OWNER'S PROJECTS - Speaker designs and DIY speaker projects with special speaker cabinets and enclosures.

Ribbon Loudspeakers by Newform Research.

OWNERS PROJECTS

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Brad wrote: Now, don’t get me wrong. The stock R645 is an incredible speaker. I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. I just had to shout out load to other R645 owners, that the ability is there for the speakers to be improved big time.

To read and see how he made the modifications, click here

Russell wrote: Upgrading the crossovers in my Newform Research R645 loudspeakers...

For the whole story, click here

Please look at the attached PDF file showing some different variants and finishes. Some problems do arise when converting these drawings to PDF format, but you can clearly see the design anyway.

My demo system will consist of the following units by the end of this year:

Best Regards Peter Ruth (More Info)

Hi there,

In the announcement of the new Newform Research Site owners where asked to send pictures of their Newform Speakers.
I own my Newform-based speakersystem since about 1995. For the highs there is a Newform Reseach R15, for the lower end a Bandor 150.
The filter is a 1st/2nd order Butterworth.

If you'd like more information about size and so on please contact me.

Kind regards,
Martin de Jong
Houten
The Netherlands

John: I am sorry I took so long getting back to you after hearing your remarkable ribbon. The truth is I always seemed to be just a few days away from some success at putting it into a box. Like it or not the world expects a woofer and a tweeter in a box. And frankly, I prefer my speakers to be furniture.

Let me tell you how pleased I am that something so apparently front-firing has so wide a field of image. Keeping the line source open as you suggested allows the sound to fold around the driver which results in a much deeper stage and considerable lessening of the "points of sound" that characterizes front-loaded speakers. Most impressive though is the low end I can get from them - low enough that I could use any good mid-bass driver without concern for hi-frequency breakup on the cone surface. Low enough, in fact, that I could take advantage of off-axis loading below 800hz.

On the top end however I had a bit of trouble. It is a little light. I upgraded my electronics to Plinius at a friends suggestion, and this improved noticably. This is not something most people can afford to do. You did tell me on the phone that the 45 has a bit more hi end, so maybe I'll try going that way in the future. And of course, every amp has its own characteristics. People who prefer tubes willingly give away the top end in favor of warmth, so this is as much a matter of taste as anything else. And lets face it, my hearing isn't what it once was.

Frequency range aside, the clarity of the sound is the big plus here. I gather from our conversation that this has a lot to do with the increased percentage of driven surface leaving less rippling in the part of the surface that is "going along for the ride". If I have that wrong please correct me. One would think that a dome tweeter would have the advantage there, but this is clearly not the case. You've made a fine product indeed. Congratulations. Now let me tell you what I finally did with the two 30's I bought from you. Yes I did put them into boxes, but only 3/4" wider on each side than the line source itself. Additionally, I set the driver only partly into the cabinet so as to continue the curve of your design. I agree with you that openness is important. Still, this is a business built on compromises. And on the whole I think this a minor one.

For the low end I used four 4" mid-bass paired left and right, centered on the ribbon, and spaced enough to allow the confluence of waves to yield horizontal lines. These lines in turn yield vertical lines enveloping the ribbon so that they occupy, more or less, the same space. This is not completly true of course, but it works very well. I did at first try the "woofer on a stick" design that you use. The highs were more open, but the lows were clearly removed from the midrange and above. Pianos seemed to rise and fall with the scale. This is simply irritating. So everything above about 100hz needs to be at the same hieght as the hi and midrange. For that reason I've concluded that my "Big Banjo" idea could never be more than a novelty. But a workable novelty.

My crossover is as simple as it can be. First order Goertz and Hoviland. I noticed more efficiency at the bottom of the ribbon, so I used two Musicaps @ 5.3uf. The dual caps are a holdover from the old days I admit, but in so simple a system they were cheap enough. The bi-wiring may not be nessecary either, but that too was cheap enough.

I've attached a bunch of pictures so you could comment if you get the chance. I also wanted to point out that this is one of several variations. Some do use large drivers as subs. This design as is would make a great apartment loudspeaker @ about 100wpc because it lacks deep bass. My system rolls in high in favor of 10" passive subs. I have a fairly large listening room. Which might also account for some loss on the hi end.

I hav'nt finished the grills yet. They would just fill that odd shape around the bass drivers. Also I wonder if I could get your oppinion on removing the welded wire cover which you installed, in favor of a semi-cylinder of welded wire as a front grill. That seems like something you might have considered and rejected. Perhaps you might tell me why.

Anyway John, you have something to be proud of there, and I'm glad I was able to use it. This is one of only a few designs that won't be dismantled and cannabalized for the next one. Thanks again, Bob La Chance

It is friday afternoon and I have just put together one of my new speakers I use active crossover from Behringer at about 1100 Hz. I have just listened for an hour or so - but already I have a loudspeaker with much more detail and the focusing point where the two Dynaudio and your ribbon add together is exactly that sharp as I hoped it to be - at my listening position 3-4 meters away. I would like you to see...

Best regards
Folke

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Email: ribbons@newformresearch.com Tel: 705.835.9000