The Denman Horn

[Ducatista47]

I frequently read that sound had been figured out by close to the time recording and amplification started. This is like the third piece of the scheme, after triode amplification and the electric microphone.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27483035

Lest we grow prideful of our era's importance, digital audio theory was nearly complete by Nyquist's work (Published 1924 and 1928, final proof by Shannon in 1949. This genius at Bell Labs also worked out amplifier feedback by 1932, and much more. For instance, his Fluctuation-dissipation theory I use every time I listen to my First Watt amps. Their transistors are thermally stable and constant in temperature by passive means, shown to be possible and practical in a 1928 paper.). And for those of us who experienced first rate mono systems in the 1950s, even stereo and multichannel seem minor improvements, if even that. I am an enthusiastic user of JFETs, MOSFETs, iPods and speakers smaller than giant horns, but I can see them for what they are. Coveniences, sometimes refinements, but not seminal great leaps forward. Our debt to these pioneers is staggering. It can be ego shattering to realize that our stuff is sometimes no better sounding than the best 1920s efforts.

As for what is being developed now, I am in awe of the work done by Jerry Moro at JBL re: reducing distortion in dynamic tranducers. Like the Denman Horn, unfortunately out of my modest financial reach. Stax I have figured out a way to play with, and my hat is off to them also.

[Ducatista47]

http://robinthefog.com/tag/denman-horn/

http://blog.soundandmusic.org/2014/0...n-loudspeaker/

The driver was a Western Electric 555W. The first link has a program of the horn playing various material into a modern microphone. The second describes the device in more detail. It appears the plans still exist?

The link to the original Science Museum blog entry, with links to more cool stuff. The photos on this page expand to high def.

http://blog.sciencemuseum.org.uk/ins...-in-residence/

Since the exhibit is over, I sincerely hope it is not sitting disassembled in a shed, and that someone is planning to fit it with a more modern driver to extend its upper frequency range. Not to complain, even hearing it third hand and without its immersive effects it sounds phenominal. Needless to say, as a single/full range driver enthusiast I feel vindicated.

A WE 555 page. The associated tweeter is also covered. Both are field coil units and look to weigh a ton.

http://www.audioanthology.com/audio1.html

[Odd]

Interesting. Thank`s for sharing.