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ELAC technology

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Finest German Engineering
FINNEST GERMAN ENGINEERING

ELAC Electroacustic is a technically advanced company with a proven industrial background that poures a tremendous amount of engineering into its loudspeaker development process. All loudspeakers are well-researched, professionally finished products that will withstand the test of time.

 

ELAC JET III

- Dr. Oskar Heil's "Air Motion Transformer" tweeter -

The JET tweeter, developed to perfection on the basis of the famous "Air Motion Transformer" by loudspeaker pioneer Dr. Oskar Heil. Its principle: a concertinaed foil membrane is driven by a strong magnet system of neodymium rods. This "motor" drives the air considerably faster than the conventional pistonic technique. High sensitivity and extraordinary dynamics are the result.

The tweeter's membrane and the coil are one piece thus the efficiency of the whole system is dramatically increased: there is no more energy loss at the joining between the wire coil and the dome – the two move exactly the same instant the current passes through the coil and this results in a better performance.

The custom built folded foil diaphragm sets the JET tweeters fundamentally apart from all conventional tweeters. The lamellar drive "breathes“ the air in and out. The result: ultra smooth treble with stunning transparency.

(click to enlarge) ELAC JET III tweeter with DC ring attached

JET III - How it works?

Current through the membrane 2 causes it to move left and right in magnetic field 6, moving air in and out along directions 8; barriers 4 prevent air from moving in unintended directions.

ELAC JET tweeter - AMT principle
The diaphragm pushes back and forward from itself in a similar physical motion pattern to what is observed when an accordion is squeezed in and out to pump air though the reed chambers, albeit over an exceedingly smaller motion range.

The result is a dipole driver with an extraordinarily rapid response rate, caused both by the extremely low mass of the polyester driver, and by the far smaller motion range it undergoes on each “swing” compared to a dynamic driver. In this technical respect, it shares characteristics with the electrostatic driver.

The discernible motion of each of these diaphragm flexes is very small, but because of the folded structure more air is moved than would be by a conventional cone or electrostatic driver of the same plotted surface area. As a matter of surface comparison, a standard one-inch-wide AMT strip has a functional driver area which is comparable to a circle-shaped dynamic cone with a diameter of eight inches. The folded driver design, combined with the small motive range, means that the AMT acts like a point source version of a larger driver, inherently resulting in lower distortion in sound reproduction. As a result of its motion pattern, the AMT "spits" the air out in a way which is compatible with what happens when, although you apply only a small amount of pressure to a slice of fruit, the pip inside shoots out at high speed. The motion of the air as it leaves the diaphragm is in fact around five times faster than the motion of the actual driver structure. Hence the name Air Motion Transformer.

Further details here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Motion_Transformer .

"ELAC's signature JET tweeter is their advanced development of Dr. Heil's Air Motion Transformer, a transducer without conventional voice coil assembly. A heavily folded Kapton foil membrane sports a chemically bonded aluminum layer etched into which is a quasi voice coil. 0.84mm wide, this driver operates like an accordion, squeezing air out of its folds at high velocities, albeit with the mechanical motion -- and this is the trick -- not in the direction of the listener but crosswise. This concept displaces a lot of air with minimal effort to explain the general claims for high dynamics and good efficiency with AMTs."

Full version: April 2008 issue of fairaudio.de .

 

"The beauty of Heil`s system is that because the 'pleats'in the membrane are highly efficient, the motor system has neither to be large nor high-powered. Also because the pleated membrane is inherently 'loose', its resonant frequency is well outside its operating range – something that can't be said of any dome tweeter ... ELAC calls its version a 'JET' tweeter."

From the "Hi-fi and home theatre technology" magazine (Australia) review on FS 207.2 floorstander: http://www.elac.eu/dbs/tests/2006/060204.html .

 

ELAC 4Pi

- 360 degree omni-directional tweeter -

The 4Pi tweeter was developed by ELAC and members of the Dutch Van den Hul/Bakker group in 1984. The patented 4Pi tweeter became a symbol of high-quality tweeter reproduction.

ELACs engineers designed a new version of drivers for the 600 series!

(click to enlarge) ELAC 4PI - 360 degree omnidirectional ribbon tweeter

The principle of the 360 degree omni-directional tweeter:

A 0.006mm aluminium ribbon tweeter forms a leight-weight diaphragm that provides excellent impulse reproduction. Moving coils that increase the oscillating mass of conventional tweeters and create impulses for reproduction are not essential anymore. The sawtooth-shaped ribbon reinforces the diaphragm and enables increased mobility at higher levels. In comparison to previous models, the arrangement of new neodymium rings create a field of force that provides three times higher efficiency ( + 5 dB) of more than 90 dB/ 2.8 V/m.

The 4Pi tweeter starts off at 4kHz – it yields a resonance-free cut-off frequency of 50kHz and makes this loudspeaker an ideal component for the reproduction of SACD and DVD-A.

The 4Pi technology creates homogenous radiation of high frequencies and offers homogenous sound propagation. Precise imaging and a 360 degree omni-directional sound radiation pattern results in an enlarged actual listening area.

(click to enlarge) ELAC 4PI - 360 degree omnidirectional ribbon tweeter cuttrough
ELAC 4Pi sectional view

 

 

ELAC X-JET

- unique midrange-tweeter driver in coaxial-coplanar design -

The new midrange-tweeter driver in coaxial design "X-JET“ is a unique combination of a flat aluminium honeycomb midrange diaphragm and a concentrically arranged JET tweeter.

(click to enlarge) X-JET exploded view
Exploded view of the X-JET coaxial-coplanar driver

This loudspeaker approaches the ideal point source. The resulting sound radiation offers a new, relaxed and detailed reproduction.

Conventional 2-way loudspeaker
X-JET loudspeaker
conventional and X-JET loudspeaker -  2756 Hz sound wave dispersion - tridimensional pattern comparison
2756 Hz sound wave dispersion - tridimensional pattern comparison

The ultra lightweight honeycomb diaphragm provides a reduced stray magnetic field combined with a strong neodymium drive. The system is driven by a 78 mm moving coil.

Perfect efficiency is achieved using coppered aluminium flat wire, edgewise-wound, on a ventilated capton bobbin. The new system yields a precise upper cut-off frequency of 50 kHz. This makes the loudspeaker an ideal component for the reproduction of DVD-A and SACD.

ELAC X-JET - midrange-tweeter driver in coaxial-coplanar design - sectional view
ELAC X-JET - midrange-tweeter driver in coaxial-coplanar design

 

X-JET and 4Pi

- tridimensional dispersion comparison -

Two unique worlds of hi-end sound reproduction that can be found in one loudspeaker:

- the flag-ship FS 609 X-Pi (X-JET and 4Pi)

or separated:

- FS 210 A (CE), BS 602 X-JET or FS 607 X-JET ( X-JET)

- FS 608-4Pi (4Pi)

X-JET loudspeaker
4Pi two way loudspeaker
X-JET and 4Pi loudspeaker -  5120 Hz sound wave dispersion
5120 Hz sound wave dispersion - tridimensional pattern comparison

 

X-JET and 4Pi loudspeaker -  8127 Hz sound wave dispersion
8127 Hz sound wave dispersion - tridimensional pattern comparison

 

X-JET and 4Pi loudspeaker -  11945 Hz sound wave dispersion
11945 Hz sound wave dispersion - tridimensional pattern comparison

 

X-JET and 4Pi loudspeaker -  16255 Hz sound wave dispersion
16255 Hz sound wave dispersion - tridimensional pattern comparison

 

X-JET versus 4Pi

Stereophonic sound or precise sound?

This is the first time in ELAC history that there are two top models of loudspeakers at the same price, but in different designs of the tweeter/midrange drivers.

The legendary 4Pi tweeter is a 360 °omni-directional ribbon tweeter that sits atop the FS 608-4Pi. Its impressive and silky sound quality gives rise to an airy and easy sound.

However, the X-JET offers a brand-new way of precise and detailed sound reproduction and therefore, a new dimension of listening to music.

Which type is more natural? What is better? The decision depends on your individual taste.

ELAC 607 X-JET and FS 608-4Pi - X-JET or 4Pi ?

 

ELAC AS cone

- paper and aluminium sandwich diaphragms -

Most of ELAC Speakers use ELAC’s proprietary aluminium sandwich technique. All ELAC Aluminium Sandwich drivers are designed, engineered and manufactured in-house at our facility in Kiel, Northern Germany.

ELAC AS cone - paper and aluminium gluing procedure
In a special gluing procedure, a 0.2mm thick aluminium foil layer is combined with a cellulose cone forming a sandwich membrane. Available in a number of sizes from 115mm to 250mm in diameter, both active and passive drivers are used in ELAC cinema packs, stereo speakers (both bookshelf and floorstanding), centre channels and subwoofers. This technique, in combination with ELAC’s special wide double asymmetrical ('DAS') rubber surround, retains the transient benefits of cellulose cones with the torsional rigidity of aluminium and allows exceptionally long cone throw for better handling of high signal levels and low bass.
ELAC AS cone - paper and aluminium gluing procedure
ELAC TT180AS midbass on BS 204.2 stand loudspeaker

 

ELAC AS-XR (Crystal) cone

- paper and aluminium sandwich diaphragms -

The stamping of the aluminium foil looks like the surface of a large crystal, this is where the term "Crystal Membrane" come from. This stamping stiffens the aluminium dome considerably which diminishes the membrane-internal resonances resulting in less sound coloration and additionally improves the large signal behaviour noticeably.
The voice coil is not only - like usually - joined to the neck of the paper cone, but also to the bottom of the aluminium dome. This design results in the expansion of the transmission range of the respective woofers or midrange drivers by nearly an octave. Therefore the abbreviation "XR" (eXtended Range) has been introduced.

Due to the specially wide double asymmetrical ('DAS') rubber surround, ELAC's TT 180 woofer can handle up to ±15mm long stroke. This provides maximum level supply and mellow low bass. For a driver this size, such a large displacement represent a unique engineering achievement.

ELAC AS-XR cone - sectional view explained
ELAC TT180AS-XR midbass - sectional view
ELAC TT180AS-XR midbass on FS 249 floorstand loudspeaker

 

ELAC LLD

- Long Linear Drive driver technology -

 

The new LLD driver technology (Long Linear Drive) is based on the movement of a short-wound coil (winding height: 6.5 mm) in a long air gap (height: 16 mm) with a homogeneous magnetic field. This design results in extremely linear (without distortions) movement within an amplitude of ±8 mm. The voice coil exactly mirrors the applied audio signal.

The maximum displacement is an impressive ±16 mm.

ELAC's new woofers use high-quality titanium bobbins for greater mechanical stability. This also reduces eddy-current losses and helps achieve deeper and more precise bass reproduction.

Neodymium magnets are used to increase magnetic flux density and to save space, providing optimum magnetic field geometry and greater efficiency. Using several small magnetic plates reduces air noise and helps to keep the temperature low even under high load.

The aluminium sandwich woofers of the FS 609 CE, the ELAC 330 CE, and of the SUB 2060 D use this new LLD driver technology.

ELAC LLD driver - magnet system
ELAC LLD driver - sectional view explained
ELAC LLD driver - exploded view

 

ELAC Cross-Frame Hybrid Technology

- aluminium casting and MDF hybrid cabinet -

This special cabinet consists of a combination of extruded aluminium design, aluminium casting and MDF with horizontal and vertical internal tension rods. This patented design concept offers optimized sound and avoids resonances.

ELAC aluminium casting and MDF hybrid cabinet - see trough
ELAC aluminium casting and MDF hybrid cabinet - sectional inside view

 

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