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Stylos User's Manual
The Electrostatic Concept
How can sound be reproduced by something that you are
able to see through? Electrostatic energy makes this
possible.
Where the world of traditional loudspeaker technology
deals with cones, domes, diaphragms and ribbons that
are moved with magnetism, the world of electrostatic
loudspeakers deals with charged electrons attracting and
repelling each other.
To fully understand the electrostatic concept, some
background information will be helpful. Remember when
you learned, in a science or physics class, that like
charges repel each other and
opposite charges attract each
other? Well, this principle is the
foundation of the electrostatic
concept.
An electrostatic transducer
consists of three pieces: the
stators, the diaphragm and the
spacers.
See Figure 1
. The
diaphragm is what actually
moves to excite the air and
create music. The stator's job is
to remain stationary, hence the
word stator, to provide a
reference point for the moving
diaphragm. The spacers
provide the diaphragm with a
fixed distance in which to move
between the stators.
As your amplifier sends music
signals to an electrostatic
speaker, these signals are
changed into two high-voltage
signals that are equal in
strength but opposite in polarity.
These high voltage signals are
then applied to the stators. The
resulting electrostatic field,
created by the opposing high
voltage on the stators, works
simultaneously with and
against the diaphragm,
consequently moving it back
and forth, producing music. This
Magnet
An Electromagnetic TransducerAn Electromagnetic Transducer
An Electromagnetic TransducerAn Electromagnetic Transducer
An Electromagnetic Transducer
Surround
Cone
Dust Cap
Voice Coil Former
Magnet Assembly
Magnetic GapVoice Coil
Basket Assembly
Figure 2.Figure 2.
Figure 2.Figure 2.
Figure 2. Cut away view of a typical moving coil driver.
Notice the complexity due to the high number of parts.
Spider
An Electrostatic TransducerAn Electrostatic Transducer
An Electrostatic TransducerAn Electrostatic Transducer
An Electrostatic Transducer
Stator
Spacer
Diaphragm
Figure 1Figure 1
Figure 1Figure 1
Figure 1. Cut away view of an electrostatic transducer.
Notice the simplicity due to minimal parts usage.
technique is known as push-pull operation and is a major
contributor to the sonic purity of the electrostatic concept
due to its exceptional linearity and low distortion.
Since the diaphragm of an electrostatic speaker is
uniformly driven over its entire area, it can be extremely
light and flexible. This allows it to be very responsive to
transients, thus perfectly tracing the music signal. As a
result, great delicacy, nuance and clarity is possible.
When you look at the problems of traditional electromag-
netic drivers, you can easily see why this is so beneficial.
The cones and domes which are used in traditional
electromagnetic drivers cannot be driven uniformly
because of their design.
Cones are driven only at the
apex. Domes are driven at
their perimeter. As a result,
the rest of the cone or dome
is just "along for the ride". The
very concept of these drivers
require that the cone or dome
be perfectly rigid, damped
and massless. Unfortunately
these conditions are not
available in our world today.
To make these cones and
domes move, all electromag-
netic drivers must use voice
coils wound on formers,
spider assemblies, and
surrounds to keep the cone
or dome in position.
See
Figure 2.
These pieces, when
combined with the high mass
of the cone or dome materials
used, make it an extremely
complex unit with many
weaknesses and potential for
failure. These faults contrib-
ute to the high distortion
products found in these
drivers and is a tremendous
disadvantage when you are
trying to change motion as
quickly and as accurately as
a loudspeaker must (40,000
times per second!).