Bass reflex vs transmission line Without even seeing the speaker, the number of "ways" will almost always be apparent from the impedance plot, as will whether it is a sealed-box design (one hump in the bass), a reflex or a transmission line (two humps in the bass), or a horn of some kind (a series of regularly spaced peaks). Mar 15, 2016 · How does a transmission line speaker design work ? Transmission lines (TL for short) work a bit differently, compared to sealed and ported boxes. The Transmission Line Enclosure: Deep Bass with Natural Character Transmission line enclosures are often called the “audiophile’s secret” because of their ability to deliver rich, deep, and articulate bass. Ask questions and get advice on stereos, speakers, hi-end amplifiers, pre-amps, home theater, tube hi-fi, turntables, vinyl, tweaks, music, films, video, DVDs and more. By excursion efficient, I mean more port output against actual woofer cone movement. May 24, 2020 · Have two systems of wildly different scale and cost. It goes without saying, but passive radiator will have these benefits over sealed: Lower f3 point Higher output I am curious how you came to the conclusion that passive radiator has worse transient response than bass reflex, when that wasn't even discussed in the Wikipedia article. Jun 9, 2024 · Passive radiator speaker design - Box calculation example Similar to bass reflex, the passive radiator speaker design, uses a resonator to extend the frequency response. I wouldnt say more, but different compared to a bass reflex in the same size volume. If it has, my apologies for the redundancy! First, I need to define what a transmission line is. It is no surprise that the transmission line woofer system blends perfectly with an electrostatic element. If looking for higher loading cabs (tapped horns/paraflex) then the B&C/18 Sound units start to make more sense (more motor force due to neo magnets). The entire volume of air inside the bass reflex box oscillates as a pressure wave. [39] Quarter wave resonators have seen a revival as commercial applications with the onset of neodymium drivers that enable this design to produce relatively low bass extensions within a relatively small speaker Nov 24, 2007 · Oninions ?- Transmission Line over Reflex and Acoustic Suspension ? Hi. We happen to believe that if you have the space, larger drivers deliver a more realistic representation of the intended sound, and yes deliver more weight -- if the drivers are good, of course. What are the main strengths and weaknesses of this type of speaker and why aren’t they more popular? Jul 13, 2023 · In this article, we will explore the advantages of using transmission line and bass-reflex speakers, highlighting their ability to produce deep, dynamic bass and enhance overall audio reproduction. May 24, 2017 · Transmission line has moderate efficiency, moderately sized box, good phase response. Different kettle of fish. The classic transmission line bass enclosure has never been completely and successfully modeled such that it can be built from a pat set of equations. etc. There are certain bass frequencies where the bass has lagged behind the rest of the music. I posted a previous inquiry in reference to building a pair of TL speakers in the design of a narrow, tall, column tower design. True TLs are second order, and that's one reason for their appeal. Unlike sealed or bass-reflex boxes, a transmission line uses an acoustic labyrinth to guide and control the rear wave of the driver. Nov 15, 2016 · SO - back to the drawing board. [1][2] This port enables the sound from the rear side of the diaphragm to increase the efficiency of the system at low frequencies Apr 18, 2021 · Both bass reflex and BLH have their places and tradeoffs. Transmission line Unlike sealed or bass reflex boxes where the inside of the box is left as is (except for damping material and / or bracing), the transmission line design creates a labyrinth on the back side of the speaker. I re-foamed the original cheap Oct 2, 2013 · In this thread I wanted to describe an improvement to the transmission line alignment. Augspurger / December 1961 and attach bellow too for who may be interested. Have a look at Martin Kings site " quarter-wave. Aug 27, 2017 · The 2 1/2" drivers used in their acoustic labyrinth design could theoretically only play flat to around 270 hz in a 1/4 wavelength transmission line enclosure. By precisely controlling airflow, absorbing unwanted resonances, and utilizing unique transmission line geometry, PMC monitors deliver unparalleled sound quality with exceptionally deep and accurate bass. This makes no sense to me Aug 19, 2014 · Now you're on bass reflex vs horn/transmission line. Oct 29, 2023 · By selecting appropriate damping materials and employing effective resonance control techniques, transmission line speakers can achieve low-distortion audio reproduction and enhanced sound quality. 1. Nov 24, 2007 · Acoustic suspension (sealed enclosures) and bass reflex (ported enclosures) rely on mass/spring/damper principals to achieve their goals where as transmission line (1/4 wave rectifiers) and horns use sound wave reflection principals in their designs. It's not Learn about different types of speaker enclosures: sealed, bass-reflex, band-pass 4th & 6th order, passive radiator, and transmission-line. There are no standing waves. Mar 13, 2011 · Bass directivity should only be controlled by the radiating area (and shape) of the sound source, which is the TH mouth for the Keystone or the cones for a 2x18 reflex -- though a big front panel area can also help a bit. What is suggested SO ratio compare to Sd (surface driver). Mar 17, 2014 · But one can't deny the difference in sound between the transmission line and bass reflex designs. Audio advice and discussions with audiophiles and professionals. 2. Those are two different principles for how (in an ideal system) they work. This document compares transmission line (T-line) and bass reflex speaker designs using the HiVi L6-8R driver, highlighting their differences in size, frequency response, and performance under various drive levels. A sealed design will have snap and extension, but a transmission line will allow you to distinguish the bass notes. Jul 30, 2025 · The transmission line seems to offer the best of both worlds: the accuracy of a sealed box with the extended, effortless bass of an open design. It's a compromise for 2-ways, because it may also resonate like a TML when it is too long (then place the port on the back on the cabinet), or you will have snuffing noises. Unlike a closed or bass-reflex loaded enclosure, predicting the behaviour of a sound wave propagating inside a duct, especially when filled or lined with absorbent material, becomes a very difficult task. First and most Aug 7, 2023 · Transient response is best without addition of a resonance system like bass reflex or transmission line. In general, refer to Hoffman: small size, high sensitivity, low-frequency extension - pick any two. May 15, 2025 · This week we explain what bass reflex tubes are and how they affect the sound from your speakers. There are other features such as The source of PMC’s legendary natural, realistic sound is the Advanced Transmission Line (ATL) bass-loading technology, professionally proven all around the world. Jul 23, 2016 · One of the most important speaker building projects published by audioXpress, THOR was designed by Joseph (Joe) D'Appolito, who is world-renowned for his pioneering work on MTM-based (mid-tweeter-mid) loudspeaker configurations. Their purpose is simple and worthy: provide more bass! Mar 26, 2016 · Horn loudspeakers are the best when it come to efficiency, but they are too big for woofers. The bass extension possesses that sense of ease and authority that only larger loudspeakers can convey. For this online publication, audioXpress kept the original article unchanged, which has Qt of 0. ) provides the “best” bass has always been a point of contention among audiophiles and professional designers alike. Many of us here on the CSP site are partial to the classic acoustic suspension designs of the ‘50’s-‘70’s. What is best for music ?Some people say ML designs have excelent midrange and bass reproduction. com/rbrines1/) sells plans for smaller Fostex drivers, but it's a transmission line based design that looks much like a bass reflex cabinet. This accounts for Drugolf finding the bass to be perfectly fine while you find it boomy and resonant. Some Considerations and Tips Looking back at some of the TLs of the past with today’s knowledge, it is surprising to see that designs based on wrong assumptions sounded pretty good anyway. Same goes for a passive radiator doesnt give you more bass vs a port, its different due to how it loads the driver and the room interaction. It consists of a sealed chamber, with the speaker mounted on one side, and a long duct or tube running from the back of the speaker to the other end of the enclosure. J. 4 is more in line with bass reflex or transmission lines. The formulas used in the calculator create a generic design that suggests a simple and flat response in an anechoic environment based on the number of drivers, the thiele small parameters and the allotted dimensions specified in the user’s input fields. Feb 19, 2019 · But the unique thing here is that according to their website they use a combination of transmission line and bass reflex, which is a fancy word for just a whole at the bottom of the cabinet 😉 Dec 26, 2018 · Is a transmission line really better than a bass reflex? I couldn't find any conclusive literature. Comparison Between Sealed and Bass Reflex Enclosures Sealed and bass reflex enclosures are popular enclosure designs used in speaker systems. Alternatively, pick one and mess with the other two to suit. T/Ls normally are large, complex, and expensive to build. However, my guess about the execution of several TL designs: Considering that a transmission line is meant to 'load' the lower frequency spectrum over a broader range than a bass reflex cabinet typically would, it is harder to get right. But acoustically, quarter wavelength standing waves inside the enclosure are used to produce the bass response emanating from the port. Jun 13, 2016 · Similar to bass reflex, the passive radiator speaker design, uses a resonator to extend the frequency response. Both my primary speaker purchases have been simple crossover, two-ways with a modified transmission line. Aug 7, 2023 · For reference, look for more recent article M. Is this an attempt to create graduated friction similar to a transimission line to increase base from a smaller Dec 23, 2015 · More about 4th order bandpass boxes here. Tall tower speakers, for example, are sometimes modeled as bass reflex, but end up behaving like mass loaded transmission lines. Want more bass? Use bass reflex. It's the best choice. It seemed that another logical option might be looking at a quality full-range driver in a larger cab, perhaps horn loaded or in a transmission line. On the other hand, the acoustic suspension design offers deep bass in a very small cabinet, reduced bass distortion, a low resonance frequency, and reduces pressure on the back of the speaker. I’m also hoping that when I point out differences in behavior between bass reflex vs. Basically, an MLTL is a quarter-wave transmission line enclosure with a port. As we know the market is Is it worth to convert a bookshelf design (say SR-71)into a ML transmission line? . Apr 12, 2006 · The bass reflex or vented enclosure has a greater efficiency. Oct 23, 2021 · Putting aside the active vs passive discussion, What's the deal with atypical speaker concepts like: - Full range drivers - Open baffle / dipole concept - Horn loaded drivers / transmission line speakers - Electrostatic / Magnetostatic speakers - Sealed cabin - etc. ) Mar 24, 2010 · The matter of which bass alignment method (sealed, bass reflex, bandpass, transmission line, etc. Jan 16, 2023 · The qts is in the range for transmission line, the lower the qts the steeper the slope of bass extension. bass reflex, or bass reflex vs. Jan 16, 2019 · People have different opinions on the sound of bass from infinite baffle vs. The problem that I have with the transmission line speakers that I've heard is in the bass timing. Want a second or third opinion about your speaker cabinet design or other audio related problem? Post your question or comment on the Technical Discussion Board. *A transmission line IS a stupid bass reflex 低音反射式音箱 vs 迷宮式音箱 Bass Reflex Enclosure vs Transmission line speaker In this Hornresp tutorial we learn all about the "offset" feature when we design a Bass Reflex or ported design. bass reflex vs. However, rather than engaging in a lengthy discussion on naming conventions, I will use the term MLTL to describe a ported quarter-wave enclosure. The more the resonance is damped the more the total system will act like a closed system with a significant leak (low Ql). The internet says that this will create a 90˚ phase shift which will cancel out waves coming from the back of the driver. At minimum for a bass horn to work it should have acoustic length equal to 1/4 wavelength of the tuning frequency and a mouth area equal to a 1/4 wavelength circumference circle. This article explores their advantages, disadvantages, best driver choices, the special quarter-wave design, and how Oct 9, 2012 · Sealed vs ported loudspeaker designs, which one is better? This article provides a historical perspective and attempts to answer this age old question. Mar 28, 2010 · 1/4 Wave Flared Vent T-Line/Horn/Bass Reflex Enclosure Calculator | DB DYNAMIX AUDIO I ran upon the calculator (online Excel Spreadsheet) for this design while researching tapped horns. The… How Do Sealed, Bass Reflex, And Transmission Line Designs Affect Floor-standing Speakers? Have you ever wondered how different speaker enclosure designs influence the sound quality of your floor Oct 5, 2019 · The transmission line enclosure is a tuned length of usually folded space that increases the rear waves path length in order to extend bass performance and increase LF output. The formulas used in the calculator create a generic design that suggests a simple and flat response in an anechoic environment based on the number of drivers, the thiele small parameters and the allotted dimensions specified in the user’s input… When approaching the transmission line concept for the first time, the surprise due to the almost total lack of universally accepted design methods or models lasts very little. ) but retained the same model name or number? For example, early Celestion Model 5's (5's for sure, I don't know about the Model 3's, 7's or 9's) were in a sealed enclosure, later Model 5's had ports. Sometimes a tall/skinny aspect reflex is useful and those are called MLTL (Mass Loaded T-line). Dec 10, 2021 · Is either of the most commonly used enclosure types like Bass reflex, MLTL or various types Transmission Line more excursion efficient than others. However, I have not been able to find any information about this particular design. Oct 22, 2021 · I’ve been very impressed with the sound quality I’ve heard at times over the years from transmission line speakers like IMF. This is why the bass is boosted in the wave radio. Feb 27, 2007 · Hello, What's better between the two: Acoustic suspension (sealed enclosure) or bass reflex (vented enclosure) in terms of sound? I see currently only bass reflex enclosures in the shops, but this not necessarily means that they are better than sealed box. Sealed vs Bass Reflex Bass reflex Bass reflex alignments Transmission line DIY Transmission line subwoofer 4th order bandpass 6th order bandpass Folded horn Passive radiator How to tune a passive radiator Isobaric design Isobaric examples 2 way bookshelf speaker build guide Port air velocity calculator Magnetic speaker grill build Jan 7, 2024 · If considering Bass reflex I'd strongly recommend the SB units, they are better value than other imported brands. For 40 hz this is 215cm long and 3678sq/cm. Feb 12, 2014 · How about you explain to me how PMC's 'Transmission Line' design isn't a variation of a bass reflex as opposed to 'Not' being a bass reflex? This is getting a bit off topic, but: Bass reflex box is a Helmholtz resonator, which has a certain resonating frequency. From the outside it would appear to be a bass reflex enclosure. Any recommendations for a likely compatible 6 1/2 driver? (This was a Goodwill find I couldn't resist for $30 {it's an Audio Karma sensibility}. I’ll add: a big difference between bass horns and bass reflex is bass horns don’t scale down. I have used similar drivers in transmission line designs to find out what could be achieved with small drivers. A short, fat box will be a Helmholtz resonator and a tall, thin box Description Two bass units within these 'reflex transmission line' loudspeakers further enhance bass performance, contributing to increased sensitivity and additional power handling. Sep 2, 2021 · Poultrygeist - can you explain how that is a transmission line rather than a bass reflex? I know that TLs are thought by some to be variations on bass reflexes, but though it is a column and the vent is smaller than a normal bass reflex, and the damping is applied along the column rather than Jun 18, 2022 · For TMLs, drivers with higher Qts between 0,4 and 0,6 are good, whereas for bass reflex or passive radiator design, you'd rather choose something around 0,2 to 0,3 Qts. The only thing mentioned was transient response stability. The type of resonator will depend on the shape of the box. The conventional wisdom seems to be that rear ported ("bass reflex") provides the most bass but can be more demanding in terms of speaker placement. Before we continue, it is important to note that a Sep 25, 2004 · Ported, Sealed or Transmission Line What are the pros and cons of ported, sealed and transmission line speaker cabinets? Is one inherently better than the other? Some Proac speakers use what looks like a bunch of straws in the port. With some input it "sings" that frequency by itself. Bob Brines (http://geocities. Jan 21, 2025 · I’m considering designing a transmission line. Sep 2, 2022 · According to attached TL alignment regarding tapered transmission line Figure 1 : Classic Transmission Line Geometries first option where is SO>SL. Makers of sealed ("acoustic suspension") claim Sep 12, 2009 · This means that the bass in a bass reflex can change as the volume changes. Some claim to have done this, but it doesn't seem to allow a first time build without adjustments, so the models have enough wrong to require a fudge factor at least. Learn about different types of speaker enclosures: sealed, bass-reflex, band-pass 4th & 6th order, passive radiator, and transmission-line. Nov 20, 2012 · The problem that I have with the transmission line speakers that I've heard is in the bass timing. I am somewhat inexperienced in TL's other than assisting my brother in duplicating an The TDL RTL 2 are floor standing 'reflex transmission line' speakers, each having no greater footprint than a bookshelf speaker on it's stand. The claimed benefit is Transmission line enclosure In most cases, this enclosure also referred to as an acoustic labyrinth, uses a damped quarter wavelength pipe to augment the bass response of a system. Jun 20, 2015 · That driver has a rather large vas spec. Am i correct in thinking the bass issues are due to having to travel a So tell me Petrus, are you saying PMC Transmission Line designs (as how they implement it) is a true transmission line design, with no hybrid of bass reflex at work---at all? Apr 28, 2011 · How the speaker cabinet is designed has a huge impact as well (sealed cabinet vs. transmission line, etc. Aug 29, 2020 · In addition, transmission lines are challenging to build and are generally bigger than the already bigger ported vs sealed. Horn Speaker Design Tutorial - Start Here If You're New Sealed vs Ported vs High output bass reflex vs Passive radiator vs 4th and 6th order bandpass boxes EXO's Bass Van GETS STRONGER Than Ever!!! Passive Radiators vs Bass Reflex Speakers Bass reflex speakers, also known as ported speakers, are a type of speaker that uses a port or vent to enhance low-frequency response. Jun 30, 2022 · But the main difference is the group delay that is closer to a sealed cabinet (so way less than a reflex) and that makes the bass tighter and more dynamic and less distorted. I've not opened either up to see exactly how it was all put together. Any type enclosure sealed or bass reflex or mltl is going to be large. However, I stumbled upon some information about transmission lines and now I have some questions that I can't really find answers to online. Apr 25, 2019 · I did a short text on transmission-line speakers, perhaps someone finds it entertaining enough to read here as well: --------- The classic transmission-line speaker is a long acoustic channel with decreasing area, filled with damping material to absorb all sound. transmission line systems it’s useful for those developing models, some of this stuff isn’t common knowledge and it might be good to stimulate a few ideas. Everything I read says that the length of the line is to be ¼ the length of the “target” frequency. Aug 4, 2009 · Overview: This is a calculator for designing a 1/4 Wave Flared Vent T-Line/Horn/Bass Reflex Enclosure. TLines, (or bass reflex) enclosures, how would i look into sizing something like the photo? This particular one the gentleman used bass box pro and 3d printed an enclosure for a small 3 inch sub, but i was thinking Jan 31, 2016 · The bass reflex speaker design will give a +3 dB efficiency over the sealed subwoofer, reduced distortion, and higher power handling. In a transmission line Dec 31, 2009 · I will add that the math to figure out ideal sizes for the various chambers and lengths are posted online, if you check out MJKs transmission line site, the math used to derive his various TLs variation will apply quite well here. The TDL RTL 3 is the perfect partner for a larger room. The T-line design, while larger, exhibits less port compression and better output stability at tuning frequency compared to the bass reflex design, which is smaller but suffers from What Is A Speaker Transmission Line Enclosure? A speaker transmission line enclosure is a type of speaker box that works similarly to a bass reflex enclosure. Benjamin J Aug 15, 2020 · Bass reflex, back loaded horn and 1/4 wavelength transmission lines can be thought of as three points on a continuum, with every speaker having openings in the box exhibiting some degree of behavior from each part. com ". It becomes more of an issue at generous to loud volumes. Apr 30, 2015 · Just wanted to hear people's thoughts on the pros and cons of these 3 types of speakers. Both have pros and cons, but which one is best suited for your application ? Learn about different types of speaker enclosures: sealed, bass-reflex, band-pass 4th & 6th order, passive radiator, and transmission-line. Is this project a mass loaded transmission line design or a bass reflex design? I am not so sure, the differences are starting to get very fuzzy. A transmission line has even more possibilities (using the term TL to encompass all quarterwave resonantors). This improvement may be documented already on the forum, but I haven't seen it. Find out more below from the tech lab at PMC. Jan 4, 2020 · In this video we will see the measured results between 6 different enclosure types : Sealed Bass reflex High output ported Passive radiator 4th order bandpass 6th order bandpass The article about Learn about different types of speaker enclosures: sealed, bass-reflex, band-pass 4th & 6th order, passive radiator, and transmission-line. Jun 19, 2008 · I always plug up the bass reflex ports in my speakers with woofers 8 inches or larger to intentionally reduce the bass output. Because the open end is so big the efficiency of the pipe is higher than a bass reflex or a tapered TL so it works well with low Qts full range drivers. The folded horn speaker design solves this. Oct 30, 2020 · Bass reflex boxes work on the Helmholtz resonator principle. We welcome your participation Nov 21, 2012 · Transmission Line vs Reflex Ported vs Isobaric Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the What HiFi community: the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Transmission line enclosures are known for their accuracy and clarity and can produce deep, powerful bass with minimal distortion. transmission line). acoustic suspension vs. L. Mar 19, 2009 · Tweet #35 03-19-2009, 11:17 AM Re: ML transmission line vs. In this video, I demonstrate one of several design workflows that an acoustic engineer may use for product design. When you make a sealed or bass reflex enclosure (passive radiator slips into this category as well), you alter the resonant peak of the speaker. All the showcased software is either free. Bass reflex Who thinks that it would or would not be advantageous to use the SR71 design in a transmission line of any flavor? When compared to the existing bass reflex enclosure Aug 25, 2018 · Hi everyone, I'm new to speaker design and I just started learning some theory and trying to design a set of bass-reflex speakers. transmission line vs. Types Loudspeaker Enclosures Loudspeaker enclosures exist in various forms. A bass reflex system (also known as a ported, vented box or reflex port) is a type of loudspeaker enclosure that uses a port (hole) or vent cut into the cabinet and a section of tubing or pipe affixed to the port. These designs can be considered a mass-loaded transmission line design or a bass reflex design, as well as a quarter wave enclosure. The length and shape of the transmission line are carefully calculated to ensure that it reinforces the subwoofer’s low-frequency output and eliminates unwanted resonances. Anyway, when the Jordan company (EJ Jordan Design to be precise) developed its latest generation of single-driver loudspeakers, I decided to build two new monitors, but this time with acoustic transmission line loading (the HJMs were bass-reflex). Sep 10, 2025 · In 1990, when I was a senior in college, I was frustrated that the kind of mathematical models that are available for acoustic suspension and bass reflex boxes were unavailable for Transmission Lines. As of now , I haven't listened to them long enough to pick a favorite. It's a smearing of the bass signal, especially on repetitive bass transients. For almost all woofers, a TL cabinet will be larger than a bass reflex. Dec 22, 2023 · “Sealed boxes are inefficient” or “Transmission lines are oversized” or “Dipoles have no bass” or “Horn speakers have terrible frequency response. Nov 3, 2018 · As for bass reflex vs transmission line. King - "Classic Transmission Line Enclosure Alignments", where he took bass-reflex alignment tables as starting point. Jan 4, 2003 · Re: transmission line vs bass reflex Posted by Dave-A (A) on January 4, 2003 at 18:14:54 In Reply to: transmission line vs bass reflex posted by 750guy on January 3, 2003 at 11:22:31: I have listened to TLs for a long time, and I like to play ALL kinds of music on them. In my experience, a transmission line sounds less like a speaker than a similarly priced bass reflex or sealed design. Jan 6, 2024 · Bass reflex boxes are more efficient around the tuning frequency and allow the bass to be extended a bit more than acoustic suspension-sealed boxes. The Hafler 400's tweeters bring a new , softer sound into my listening space. What to do instead? Build a closed box. Above that frequency, the cabinet is largely sealed. The output from the opening is a desired property of the quarter wave design, and the line should be relatively lightly stuffed. Feb 8, 2025 · Conclusion The Advanced Transmission Line (ATL™) technology used by PMC represents a breakthrough in studio monitor design. Qts is on the upper general range for bass-reflex, helmholtz resonators will always be more compact for the resonant frequency, but has a steeper slope, so for purely F3 I think bass reflex could be better, but for a smoother roll off into Nov 16, 2025 · Tranmission line enclosure versus Bass reflex Page 1 of 2 [ 17 posts ] Go to page 1, 2 Next Page 1 of 2 [ 17 posts ] Go to page 1, 2 Next The 'acoustic labyrinth' type of speaker is a (fairly serious) extension of this principle, with the length of the 'tunnel' often used to create a transmission line to reinforce bass frequencies. A quarter wave resonator has a series of standing waves between the top of the box and the port. Jul 12, 2019 · people, still kicking tires trying to think of some ideas for a boombox build. How do transmissions lines differ from ported and vented speakers? Transmission line, ported and vented designs are three different concepts on how to load the bass driver in a speaker enclosure. Transmission lines and sealed boxes have a 12dB per octave roll off after the resonant frequency, while a vented box has a 24dB per octave roll off. ~ Next to this, it's higher production cost (more wood required in the cabinet) leads to bass reflex still being the commonplace design. Free discussion forums, open to all and frequented by industry experts. Mar 6, 2016 · It's the old silent conflict : Sealed vs Bass reflex. Now, some may argue that this is a bass reflex enclosure - and the line is indeed a bit blurry. Oct 5, 2013 · TH (Tapped Horn) vs FLH (front Loaded Horn) vs Sealed vs Bass Reflex design subwoofer Jump to Latest 28K views 7 replies 6 participants last post by terryaaa Feb 22, 2016 ZivkoF Discussion starter A Voight pipe, or TQWT, is nothing more than a transmission line and counts on quarter wavelength standing waves to produce the bass. I stumbled across the Tang Band W8-1808, which appears to be a fantastic driver (and by most reviews, is), well suited for a larger bass-reflex or t-line enclosure. Hundreds of technicians, engineers, and hobbyists, nationwide read and discuss electronics related questions each week. PMC hit me up with that deal Oct 26, 2025 · It should be superior. Quarter Wave Design In a Transmission Line (I use the term TL for all types of quarter wave designs), the goal most often sought after* is to extend the bass by adding a lift to support the driver. While sealed and bass-reflex enclosures dominate the market, a more enigmatic and revered design persists on the audiophile frontier: the transmission line. The main difference between the various alignments, IMHO, is the phase shift at low frequency. Jun 5, 2025 · In the vast world of high-fidelity audio, loudspeaker design is a landscape of established principles and radical departures. Jun 24, 2019 · I'd like to install a full range driver into a Sony SS-TL1 Transmission line speaker cabinet (pictured below). The way we model this bass reflex is very di Dec 22, 2023 · They seem to have more or less the same volume, and what is the advantage over the DCR Dual chamber bass reflex cabinet over the normal bass reflex? Updated: I found the Double Chamber Reflex (DCR) article on Electronics World by G. Aug 1, 2014 · I seem to gravitate to transmission line designs, which produce some internal pressure and, I assume, help control the extension and tighten the woofer response. Explore their advantages, disadvantages, and how to calculate them with Speaker Box Lite. On smaller speakers it just depends on how it affects the sound of that model. The bass from a properly built T/L is utterly clean, has excellent deep bass extension, no overshoot or ringing, no resonances, and superb transient response. Have you considered adding a woofer or subwoofer to your ob? The qts spec of the driver is fairly low so I doubt wings would make that much difference to the bass output. Mar 17, 2009 · TLs, of all configurations, and vented systems are similar in that both are 4th-order based. A back-loaded or front-loaded horn can produce more power for a given cone excursion than the reflex. Final Thoughts: Is the Labyrinth for You? Horn (front and rear loaded) Transmission line (labyrinth) Tapered tube (damped pipe/“waveguide”) Aug 4, 2009 · Overview: This is a calculator for designing a Labyrinth Vent Bass Reflex Enclosure. The back wave (sound from the back of the speaker diaphragm) that would normally be dissipated as heat in the enclosure is channeled out through a tuned vent to add with the front wave. What isn’t this paper? To oversimplify - a transmission line tends to provide the most accurate bass texture. (Note that a common and practical definition of a transmission line is used in this blog. Aug 15, 2016 · The choice between a bass reflex cabinet (with either tube or passive radiator) or a TL cabinet is made when you compare the predicted performance from both designs, and the size TL cabinet would require. The intent of this short presentation is to highlight what happens inside the two types of enclosures at the tuning frequency and show why a Transmission Line has a significant performance advantage over a Bass Reflex enclosure at these low frequencies. My main rig features Wilson Watt/Puppy 7's, while at my vacation cabin the system features Totem R I risultati del test dimostravano che, rispetto alla linea di trasmissione, le casse acustiche bass-reflex immagazzinavano una quantità di energia molto superiore che originava inevitabili e fastidiose code nella risposta, inoltre il quantitativo di materiale assorbente necessario ad attenuare il fenomeno avrebbe fatto venir meno l’azione Jan 27, 2023 · [Though a transmission line differs from an “ported” speaker, a bass-reflex enclosure in that, the bass-reflex enclosure is tuned to a certain frequency. May 21, 2008 · How many speakers were made that had different designs as time passed (acoustic suspension vs. Transmission line enclosures are often called the “audiophile’s secret” because of their ability to deliver rich, deep, and articulate bass. We have the front and rear-loaded horn, the passive radiator, the transmission line (or labyrinth), the tapered tube, and the two most popular enclosures; the bass reflex (vented/ported) and acoustic suspension speaker systems. I really enjoy both sets of speakers and definately prefer one over the other for certain musics. If a poorly designed bass-reflex can sound really annoying, a transmission line seems to forgive even large deviations from ideal specifications. Nov 20, 2012 · Page 3 - Seeking answers? Join the What HiFi community: the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. ok. Chris A transmission line loudspeaker is a loudspeaker enclosure design which uses the topology of an acoustic transmission line within the cabinet, compared to the simpler enclosures used by sealed (closed) or ported (bass reflex) designs. The original THOR transmission-line design was published in May 2002. ” Learn about different types of speaker enclosures: sealed, bass-reflex, band-pass 4th & 6th order, passive radiator, and transmission-line. ygitsg nsniocv qsnvu iyrmyx yek nckaqh sibtxxw yfbnt wonuhp wiy dqoqke dncno khmgs lnxg dxlyx