Loudspeaker Design Cookbook

Rating:
Summary: Not a cookbook at all.
Review: This book is very confusing to the uninitiated reader and tends to assume you have expensive commercial software which might be cost effective for speaker designers but not the homebuilder. He covers a lot of material, and only determined and patient amateurs or pros with formal education are going to get very far.

The DIY audio world, except for the hard core horn speaker/triode amp contingent, is as someone here pointed out very insular and consists of a few authors for Ed Dell's "Audio Amateur' and its descendants. I have been a loyal subscriber since the early eighties and it's sadly apparent that the publication (now AudioXPress) is in its last days. While the High End industry gets more esoteric and expensive every year, it's obvious now that its market is to people who specifically want really expensive and bizarre looking items for prestiege and ego gratification.

A simple guide to building a few different speakers is probably what most readers expect, and this isn't that book.

This is just not a suitable book for loudspeaker construction for the amateur, which is what its title (at least, to me) implies.

Rating:
Summary: Definitely not a How To manual
Review: As an Electrical Engineering student now working on a P.A. loudspeaker, I found this book a good introduction to the fundamentals of the Thile/Small Parameters theory. I suppose it is an excellent DIY guide for the amateurs looking for a few more equations. However, the equations are definately insufficient for the professional.

A lot of space is spent on diagrams giving information already implied by previous ones. Additionally the hole book is based upon simulations by a $2500 software pack (LEAP & FilterShop by LinearX)! I cannot think of any amateur willing to spend $2500 in order to build a home loudspeaker. For the professionals using this software pack it is more than certain they need more specialized books.

Rating:
Summary: Awsome Book for the Price
Review: I have read about a dozen books on Loudspeakers and of them this was the most helpful by far. Unlike most books on the subject, this one has plenty of graphs so you can see the effects of different design methods. This book also has the most in-depth look at crossover design I have read in any book bar none. It looks at crossover design both with AND WITHOUT the use of design software.

However, if you are designing without software be prepared for a bit of trial and error. It's a well- known fact of crossover design that you need to go through a few iterations before you get it right. If you have powerful computer software such as LEAP, you can let the computer do the dirty work.

Also, be aware that designing and building monitor loudspeakers will NOT save you money. You will find that the cost of test equipment and parts will exceed the cost of a pair of excellent loudspeakers. If you are looking to save money, you should probably replicate some designs that Vance Dickason shows in this book.

On the other hand, if you are interested in owning high performance subwoofers, you can save yourself $500 or more by designing your own. This is because you don't need to buy expensive test equipment and design crossovers. You can just use a few proven methods and formulas contained in this book along with some killer deal drivers available through the Internet. I recommend the Adire Shivas 12" drivers available at www.adireaudio.com.

This book will teach you proven methods for designing and building your own great sounding speakers. In addition it hosts a couple ready-to-build loudspeaker systems that Vance Dickason designed. Vance Dickason is one of the most respected loudspeaker engineers in the industry. Take advantage of his years of experience and buy this book today.

Rating:
Summary: Classic revisited, but the publisher was a bit unpolished
Review: The design for two speaker systems (a 5-speakerhome theater system and "high-end" studio monitor pair) are included in the book. Enough information exists to reproduce them from commercially available sources. When you find them, you'll realize that the DIY world is small and cozy. The only outside confirmation on their quality is from Dickason's collaborator and colleague at Atlantic Technology. (Dickason notes that if his colleague thinks " . . .they're good, then they're good.") One is left to trust the author.

Very adequately covered is box-design, a major part of a quality speaker. Dickason presents enough charts and tables for one to design these on their own.
Unfortunately, the other major aspect of speaker design, the crossover, is carried out with a software package that cost in excess of $2000. Without it, you'll have to pay to have the design done for you..I should note that Dickason shows that excellent cross-over designs are possible with this software.

This is no doubt a comprehensive text, but you'll have to become your own instructor.

Rating:
Summary: A cookbook with two recipes
Review: The design for two speaker systems (a 5-speakerhome theater system and "high-end" studio monitor pair) are included in the book. Enough information exists to reproduce them from commercially available sources. When you find them, you'll realize that the DIY world is small and cozy. The only outside confirmation on their quality is from Dickason's collaborator and colleague at Atlantic Technology. (Dickason notes that if his colleague thinks " . . .they're good, then they're good.") One is left to trust the author.

Very adequately covered is box-design, a major part of a quality speaker. Dickason presents enough charts and tables for one to design these on their own.
Unfortunately, the other major aspect of speaker design, the crossover, is carried out with a software package that cost in excess of $2000. Without it, you'll have to pay to have the design done for you..I should note that Dickason shows that excellent cross-over designs are possible with this software.

This is no doubt a comprehensive text, but you'll have to become your own instructor.

Rating:
Summary: excellent guide to starting loudspeaker design
Review: This is one of the most common and useful books around. It covers everything crossovers, sealed systems, mid-high range systems, box construction, and car and home audio. I can't not reccomend this book enough for starting off. It has all the information you need to start almost any project. While being a good starting point the book is very complex thoughout and takes a while to digest. I find that I am constantly refering to this book when I need some information or design guidepoints. There are a very large number of graphs. This book does have some editing errors and mistakes which are negligible. I am sure you while use this book for years designing your own loudspeaker systems.

Rating:
Summary: Building your own speakers? This is the book for you!
Review: Too bad that Amazon has it listed as a special order item. The Loudspeaker Design Cookbook by Vance Dickanson, currently in its 6th edition, will teach you more than you ever wanted to know or even thought existed when it comes to both the art and (mostly) science of desgining loudspeaker systems. You'll also find out first hand how useful that algebra you learned in high school really is.

This book covers the most popular types of enclosures from the simple acoustic suspension (think old AR and Kloss designs) to ported bass reflex and bandpass designs that are so popular now. There is also a wealth of information on crossover design.

Dickanson builds upon the work of Thiele and Small in treating speaker systems with filter theory. The days of building a box, sticking a driver in it and hoping for the best are gone. Among amateur speaker builders, and even some pros, this is the one book that you just have to have on your shelf. It's simply the best of its kind.

Rating:
Summary: Not for Beginners - Some Gems for Enthusiasts and Pro's
Review: Warning: This book is not for beginners. Hard core hobbyists or speaker design professionals may find some useful models, empirical studies and references in this book. For the beginner, the minimum vital data needed to design and build a speaker is interwoven in to a jumble of esoteric empirical tests and computer simulations. For the more experienced speaker builder, the depth of this book is great and the footnote references are very complete. While the breadth is great, the depth of technical explanation for fundamental speaker enclosure modeling physics was a lacking. I guess I need to buy another book or research the footnotes myself.

This book could be a lot better with some solid editing. The writing - for the most part - is clear, but there are sections that are hard to read and there are some errors. The fonts are too small (many of the subscripts are illegible). The graphics are horrible. The book has over 100 frequency domain plots (developed with speaker CAD packages), which are illegible and poorly labeled. Most of the graphics are nowhere near the text.

I give this book two stars because of the breadth and the references, but it's no cookbook. You won't be able to look up a recipe and cook up a speaker.