A Speaker without a Cone

[Tiger Bass]

YouTube - Plasma Speaker / Tweeter - Completed Working Setup

[hoss]

Did you know that you can also transmit audio through an electrical discharge from a tesla coil?

Alternative type speakers are pretty cool.

[joetama]

No mass to move so the high frequency range would be limitless.

IIRC there were a few attempts in the past to modulate a burning flame.

[o. l. t.]

Looks like they got shocked at 1:25

[Goremageddon]

no moving mass? hello massive subwoofer with no mass.

[o. l. t.]

Off axis response is terrible though. Once he moves up or down left or right, the mic gets very muffled.

[joetama]

I'm guessing the off axis response is because of the horn loaded type reflector he is using. I would think the spark itself would be pretty omni.

[o. l. t.]

.....but if it needs that reflector for development and compression to radiate, then it suffers the same dependencies as conventional design no matter what the source is.

[joetama]

Maybe... Or he might need to horn load it for amplitude reasons... Who knows. I doubt this would be in a practical application any time soon.

[hoss]

no moving mass? hello massive subwoofer with no mass.
Gotta be able to move a lot of air to generate those longer wavelengths though, bro.
I'm guessing the off axis response is because of the horn loaded type reflector he is using. I would think the spark itself would be pretty omni.

I would think it would be pretty omni as well, but look at magnaplanar speakers. Off-axis response on those suck, and that is sort of similar in concept (except for actually having a physical diaghram to move air).

[joetama]

I don't recall maggies having poor off axis response. Martin logan have good of axis and they are the same thing.

[JimJ]

My Fostexes are a heck of a lot more beamy than the SMGs were...although the Maggies were very sensitive to room interactions.

[JimJ]

They also required enough power to levitate Lisa and Rangerbitch at the same time, hence why I sold them...

[JimJ]

I don't recall maggies having poor off axis response. Martin logan have good of axis and they are the same thing.

Thought MLs were electrostats?

[joetama]

Thought MLs were electrostats?


Same meaning open film type. Not traditional driver in a box.

[joetama]

They also required enough power to levitate Lisa and Rangerbitch at the same time, hence why I sold them...



Old MOS-FET power is what you need for that.

[hoss]

I don't recall maggies having poor off axis response. Martin logan have good of axis and they are the same thing.
Then you must not have a very accurate memory of them bro... Also, as noted below, ML are electrostats, and also look at the face of the ML's. They have a curve in them to help dissipate the wave and improve off axis response.
...although the Maggies were very sensitive to room interactions.
Very much this. Those speakers are rediculously room dependant.
Thought MLs were electrostats?
They are.
Same meaning open film type. Not traditional driver in a box.

No, Magnaplanar and electrostatic are NOT the same type driver. One uses a film between two magnetically charged surfaces, one uses wire ribbons between magnetically charged surfaces. They are similar in that neither has a traditional cone, and both have pretty bad off axis response. They are pretty cool though.

[mrogowski]

if memory serves, magnat was the last (only) company to deploy a plasma tweeter. it didn't last very long.

and yes, dipoles are extremely difficult to get right in a listening room. but when that happens....:jesus:

[junior]

If you want to hear some amazing Electrostatics, hunt down some Quad 2905's or even the 2805's and have a listen. They almost make me want to get rid of my B&W's.

[joetama]

If you want to hear some amazing Electrostatics, hunt down some Quad 2905's or even the 2805's and have a listen. They almost make me want to get rid of my B&W's.


What B&W's are you rocking? Rest of system?

[junior]

What B&W's are you rocking? Rest of system?

I'm running a couple systems right now.

My one is full Rotel. RCD-1072 cd player, RDV-1045 DVD player, RSP 1068 processor, RB-1080 2 channel amp, RMB-1075 5 channel amp, Monster HTS 3500MKII power conditioner, Monster AVS2000 volt regulator, full NBS serpent III cabling and power cords, B&W 604 S3 for fronts, B&W LCR600 center channel, Monitor audio S2's for sides, and B&W 675 sub.

My other system is a Krell 280CD cd player, PS3 for blu-ray/dvd(will be buying the Oppo 95 when released in Feb.), Classe CP500 preamp(trading in for the CP700 very soon), Rotel RSP1098 processor(will be buying the new Rotel processor when it comes out. It looks fucking killer!!!), Cary V12r tube amp for front 2 channels, Rotel RMB-1075 5 channel amp, Monster HTPS 7000 signature power conditioner, Monster AVS2000 signature volt regulator, Full Transparent Audio Ultra cabling and power cords(upgrading to reference series right away), B&W 804S's for fronts, B&W HTM7 for center channel, 4 B&W 604 S3's for sides and rears, and a B&W ASW800 sub.

I have some amps and processors sitting in my closet as well. I'm an audio whore. I get bored/curious real easily and like to try new things.:shrug:

[joetama]

Right on. I'm rocking 703. Audio write whore is a good way to put it.

[junior]

Right on. I'm rocking 703. Audio write whore is a good way to put it.

I remember chatting with you about home gear over on that forbidden car audio site . You had some nice gear as well. I think you had the 1098 processor and you had just purchased a Moon Audio preamp the last I talked to you. Have you changed anything out since then?

[joetama]

Swap amps often. Lol that's about it. I bought a house which is cutting into my hifi money.

My dad just got a Bryson 4bsst2 amp for his 804S system. Jealousy abounds when I'm at my parents house.

[junior]

Swap amps often. Lol that's about it. I bought a house which is cutting into my hifi money.

My dad just got a Bryson 4bsst2 amp for his 804S system. Jealousy abounds when I'm at my parents house.

Bryston is nice stuff. Another great Canadian audio company! :grin3:

BTW, Congrats on the new purchase!