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Why not acoustic suspension?

When I was young, late 60's early 70's, the sealed or acoustic suspension speakers were quite commonplace. Now bass reflex, ported speakers seem to be much more common. My understanding is that both speaker designs, assuming competent design will perform very well. Perhaps with the ported getting a slightly lower bass response and higher efficiency gives it the edge. Thinking efficiency though, amplifier watts don't cost that much more today so it doesn't seem like a deal maker. What I don't understand from a pragmatic corporate standpoint is why more acoustic suspension speakers aren't available. My understanding is that the sealed speaker box can be smaller which would be a plus from a cost standpoint, both in less material, lighter cabinet and more speakers could be shipped in a truck reducing shipping cost. Any thoughts as to why the industry has shifted so hard in the bass reflex direction?

61falcon
oldrooney's avatar
oldrooney
268 posts
 

It is for posts like this that I keep coming back to Audiogon! Great discussion, learned several things about the two sets of vintage acoustic speakers I own, KLH Model 17 with up-graded tweeters, and a mixed pair of AR-2’s (one = 3-way AR-2ax; one = 2-way AR-2a). The 3-way sounds much better to me. The plan is to convert the AR-2a to an AR-2ax, but that will mean replacing the baffle in the AR-2a. 

tablejockey
4,403 posts
 

I’ve used this acoustic suspension/sealed speaker- Opera Seconda off and on for 15 years.

Currently use ESL’s.

Convincing/impactful bass at all volume levels. 2 REL subs used for full immersion. A poor mans Sonus Faber-Italian, beautiful veneer/leather. I use tube power.

vinylguy2016
23 posts
 

I am still enjoying my vintage pair of AR-2ax speakers, owned since the late 1960's!  They have the impregnated cloth woofer surrounds, which did not deteriorate like the foam surrounds that AR used in later production runs in the 1970's. 

I did have to replace the corroded level controls, a single mid-range and a single dome tweeter - but these 10 inch woofers have survived all these years, and still sound great.  They really shine when reproducing pipe organ recordings, and I never felt the need to add subwoofers to my system.  These relatively compact acoustic suspension units can smoothly pump out the low frequencies, without distortion or boominess.  A shame that these types of speakers have almost disappeared from the market place today! 

 

 

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