Magnetsandwiresandrobots Thedriverssitattheheartofital.Dynaudio developsandmanufacturesthem in-house– rightdowntomagnetisingthemagnetsand winding the voice-coils. Winding is an automatedprocesthesedays(althougheven therobotsthecompanybuiltcan’tescapethe eagle eyes orears ofits quality-control people),butatonepointeventhiswasdoneby expertpairsofhands. MostofDynaudio’svoice-coilsaremadefrom aluminium wireinsteadofcopper.It’slighter, which letsthe engineersdouble the coil diameterforanygivenweight.Italsoletsthem uselongerwindings–whichgivesthedriver longerexcursionandbeterheatdisipation. (Andthat,inEnglish,meanstheyhavetighter controloverthesound.)Othersaremadefrom copperwhenextrapowerisneeded(forbas drivers,forexample).They’lusethebest materialforthejob.Whichmeansyougetthe bestperformancetheycandeliver. Youmightnoticetheirconesareshalowerthan thosefrom someothercompanies.Thatisn’t anacident,anditisn’tjustbecauseDynaudio justwantsto bediferent.It’sto improve of-axis performance–sothesoundyougetof tothesideisfarclosertowhatyouhearoutin front… perfectifyouhavefriendsoverand don’twanttogiveupthebestseat. Thereareother,lesobviousdetails,too.Some youwon’tevensee–likethespider.That’sthe springypieceofmaterialthatactsasthe voice-coil’ssuspension.It’sspringybecauseit needsto controlhow much the voice-coil movesbackandforth,andhowmuchairthere isbehind thespeakercone.Dynaudio has improved its symmetry by measuring, simulating, experimenting with diferent materialsand,ultimately,listening. Italsitsinthebasket.That’sthephysical housingforthewholedrivermotor.It’sjustas important–soDynaudio’sengineersspendjust asmuchtimerefiningitsdesignastheydo everyotherpart.Ventilationiscrucial:it’smade
toreduceturbulencebehindthedriver,which,again, helpsthemsoundtheirbest. Thentherearethoseinstantlyrecognisablesignature soft-dometweeters.Thecompanyhasbeenrefining itstweeterdesignseversinceitstarted:geometry, shape, materials, stifnes… even the coating (afectionatelynicknamed‘DSR’,for‘DynaudioSecret Recipe’).It’scrucialtousetherightamount,inthe rightplaces,attherightdensity,tocontrolrol-of andkeepasteadyhandonthetrebleresponse. BecauseDynaudiotweetersaren’tmadeofmetal, theyhaveaflater,morelinearfrequencyresponse– whichmeansmorehonestperformance. But,intheend,italcomesdowntothecompany’s people.They’refanaticalaboutwhattheydo,and they’reincrediblyproudofwhattheyproduce.That’s quitealegacytohaveinyourlivingroom.
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