6″ Driver With 3″ Voice Coil

All the details below concerns the history of Audio Tecnology is taken of “The Danish loudspeaker 100 year anniversary” book and we are very grateful to the authors of the book for such an important work.

Audio Technology was founded by Ejvind and Per Skaaning in 1990 based upon an idea of constructing small series of speaker chauffeurs for consumers that wanted to have some degree of influence relating to electrical and mechanical specifications, along with look and design of the loudspeaker.

Iconic products

6″ motorist with 3″ voice coil.
First chauffeur developed by Audio Technology was the 6″ motorist. Audio Technology names its Flexunits drivers after the emissive cone size, because they run with lots of different front ring sizes and shapes. Front rings can differ a number of centimeters, in spite of using the same cone diameter. The physical shape of the chauffeurs was rapidly developed and because it would not be restricted by physical dimensions, like heights, and so on it was chosen, the chauffeur chassis must consist of two rings – a front ring and a middle ring, linked by spacers and bolted together. An extremely flexible construction, that led straight to the name – Flexunits. 6″ Flexunits was completed with regards to the physical building and construction, but the shape of the cone was still to be developed. It was done according to the ‘Experimentation’ principle and went on for month. Lots of tests, measurements and discarded cones saw the day of light. Fortunately, this brought a lot of experience and the process of finding the best geometry of the cone got simpler for the motorists to come.
Sonus Faber (Italian speaker producer) was currently interested in such a driver, so turnover and sales was ensured from start.
The chauffeur, used in Sonus Faber EXTREMA, was thus the very first commercially used chauffeur of Audio Technology. It was produced with the Sonus Faber logo on the unique shaped front in addition to a private designed cone by the concepts of Franco Serblin. About 2000 Extrema mid-woofers have been produced, and the sales of these motorists, have actually contributed importantly to the continuous structure and advancement of Audio Technology. Next newbie was a 10″ unit, also with 3″ voice coil, however here advancement was somewhat faster. The physical design was simply a question of expanding the existing parts, however the cone structure advancement proved yet again to be rather time consuming. Then, a 4″ system was planned and the need for a smaller sized voice coil happened. Like the 3″ voice coil winding tool, the 2″ tool was made as an adjustable tool to produce coils with numerous possible winding heights. Voice coil former inserted into the tool can be altered by 5 millimeter periods and winding heights to nearly any offered objective. Also, the impedance can be of your own choice.
The 4″ Flexunits was constructed on the basis of the same concepts and from then cone structure set to an ideal geometry went quickly. does matter …
Hereafter, the 5″ Flexunits was made and it quickly turned out to be a popular size motorist. A not too big a chauffeur, that has the ability to produce relatively big noise in a little cabinet. Many loudspeaker manufactures around the world have become popular for producing speakers with good sound, on the basis of this chauffeur. Also the Danish Hi-Fi magazine Highfidelity, launched a do it yourself project ‘Speak & Abyss’ with the 5″ Flexunits. Due to the narrow structure of the 5″ motorist, it was essential to change the construction of the basket. Instead of mounting the screws noticeably from the front, a row of treats were concealed under the rubber-surround, enabling a somewhat smaller sized assembly. This step was rapidly adopted into the other chauffeurs. 4″, 5″, 6″, 8″, 10″, 12″, and 15″ drivers were now available (1994) – some with 2″ voice coil just – others with both 3″ and 4″ voice coils.

C-Quenze gets here
Previously, all motorists were constructed with the bolted together chassis, but in 2001 a new series occurs – the C-Quenze series. This series of drivers remain in every element developed from the exact same parts and material as the Flexunits, with exception of the frame. It is now a cast frame. This implies the versatility is reduced, but some specifications can still be changed. The cones are likewise altered as the energy is taken into getting a slightly broader bandwidth. As this driver is a bit more cost-effective than the Flexunits, it ends up being rather popular, but still, there are customers that want what they call ‘The genuine thing’.

In 2009, the Sandwich Cones becomes available. It is made from two reasonably thin carbon enhanced paper skins, which are glued together with expanding foam glue. The structure is light, however really stiff.

LR – magnet system
Last initiative is drivers with an aerodynamic magnet system – the LR system (2012 ).
The pole plates are rounded to an aerodynamic shape, avoiding aero sounds and distortion from the chauffeur. The LR system comes only with the 120 mm magnet so far.
Today, Audio Technology ApS is still owned by Per Skaaning and two of his brothers.

Timeline.
1990 – Audio Technology ApS was founded.

1991 – First business speaker system using Audio Technology motorists is evaluated in German Magazine Audio under the heading: “Nur fliegen ist schöner” meaning: “Only flying is Nicer”.

1993 – Guarneri Homage of Sonus Faber is introduced. The chauffeur for this speaker is the most significant number of Flexunits produced. Copy No 001, is put in the Violin Museum in Vicenza.

1994 – The greatest Flexunits – 15″ – is completed. The first Flexunits with 4″ voice coil, meaning excellent power handling. Four pairs were offered to Ace of Base studios in Sweden.

1995 – The Parcifal of Verity Audio in Canada is presented. A preferred speaker that has actually been produced in basically the same design for 20 years.

1999 – The KA system sees the dawn of light. Full bodied bass at low levels, combined with good damping at X-max is possible.

2002 – For the very first time, Audio Technology motorists have the honor of being in “Speaker of the Year” in Stereophile Magazine represented by Rockport Technologies Antares.

2007 – Six speakers with Audio Technology motorists in “Recommended Components” of Stereophile Magazine. Speakers from Peak-Consult, Sonus Faber and Verity Audio are represented.

2008 – The sandwich cone chauffeurs exist, giving the Audio Technology woofers an upgrade relating to low distortion and ‘edge’ in the overall sound experience.

2010 – The Innovative in The Absolute Sound: “… then I suspect that you will find that Verity’s Lohengrin isn’t trigger for purchaser’s remorse however extended elation.”, J. Heilbrunn TAS.