Audio & Visual Article OptionsMain MenuNews CategoriesView / Search Options
Pressblog Stats
Thursday 8 January 2009 total articles: 242 total publishers: 77 total authors: 84 total unique visits: 184079 total visits: 890676 newest publisher: joeriz
|
Home
" 886 fixings are put in by hand from the inside to hold everything together. Naturally, attention to specific torque tightening is also applied to relevant fixings. "
Friday 17 November 2006
By Shabir Bhatti (Exclusive)
AC / Part 1 of 3
"Why do you want so much money for your products? What do I get for my money over all the nice looking shinny box’s & shapes available today from well branded manufacturers for a fraction less money?"
Hello everyone - now that is a mouthful for a heading. If I may grasp your attention for a few minutes, I will endeavor to put forth a fundamental and unique approach to something that has not changed for some time and hopefully at the end you may ponder and question and even possibly want to audition an Audio Acoustic product.
Below is a brief amount of what goes into an Audio Acoustics loudspeaker. The facts only. No B/S. Thank you for reading...
Where does our magic come from?
Well excuse me if I get vague in areas but we have a number of patents and will have to limit specifics. Our loudspeakers have very little in common with conventional cabinets. The research and development of our composite construction has been a substantial multi million pounds investment and labor to technology over a period of 8-plus years ongoing.
We have some very unique findings that alas do not extend from convention in any aspect nor will they integrate any understandings viewed from conventional construction.
We have found that the cabinet is a direct extension to the diaphragm of a drive unit, yet paradoxically at the same time, it is a totally separate and "active" entity on its own and with it own equilibrium in terms of energy incitement and control. This discovery means that even if one is to produce a cabinet out of pure diamond, the fact it has mass will mean it will always be working against itself with the presence of the back wave. So once this eureka moment for me became apparent my objective in producing a stable cabinet has shifted in expectation of form and function forever. Hence arguing over whether a cabinet is made of mdf, steel or any material known to man is but nigh on irrelevant or incredibly moot at best.
All will contain mass and store energy, which in turn will be its downfall and so in convention - one step forward adheres another back at best, though naturally, over engineering has produced some acceptable though convoluted results.
Without specifics, our cabinet wall is constructed from 30-mm material. Adjacent to this is our x factor polymer that controls the inception of resonance's by converting them to heat. Adjacent to this is another 30 mm material, then an adhesive with a multi layer second and a third different layer developed membrane is bonded. Then follows adhesive and 2-mm's of 316 stainless steel plate that is further bonded and substantially bolted through, holding the section together. Finally a layer of specifically developed adhesive attaches a 3rd material that absorbs, redirects and eradicated any two points in a cabinet wall, let alone worrying about parallel sides for standing wave problems. In combination with the flow port, it is a very a clever solution to the internal air compliance problems. Naturally, basic adherences in design to not having any baffles adjacent to a drive unit and “other” basic half attempted efforts to date are addressed to extreme and perfect completeness.
The merits of our work can be clearly seen and demonstrated in three main alternatives, which offer a level of competence though only in areas of presentation i.e:
1. The resolution and dynamics of a great horn or compression sensitive system demonstrates dynamics and clarity beyond reproach, but works only in a small bandwidth before being plagued by distorting within a few octaves or SPD at best.
2. A total alternative to this type of cabinet is the electrostatic with its breathtaking lack of box coloration naturally and transparency coupled with miniscule levels of distortion. Downside is the limited bandwidth and the lack of moving any air to produce a complete concept.
3. Lastly a conventional passive box, be it substantial in construction lacks the other two technology merits though can move air and produce ample uncontrolled resonance's at the bottom of the bandwidth; combined with and an overall integrity of compromise.
These three approaches show us how Fundamental the cabinet is.
Now the Sapphire gives you the benefits of all without the compromise of any.
I will not for obvious reasons elaborate. Suffice to say the finest and eminent speaker manufactures today are the ones who have an understanding of cabinet importance, and when questioned they may accept that at best - as high as a 33% balance between cabinet, component, and driver exists; though we are talking very few people here indeed. Our findings are different.
I would like to take this opportunity to mention also, how a drive unit functions without resonance's interacting with its own function is also a valid point overlooked. Our cabinets are designed and constructed to allow the drive unit to be an independent separate entity, allowed to function on its own without interference of any kind. The cabinet is a separate structure, independent of it components function and own distortion noise floor levels! Aah! As is the entire electronic system within. The signal path this way is totally isolated and unaffected by resonances removed from start to finish. This leaves each finite component to function independently and is a bit like potting a crossover network - but we pot the whole loudspeaker!
I have an interesting-not/repeated comment that seems to raise it’s ugly head repeatedly that I think is paramount to address and mention - to separate the Sapphire. People seem obsessed with the size of the drivers and the fact that it has a diamond diaphragm or not. Yes I am the first to believe in moving air and hardness of material, but this seems to be there beginning and ending to a good loudspeaker system's judgment and sentencing. I would like to get a moot but absolute point across and that is that if the driver is not allowed to function, then it is irrelevant what the unit is made from within scope naturally.
I can get a lot more out of a sapphire hf and spend the money on a competent structure for it to be allowed to work than buying a trophy diamond hf for marketing purposes, a spec sheet and then place in a pointless passive thick box. The best component in the world is of little use, if used without company that is executed to the same finite unsurpassed design and execution of standard!
Naturally, the cosmetics of the cabinet in visual design and function were done over a two-year period to produce form and function and to compliment completeness with a level of timeless beauty, which will compliment traditional and contemporary surroundings.
Hence, the sapphire is at home at the end of a high quality AV set up or a state-of-the-art 2-channel system.
The cabinet finish was co-developed with a British lacquers specialist. Particles are suspended in 16 coats over a substantial base coat process. This in turn is sanded down repeatedly from coarse to extreme fine. Time consuming lengths to a finer and finer sanded flat finish, then the polish is applied and buffed to a mirror finish. The Finnish is incomparable to any product or automotive paint finish available today. The process is extensive, long and a true labor of love with patients to produce the final results.
The cabinets are cleverly executed. If one contemplates the complexity of construction, it would be difficult to build it in a square box let alone a excessive shape of beauty, so the construction has been designed in modular plate sections. 886 fixings are put in by hand from the inside to hold everything together. Naturally, attention to specific torque tightening is also applied to relevant fixings. Once all the resins/polymers and adhesives go on, it creates a whole homogenous unit.
Part 2 continues in a seperate article...
(AC / Part 2 of 3)
| Click image to enlarge
|
Audio Acoustics, Sapphire TI-C SE, Sapphire, Reference, Fundamental, Loudspeaker, Speakers, Shabir Bhatti,
|
|
