do-it-yourself amp upgrade

48 Pages·2011·13.35 MB·English

A N I N T E R VI E W WI T H E D D E L L , PA G E 17
O C T O B E R 2 0 1 1
US $7.00/Canada $10.00
Tube, Solid State,
Loudspeaker Technology
DO-IT-YOURSELF
AMP UPGRADE
High-End Speakers
and Audio Tech
A Simple
Yet Effective
Hybrid Design
PLUS
• A Full-Range Driver on the Test Bench
• Inside InfoComm 2011: Exhibits, Standards, and Music
• Hot Products: MIDI USB Host, Audio Dev Kit, and More!
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C O N T E N T S
VoLumE 42 numbEr 10 oCTobEr 2011
THE STAFF
FEATURES
publisher
full-range driver test infocomm 2011 Hugo Van haecke
An expert puts a new driver on the test bench The Center of IT All
C. J. Abate........................................Editor-in-Chief
By Vance Dickason..............................................8 The inside scoop on InfoComm 2011
Shannon Becker.............................Associate Editor
By David J. Weinberg.........................................32
KC Prescott.................................................Graphics
munich HigH eNd audio fair 2011 Shannon Barraclough...............Marketing Director
A look at the exciting audio tech on display in munich Jeff Yanco..................................................Controller
By Ward Maas...................................................36 Debbie Lavoie.............................Customer Service
Valerie Luster..............Administrative Coordinator
David J. Weinberg.........................Technical Editor
Jan Didden......................................Technical Editor
regular contributors
Erno Borbely Chuck Hansen
p. 8 Richard Campbell G.R. Koonce
Dennis Colin Tom Lyle
Spreading the word Joseph D’Appolito James Moriyasu
The Joy of Making Things Vance Dickason Nelson Pass
An interview with Edward T. Dell Jan Didden Richard Pierce
By Jan Didden....................................................17 p. 37 Bill Fitzmaurice David A. Rich
James T. Frane Paul Stamler
upgrading the phase Linear 200
amplifier DEPARTMENTS Gary Galo David J. Weinberg
Advertising Department
Tips for upgrading your amplifier
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By Patrick Brunner.............................................26 from the editor's desk.............................6 1187 Washington St.
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use a valve for the pre-amplifier and a moSFET in the
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audioXpress October 2011 5
From the Editor's Desk
Audio Events, Tech, and Projects
s many of you know, the a coincidence. The editorial staffs of In addition to useful product up-
Elektor group, which all the magazines search the globe dates and audio event reviews, we’re
A
owns this publication, on a daily basis to find the most running technical articles on a test
also publishes several relevant content for their readers. In of a 6.5" full-range driver (p. 8), an
other distinguished periodicals, turn, each magazine features arti- upgrade of a Phase Linear 200 amp
including Elektor, Voice Coil, The cles about exciting ideas, topics, and (p. 26), and a simple hybrid amp
World Tube Directory, The Loud- technologies from talented authors design (p. 30). I also hope you’ll
speaker Industry Sourcebook, and from around the globe. enjoy the two special sections we
Circuit Cellar. Although each This issue highlights just how included. On page 17 we’re pre-
magazine has its own focus, many well audioXpress fits in the Elek- senting an in-depth interview with
readers will be interested in more tor group’s catalog of publications. publishing legend Ed Dell. And
than one of them. Why? Two com- We’re delivering on the promise I on page 42, we test your audio tech
monalities stand out. One is the made in the September issue. You’re skills with a crossword puzzle.
technical nature of the content we getting more content and we’re I’m confident you’ll enjoy this
present. We deliver essential in- broadening audioXpress’s coverage. issue. I promise it’s both education-
formation for competent profes- Let’s review. al and entertaining. Let me know
sionals, hobbyists, and enthusiasts This issue has an international what you think!
on a variety of technical topics so flavor, with authors from the U.S.
they can excel at their workplaces and The Netherlands. We also pro- Regards,
and home workbenches. The sec- vide coverage of audio events in such
ond similarity is the international diverse cities as Orlando (p. 32) and C. J. Abate
scope of each publication. This isn’t Munich (p. 36). [email protected]
@audioXP_editor @audioXP_editor
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audioXpress October 2011 7
test bench
By Vance Dickason (United States)
Full-Range Driver Test
A test of the Dayton Audio 6.5" PS180-8 full-range driver
he driver I am testing is a response. Compliance
new one from Dayton Audio, is provided by an “M”
T
the full-range 6.5" PS180-8 shaped pleated cloth
(Photo 1). Large diameter surround, making the
(5.25"-8") full-range drivers have a format a lot like a pro
rather cult following in the world of sound driver, using the
audiophile home speakers, both manu- same techniques to
factured and DIY built. Fostex was achieve high efficiency.
probably one the early providers of This was done so as to
transducers for this type of driver and make the driver easier
is still popular today. Other driver to drive with low Watt
manufacturers such as Lowther and class A amplifiers such
Mark Audio have also figured promi- as single triode tube de-
nently in this type of format. signs. Remaining com-
When I was a judge at one of Parts pliance comes from a
Express’s sponsored DIY speaker con- 3.5" diameter flat cloth Photo 1: The new full-range 6.5" PS180-8 driver from Dayton Audio
tests a few years back, certainly large spider.
diameter (6.5" and 8") full-range driv- The motor design on
ers were well represented. The feeling the Dayton PS180 is rather sophis- vents such as pole or peripheral back
among the group of practitioners in ticated (due in part to the transducer plate vents are used.) Last the voice
this narrow spectrum of loudspeaker consulting work performed by Patrick coil is terminated to a pair of chrome-
design formats is that a well executed Turnmire of Red Rock Acoustics) and color coated push terminals. Cosmeti-
full-range 6.5" is capable of providing includes an undercut T-pole with a cally speaking, this is very good-look-
the most “realistic” audio experience of copper cap as well as a copper-plated ing driver.
any other format. Enter the new Day- articulated phase plug/shorting gap I began analysis of the PS180 using
ton PS180 full-range 6.5" neodymium glued to the top of the pole (this will the LinearX LMS analyzer and Vibox
motor transducer. be obvious when you see the shallow to create both voltage and admit-
Starting with the frame, PE utilized reactive upper rise in the driver’s 1-V tance (current) curves with the driver
cast aluminum frame incorporating six impedance curve). clamped to a rigid test fixture in free-
5-mm diameter vent holes in the area The neodymium ring magnet motor air at 0.3 V, 1 V, 3 V, 6 V, and 10 V. As
below the spider mounting shelf, plus is FEA designed using a 1" diameter with almost all 6.5" drivers, the 10-V
the frame well as providing a heat- voice coil with copper wire wound on a curves were too nonlinear for LEAP
sink for the neodymium motor. The non-conducting Kapton former. Motor to get a reasonable curve fit and were
cone assembly is comprised of a light- parts, the T-yoke and front plate are discarded.
weight paper cone and paper whizzer coated with a black heat emissive coat- As has become the protocol for Test
cone to extend the upper frequency ing for improved cooling (no other Bench testing, I no longer use a single
Table 1: Dayton Audio PS180-8 full-range
Impedance vs Freq
100 Ohm
TSL model LTD mode Factory
50
sample 1 sample 2 sample 1 sample 2
F 55.9Hz 51.7Hz 54.2Hz 50.1Hz 48.2Hz 20
S
R 6.38 6.18 6.38 6.18 6.32
SdEV C 0.0137 0.0137 0.0137 0.0137 NA 10
Q 4.16 5.91 4.09 6.13 3.86
MS 5
Q 0.31 0.27 0.34 0.30 0.24
ES
Q 0.29 0.27 0.31 0.29 0.23
TS
V 29.9 ltr 35.0 ltr 2.1 ltr 37.6 ltr 40.5 ltr 2
AS
SPL 2.83V 94.2dB 94.3dB 93.6dB 93.8dB 94.7dB
X 4.6mm 4.6mm 4.6mm 4.6mm 4.6mm 110 Hz 20 50 100 200 500 1K 2K 5K 10K 20K
MAX
Map Fig5u9:r 1eV 1: Dayton Audio PS180 full-range, free-air impedance plot
Notes
8 audioXpress 10/11 www.audioXpress.com
4.6.0.371 Person: Project: Jun 21, 2011
May/29/2007 Company: File: VC May 11.lib Tue 11:59 am
aauuddiiooXXpprreessss OOccttoobbeerr 22001111 99
SPL vs Freq
110dBSPL
105
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
6010 Hz 20 50 100 200 500 1K
MapFigur111e777135 ::: PPP2SSS111:888 000 Dvvvttt112a 272...858y3V3VV t1 F0Fo233.==n786d90B HHzzAudio177 : PPSS1801 vt81 70.5V 1c01odBmputer box simulations (black solid = Figure 6: Klippel Analyzer Bl Symmetry Range curve for the Dayton Audio PS180
vented 1 at 2.83 V; Blue dash = vented 2 at 2.83 V; black solid = vented 1
Notesat 7.5 V; blue dash = 2 vented at 7.5 V)
Enclosure Person: Project: Jun 21, 2011
5.2.0.363 May/14/2007 Shop Company: File: VC Jan 11.led Tue 12:01 pm
Time vs Freq
20m Sec
15m
10m
5m
010 Hz 20 50 100 200 500 1K
MapFigure1177 26:: 322..88:33 VV GGGrrooruuopp DDueellpaayy delay curves for the 2.83-V curves in Figure 2 Figure 7: Klippel Analyzer Mechanical Stiffness of Suspension Kms (X) curve
for the Dayton Audio PS180
Notes
5.2.0.363 May/14/2007 ESnhcolposure CPoemrspoann:y:Excursion vsF ilFe: VrPCreo Jjeqacnt :11.led TJuuen 1221:,0 210 p1m1
10m M
5m
2m
1m
500u
200u
100u10 Hz 20 50 100 200 500 1K
Map Fig11u7748r:: 7Ee.x5c Vu 4Ersxico:un r SsCipoknorne excursion curves for the 7.5-V curves in Figure 3
Figure 8: Klippel Analyzer Kms Symmetry Range curve for the Dayton Audio PS180
Notes
Enclosure Person: Project: Jun 21, 2011
5.2.0.363 May/14/2007 Shop Company: File: VC Jan 11.led Tue 12:03 pm
Figure 5: Klippel Analyzer Bl (X) curve for the Dayton Audio PS180 Figure 9: Klippel Analyzer L(X) curve for the Dayton Audio PS180
10 audioXpress 10/11 www.audioXpress.com