6″ Driver With 3″ Voice Coil

All the details below concerns the history of Audio Tecnology is taken of “The Danish speaker 100 year anniversary” book and we are extremely grateful to the authors of the book for such a valuable work.

Audio Technology was founded by Ejvind and Per Skaaning in 1990 based on an idea of building small series of speaker chauffeurs for clients that wished to have some degree of influence regarding electrical and mechanical parameters, along with look and style of the loudspeaker.

Iconic items

6″ driver with 3″ voice coil.
First motorist developed by Audio Technology was the 6″ chauffeur. Audio Technology names its Flexunits motorists after the emissive cone diameter, due to the fact that they operate with great deals of different front ring sizes and shapes. Front rings can differ a number of centimeters, despite using the very same cone size. 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 decided, the motorist chassis need to consist of 2 rings – a front ring and a middle ring, linked by spacers and bolted together. A really versatile building, that led directly to the name – Flexunits. 6″ Flexunits was completed with concerns to the physical building, but the shape of the cone was still to be established. It was done according to the ‘Trial and mistake’ concept and went on for month. Great deals of tests, measurements and disposed of cones saw the day of light. Fortunately, this brought a great deal of experience and the process of discovering the best geometry of the cone got easier for the drivers to come.
Sonus Faber (Italian speaker maker) was currently interested in such a chauffeur, so turnover and sales was ensured from start.
The driver, used in Sonus Faber EXTREMA, was hereby the very first commercially utilized chauffeur of Audio Technology. It was produced with the Sonus Faber logo on the unique shaped front in addition to a private created cone by the ideas 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 development of Audio Technology. Next beginner was a 10″ unit, also with 3″ voice coil, however here development was rather faster. The physical style was just a concern of increasing the size of the existing parts, but the cone structure development proved yet once again to be rather time consuming. Then, a 4″ system was planned and the requirement for a smaller sized voice coil occured. Like the 3″ voice coil winding tool, the 2″ tool was made as an adjustable tool to produce coils with lots of possible winding heights. Voice coil former inserted into the tool can be altered by 5 millimeter intervals and winding heights to nearly any given goal. Also, the impedance can be of your own choice.
The 4″ Flexunits was constructed on the basis of the same ideas and from then set to an ideal geometry went quick. Experience does matter …
Hereafter, the 5″ Flexunits was made and it quickly turned out to be a popular size motorist. A not too huge a chauffeur, that is able to produce reasonably big noise in a little cabinet. Many loudspeaker manufactures around the globe have ended up being popular for producing speakers with great sound, on the basis of this motorist. Also the Danish Hi-Fi magazine Highfidelity, introduced a DIY job ‘Speak & Abyss’ with the 5″ Flexunits. Due to the narrow structure of the 5″ driver, it was required to alter the building of the basket. Instead of mounting the screws visibly from the front, a row of treats were hidden under the rubber-surround, allowing a rather smaller assembly. This action was quickly adopted into the other motorists. 4″, 5″, 6″, 8″, 10″, 12″, and 15″ motorists were now available (1994) – some with 2″ voice coil just – others with both 3″ and 4″ voice coils.

C-Quenze gets here
Previously, all drivers were constructed with the bolted together chassis, however in 2001 a brand-new series occurs – the C-Quenze series. This series of motorists remain in every element built from the very same parts and material as the Flexunits, with exception of the frame. It is now a cast frame. This indicates the flexibility is reduced, however some specifications can still be altered. The cones are likewise altered as the energy is put into getting a somewhat more comprehensive bandwidth. As this motorist is a bit more cost-efficient than the Flexunits, it ends up being rather popular, but still, there are clients that want what they call ‘The genuine thing’.

In 2009, the Sandwich Cones becomes offered. It is made from two fairly thin carbon reinforced paper skins, which are glued together with expanding foam glue. The structure is light, however very stiff.

LR – magnet system
Last effort is drivers with an aerodynamic magnet system – the LR system (2012 ).
The pole plates are rounded to an aerodynamic shape, preventing aero noises and distortion from the driver. The LR system comes just with the 120 mm magnet up until now.
Today, Audio Technology ApS is still owned by Per Skaaning and 2 of his siblings.

Timeline.
1990 – Audio Technology ApS was founded.

1991 – First industrial speaker system using Audio Technology chauffeurs is checked in German Magazine Audio under the heading: “Nur fliegen ist schöner” significance: “Only flying is Nicer”.

1993 – Guarneri Homage of Sonus Faber is introduced. The motorist 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 very first Flexunits with 4″ voice coil, indicating great power handling. Four sets were offered to Ace of Base studios in Sweden.

1995 – The Parcifal of Verity Audio in Canada is presented. A popular 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, integrated 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 chauffeurs in “Recommended Components” of Stereophile Magazine. Speakers from Peak-Consult, Sonus Faber and Verity Audio are represented.

2008 – The sandwich cone motorists are provided, providing the Audio Technology woofers an upgrade relating to low distortion and ‘edge’ in the general sound experience.

2010 – The Cutting Edge in The Absolute Sound: “… then I suspect that you will find that Verity’s Lohengrin isn’t trigger for buyer’s regret but extended elation.”, J. Heilbrunn TAS.