Loudspeaker Design Panel

We’ve assembled some of the world’s greatest loudspeaker designers for this lively and informative Q&A session. Bring your questions about speakers for the foremost experts in the field.
Robert Harley, The Absolute Sound, Moderator
Robert Harley has been the Editor-in-Chief of The Absolute Sound since 2001 and is the author of The Complete Guide to High-End Audio (now in a fourth edition). He is also the editor of, and a key contributor to, The Absolute Sound’s Illustrated History of High-End Audio, Volume One: Loudspeakers, which is the basis for this seminar. Before becoming a full-time audio writer in 1989, Robert worked as a recording engineer, CD mastering engineer, and taught a college degree program in recording engineering.
Panelists
Andrew Jones, ELAC America, VP of Engineering
Andrew Jones is the VP of Engineering for a ELAC America, a newly formed subsidiary of ELAC Germany, founded to bring extraordinary value to speaker products at all price categories. Previously the Director and Chief Engineer of Technical Audio Devices Laboratories, Inc. he has had a long career in the research, development and design of loudspeaker systems, from the research group of Dr. Malcolm Hawksford, to the R&D Department of KEF (ultimately becoming KEF’s Chief Engineer), to the Infinity division of HARMAN International, and for 17 years as Director of speaker engineer for Pioneer and TAD.
Michael Borreson, Raidho Acoustics, Chief Designer & President
Michael Borreson has been building loudspeakers as a hobby since childhood and professionally with Raidho Acoustics for the last 15 years. He has an MSc degree in mechanical engineering in materials and vibration. His principle area of focus has been on the materials science of loudspeaker driver development, along with the complex interaction of speakers vs. human hearing and psychoacoustic capabilities. www.raidho.dk
Richard Vandersteen, Vandersteen Audio, Owner
Richard Vandersteen founded Vandersteen Audio, one of the most successful loudspeaker manufacturers in the world, more than 35 years ago starting with the iconic Model 2. He went on to design other landmark speakers including the Model 5 and Model 2W subwoofer, and culminating in today’s flagship Model 7 and other great loudspeakers.
Albert Von Schweikert, Von Schweikert Audio, Owner
Albert Von Schweikert’s loudspeaker career began in 1979 when he became Dr. Oskar Heil’s assistant at ESS Laboratory. He went on work for KSC Industries where he designed raw speaker parts for Infinity, JBL, Klipsch, Polk, and 32 other companies. Albert then worked as a consultant to Counterpoint Electronics where he designed their THX Cinema line. He started Von Schweikert Research in 1994. In Albert’s 36-year career, he has designed more than 200 speakers systems and has eight patents pending for his inventions in audio technology
Kevin Voecks, Harman Luxury Audio Group, Product Development Manager
Kevin Voecks became known to the audiophile community when he joined Snell Acoustics in the mid-1980’s. He was hand-picked by Sidney Harman to lead Revel Loudspeakers, part of the Harman Luxury Audio Group. There he leads a team that has made numerous technical innovations in loudspeaker design and that produces a large line of outstanding loudspeaker products. www.revelspeakers.com
Arnie Nudell, Infinity Systems and Genesis Technology, Co-founder
Arnie Nudell holds a BS degree in physics from Berkeley, a Master’s degree in nuclear physics from UCLA, and completed all Ph.D requirements at that university. Arnie worked at Hughes Research Lab when the first laser was invented. While working as head of the laser group at Litton Industries, Arnie, a lifelong music lover, teamed up with John Ulrich to create a speaker that became the Infinity Servo-Statik. In 1968 they founded Infinity Systems. Arnie is the designer of the Infinity Reference Standard (IRS), one of the most iconic products in high-end audio history.
Producer: Michael Wechsberg, Executive VP LA/OC Audio Society
Michael Wechsberg is a lifetime member of the LA & OC Audio Society and currently an Executive VP for the Society. He also manages the Society’s Hospitality Suite during THE Show Newport.

[@Reyfox1]

Richard Vandersteen answered the question on why speakers are better in less than a minute. Simple. Brilliant. I own Von Schweikerts myself. Arnie Nudell said woofers don't have lower distortion today? Really? Infinity... brilliant forward thinking while he was there.

[@zdogg8]

It's a bit ironic that the "high end" audio community seems to consistently put out videos with some of the crappiest audio to be found on KZbin. Is this the case of the plumber who won't fix his own bathroom plumbing?

[@ac81017]

ha ha ha Arnie Nudell, you´re a legend!! The best loudspeakers have already been made. Long live Infinity.

[@antigen4]

William Turner NEVER heard an infinity speaker i was impressed by sadly

[@drrezash9287]

I never heard a speaker better than my yamaha ns 1000's with the beryllium drivers!!

[@donaldlee9992]

From an engineering viewpoint, Kevin Voecks is correct about 4 subs in each corner + stand-mount speakers is superior to a full-range speaker without subs. Andrew Jones seems to agree with Voecks but points out that the typical customer does not have the knowledge or ability to match the transition from subs to stand-mount speakers. I also agree with Kevin Voecks that a powered speaker, with each driver with a dedicated amp and individual dsp for frequency shaping to each driver, is superior to a standard passive crossover speaker.

[@digitalampco7640]

What a panel! Someone posted this video on Facebook, and I’m surprised I’m seeing it for the first time. Makes me want to develop a Cherry speaker!

[@digitalampco7640]

....maybe powered speakers with Cherry Amps inside.

[@yitshakmeshulam3434]

This is a dynamic loudspeaker design panel. The distortion problem, as well as room interaction, has been solved by electrostatic speakers long ago. It is unfortunate that the panel does not includes people like Roger Sanders who can shed some light on the subject.

[@davejones4740]

I used to measure speakers. I wonder how many speaker manufacturers adjust the tightness of the speakers that are held into the speaker cabinets. If you over tighten or have a screw not screwed into cabinet correctly, the sound frequencies change in the mic chamber.

[@argokan]

well, how do you deal then with (what I suppose is inevitable over the course of time) the possible "loosening" of the screws , once they are screwed in "right" - are they glued or embedded in some manner in order to prevent this ?

[@deserteddrake]

Why was Arnie sitting apart?

[@wberdan7]

Audio University 101

[@sweetsweatyfeet]

I mosty agree with Arnie, he is honest. As manufacturers of loudspeakers these guys living depends on successful sales of currently made products. So of course the are going to claim the best speakers of 20 years ago are not up to contemporary standards. One of them called 70s speakers "prehistoric". Yet it's exactly speakers from this decade that are so popular on the used market today. Why? Yes there have been incremental improvements in certain areas but speakers in general are not really any more musical or impressive than the best products of a few decades ago.

[@squibbly_mcgrink7689]

Too much compression with a way way too fast release time. Ironic how this is a panel of legendary speaker designers at an "audio university" and the audio is so distracting.

[@philiprichardson3568]

test

[@michaelvaladez6570]

I gave this a thumbs down because the background noise is too loud.Have some respect for the panel.Poorly done presentation.My opinion.

[@jackkennedy9475]

All seem to add on to Richard Vandersteens comments, no original or different thoughts after Richard speaks.

[@MrKnifeFanatic]

Not sure I see anyone from 'international audio group' here.... what a terrible company they are anyway, hopefully their incompetence doesn't run wharfedale into the ground. My money goes to Q acoustics for now. :)

[@utubecomment21]

For a bunch of legends, why do i not like any of their products? Vandersteen - Meh Andrew Jones ... never liked any of his designs Infinity ... faceplam