Klipsch P-17B, P-37F Treble Compression Driver, Crossover Network, Cabinet, Tractrix Horn Design

Loudspeaker Components -2 Loudspeaker Components -3

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Treble Compression Driver

Low distortion, high sensitivity, wide bandwidth and neutral tonality have been, in this ground-breaking design, pushed beyond the standards for any previous Klipsch driver.

Built around a .75-inch titanium dome, the tweeter makes use of two very large high temperature N35H neodymium magnets in an unconventional configura- tion. The titanium dome and surround are formed as one common unit.

The chamber behind the tweeter dome is resistively damped via a filled tube to

reduce reflection of the back wave—and thereby the distortion that would otherwise be produced.

The phase plug that puts the dome into a compression mode also has a unique chamber within it that extends the upper frequency limit of the driver. This proprietary technique offers numerous benefits, including the elimina- tion of undesirable standing waves in the high pressure layer between the phase plug and horn. The result is a smooth impedance transfer function, and a benign load on the partnering amplifier. Additionally, this technique produces smoother amplitude response through the high frequency range. With its unique horn and phase plug,

the tweeter demands far less drive current from the ampli- fier, so the driver can maintain full dynamic capability at any volume level.

This driver is inherently flat from 3 KHz to 30 KHz. and has an inherent sensitivity some 10 dB greater than direct radiating designs. Distortion is also reduced by a factor of 10 dB, against conventional tweeters.

Crossover Network		Bass Network
Through very accurate driver engineering, the system offers excellent perfor-
mance without the need for corrections in the crossover network. A cross-
over should provide a smooth transition from driver to driver, allowing each
element to operate at its optimum performance within its designed frequency
range. This accomplished, the network can be a straightforward design and
use extremely high quality parts without imposing unnecessary budget con-
straints. A simple, elegant crossover also means the speaker will have a more
direct and coherent character as compared with products that must employ
complex networks to iron out their shortcomings. Polyester capacitors along
Mid and Treble Network	with all air-core inductors, ensure
	best performance and longev-
	ity. The network produces

afourth-order electro-acoustic filter when combined with the smooth, natural roll off of the drivers.

Cabinet

Functionally, any loudspeaker enclosure provides a mechanical placement

of each transducer, a method for suppressing acoustical radiations and a reso- nant chamber to extend low frequency performance. The Palladium Series is an artistic blend of beauty and functional performance. Its industrial design was guided by the global consultancy of BMW Group DesignworksUSA.

Enclosure resonances can be suppressed through the geometry of the enclo- sure and mass of the panels. The Palladium Series enclosures contain nonpar- allel wall structures and thick, high mass walls. Nonparallel wall structures sig- nificantly decrease standing waves. Cabinet wall thicknesses are a minimum of 1-inch thick with

an even thicker front baffle. Custom inner and

outer laminated panels sandwich a middle layer of dissimilar material designed with a different mechanical impedance to ensure the cabinet does not color the sound.

To further increase enclosure stiffness, “H” braces are strategically positioned in the enclosure to reinforce the structure, control resonance and minimize modal stand- ing waves. The massive front baffle design allows all woofers and the mid/high horn structure to mount flush to the exterior edge. The width of the front baffle has also been minimized to decrease the total area. A smaller front baffle directly correlates to improved off-axis performance. The overall enclosure was designed to extend the low frequency response of the woofers. This fourth-order, vented enclosure contains tuned ports cleverly blended into the rear of the enclosure. Just below the ports on the P-38F and P-37F , a high mass aluminum and steel base is integrated into the bottom of the enclosure. The base contains four adjustable floor anchors, which decouple the cabinet from the floor by supporting the cabinet at just four points.

Tractrix® Horn Design

Horn-loaded technology is the driving force behind the remark- ably accurate Klipsch sound. Horns offer high efficiency, low distortion, controlled directivity and flat frequency response, allowing them to more closely reproduce the quality and tonal characteristics of live sound. In the Palladium Series, the high and mid-frequency drivers both use the latest evolution of our Tractrix® Horn design, featuring a 90° x 60° coverage pattern and a lofted throat design for exemplary on-axis response. These horns have been molded as a single unit, using a proprietary, acoustically in- ert, carbon-infused thermoset composite material. The high- and mid-frequency drivers are connected to the horns via chamber- dampened phase plugs that result in a 4:1 compression ratio, delivering remarkable efficiency with astonishingly low distortion. This arrangement allows the Palladium Series to provide a unique combination of precision, clarity and effortless power.

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