Does Zu’s full-range driver beam
Two common “problems” with Zu loudspeakers as noted by a few forum critics: lobing and Doppler distortion, both “problems” are attributed to the wizzer cone (the inner cone used on our ten inch full-range driver) which somehow rides on top of the main cone. Wouldn’t that be a trick! There are no Doppler distortions produced by Zu loudspeakers under intended usage for home or recording studio. Under tests, using the loudspeaker in a very unnatural way it’s possible to produce Doppler distortion but it ain’t easy. This statement is true for most loudspeakers, the hi-fi community was sold a load of bull and it’s taken nearly half a century to realize. (Original research on Doppler distortion in loudspeakers can be found in the Audio Engineers Society journal) and as for “lobing” can anyone hear the claimed horizontal comb distortions or polar oddities? Is that what you are really hearing? Vertical is a completely different matter, comb filtering is intended on our Definition, as is the destructive interference produced at the horizontal zero point to increase the system resolution—no transducer of any type, electrodynamic or otherwise is free from distortionary components. Reasons and understanding of how a wizzer works and the mechanics of the electrodynamic driver is not within the scope of this FAQ. On Doppler, there has already been at least two modern works specific to audio transducers published in the AES journal. Why hasn't Zu published? Two reasons, one is it takes a ton of time to do it right, packaged in a meaningful, repeatable way that has real correlation—strictly following scientific principles is a very time consuming task. But mostly because we kinda like the accidental “cloak of mystery” that surrounds Zu. For the future though, we want to make time for published research that will hopefully open minds and dispel many of the incorrect rhetoric pitched in the later part of the 20th century. Am I on the attack? Not at all, I’ve done my fair share of spin and hype over the years, I’m just as dorky as the next. I think Paul Klipsch did some really cool stuff, the LaScalla was my first loudspeaker, followed by the corner horn, back in the day, which led to the investigation of group delay, cabling, horns, high efficiency... but PWK's introducing Doppler distortion as a sales tool was full on dorky and he was the guy famous for saying you can't break the laws of physics and the "No Bullshit" button. Likely he was just pissed that so many people were buying up all these small little speakers and overdriving them, which is a formula to cause a Doppler distortion shift. But proper loudspeakers, particularly high efficient loudspeakers, under normal levels in a home, forget about Doppler.
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