[RonB]

Hello-I'm a fairly new "AudioCircle" member & only by asking a speaker question through another post have I felt led here...my question is: what makes open baffle speakers so unique/special?
How & where can I research their history & what makes they're construction & components w/ their resulting sound so special?

[raov1]

http://www.melhuish.org/audio/baffle.html]http://www.melhuish.org/audio/baffle.html

http://members.myactv.net/~je2a3/open.htm]http://members.myactv.net/~je2a3/open.htm

http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/speaker_comp/overview_1.shtml]http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/speaker_comp/overview_1.shtml

http://www.quarter-wave.com/Project07/Project07.html]http://www.quarter-wave.com/Project07/Project07.html

http://www.geocities.com/dmitrynizh/labaffles.htm]http://www.geocities.com/dmitrynizh/labaffles.htm

Regards

[Rudolf]

... what makes they're construction & components w/ their resulting sound so special?

It boils down to two areas:

• no in-box-effects like standing waves and reflections in the box. This applies mainly to mid and high frequencies.
• different interaction with the room acoustics because of the dipole radiation pattern. This applies mainly to low frequencies.

For the first area you could just read whatever you want about dampening a box or through-cone-reflections - and feel lucky that it does not apply here.
For the second area you should try to understand the following links:
http://www.linkwitzlab.com/rooms.htm#A
http://www.linkwitzlab.com/rooms.htm#B and chapters "C1" - "C3" down the page.

[mcgsxr]

The Linkwitz information is complete, but for me too technical.  I simply read the experiences and comments of others, and eventually took the leap.  I chose the b200 Visaton, but there are other cheaper drivers that will get you in the know quickly.  The CSS FR125 for example, is a great little driver (also available from DIY Cable in the US) and will give you some insight into the sound of OB.

Entrancing voices, and dimensionality are what do it for me.

Bass can be a pain, but that is subjective, and since I don't "grok" that much of the science, I am left with guided experimentation, which fits my personality anyway.