AUDIO PHYSIC - Research for Sound
Text & Photos: Olaf Adam
This article originally appeared in 0dB - Das Magazin der Leidenschaft N°3
For Manfred Diestertich, chief developer at Audio Physic, the enemy of good sound is quickly identified: vibrations; more precisely, those you cannot control.
A loudspeaker chassis is, above all, a mechanical system. When electricity and magnetism do their work, the voice coil moves the diaphragm, which in turn moves the air. At the same time, however, the chassis braces itself against its mounting, thus transferring part of the sound energy to the enclosure. In return, any kind of cabinet vibration also affects the operation of the chassis itself.
This is why Manfred combats vibrations in his developments for Audio Physic wherever possible. The drivers are anchored in the housing using neoprene dowels. The crossover and connection terminal are also decoupled from the cabinet.
Accessories Against Vibrations
The fight against unwanted vibrations has even resulted in its own accessory line. The "Vibration Control Feet" (VCF) were developed for the company's own loudspeakers, but can also be purchased separately. There is also a version for hi-fi devices, the VCF Component, and the VCF Magnetic makes the speaker virtually float on a magnetic field. Even cables can be protected from environmental vibrations with the VCF Cable Support—with astonishing sonic effect.
However, a main focus of development at Audio Physic is on the chassis themselves. For some time now, Diestertich and Audio Physic have relied on a double-basket construction, in which a damping material is inserted between two basket parts. The moving parts of the driver are thus not directly connected to the enclosure, consequently transferring less vibration to the rest of the loudspeaker and being themselves isolated from other cabinet vibrations.
Innovation from the 3D Printer
This approach already works very well, but as part of a research project funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Manfred recently succeeded in decisively improving the principle once again. Using modern 3D printing technology, a double basket made from different materials was realized, which was optimized in terms of weight, airflow, and vibration damping in ways that would not have been possible with traditional manufacturing methods. The elaborate driver made its debut—together with several other innovative technologies—in the new top model from Audio Physic, the Structure.
Even though the tinkerer has already come very close to his ideal of pure sound, he has not given up the search for further improvement. He is already working on the next developments, and a new research project has just started. However, Manfred is keeping the details to himself for now. With a smile, he only mentions that the idea has something to do with the wings of a dragonfly ...
