do-it-yourself amp upgrade PDF
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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! www.audioXpress.com 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 Strategic Media Marketing By Patrick Brunner.............................................26 from the editor's desk.............................6 1187 Washington St. products & News...............................39–41 Gloucester, MA 01930 crossword...............................................42 Peter Wostrel marketplace...........................................43 Phone: 978-281-7708 XpreSSmail.....................................44–45 Fax: 978-281-7706 E-mail: [email protected] ad index..................................................46 classifieds..............................................46 Erica Fienman Advertising/Account Coordinator p. 29 audioXpress (uS ISSn 1548-6028) is published monthly, at $50 per year for the u.S., at $62 per year for Canada/mexico, at $85 per year Foreign/roW, by Simple Hybrid amp WEBSITES YOU SHOULD KNOW: Segment LLC, Hugo Van haecke, publisher, at www.audioamateurinc.com 4 Park St., Vernon, CT, 06066, u.S.A. Periodical rates paid at use a valve for the pre-amplifier and a moSFET in the www.audioxpress.com Vernon, CT and additional offices. output stage www.voicecoilmagazine.com By Frans Janssens.............................................30 www.cc-webshop.com PoSTmASTEr: Send address changes to: audioXpress, Segment LLC, 4 Park St., Vernon, CT 06066, u.S.A. SubScriptioN/cuStomer Service iNquirieS E-mail: [email protected]. Or online at cLaSSifiedS & web LiStiNgS A one-year subscription (12 issues) to the printed www.audioXpress.com Contact Erica Fienman, Advertising Department, audioX- edition is $50 for U.S., $62 for Canada/Mexico, or press, Segment LLC, 4 Park St., Vernon, CT, 06066, or by $85 for Foreign/ROW. A one-year subscription to For gift subscriptions please include gift recipient’s name telephone, 860-875-2199, or by fax, 860-871-0411. LegaL Notice the digital edition is $50 for 12 issues worldwide. A and your own, with remittance. A gift card will be sent. 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E-mail is required for the digital edition. will not answer technical queries by telephone. 4 audioXpress 10/11 www.audioXpress.com 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 #acoustics#amps#analog#audio#audioxpress#bass#decibels#digital #disc#drivers#glassaudio#headphones#hometheater#loudspeakers #potentiometer#preamps#sound#treble#tubes#turntable#voicecoil Interact • with the audioXpress editorial department • Keep updated on new audio products informed • Stay on audio industry news upcoming • Learn about events, conferences, and more Follow us on Twitter 6 audioXpress 10/11 www.audioXpress.com The Best in Audio and Electronics from McGraw-Hill! Designing Audio Power The TAB Guide to Master Handbook of Principles of Digital Audio, Amplifiers Vacuum Tube Audio Acoustics, Fifth Edition Sixth Edition by Bob Cordell by Jerry C. Whitaker by F. Alton Everest & by Ken Pohlmann 978-0-07-164024-4 978-0-07-175321-0 Ken Pohlmann 978-0-07-166346-5 978-0-07-160332-4 22 Radio and Receiver Build Your Own Free-to-Air Teardowns: Learn How Projects for the Evil Genius (FTA) Satellite TV System Electronics Work by Taking by Tom Petruzzellis by Dennis C. Brewer Them Apart 978-0-07-148929-4 978-0-07-177515-1 By Bryan Bergeron Foreword by Forrest M. Mims III 978-0-07-171334-4 Place your order today and save! Visit www.mhprofessional.com TM and use promo code AUDX1011 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
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