages of a single driver speaker is that there are no multiple drivers. Multiple drivers not only increase face area, which causes them to not disappear in the sound stage as well, but there is also a distortion caused by sound waves of multiple speakers hitting against each other. It’s as if you throw rocks into a lake. Each rock makes a circular wave, but the more rocks you throw in, the more the waves run into each other.
The tweeter itself is also an issue for most speakers. There is a certain crossover point that you can hear from most tweeters that is in the audible range. Many tweeters, especially those made of metal, have a metalic sheen / flavor to them. This can be heard easiest on music that contains higher pitched female voice.
And lastly, but not least important; a major advantage to our crossoverless speaker design is, in fact, the absence of a crossover. You will find that many even single drivers have crossovers. A crossover is that board that tells the drivers when to fire, what frequency, and which fires first. It’s often called a necessary evil in speaker design. The simple fact is that you cannot have all the drivers firing at the same time with a crossover. One driver will always be first, another will be second, and so on. This timing issue of the drivers causes the speaker to have more distortion, and is responsible for many speakers not being transparent and lacking a “live” real life quality.
