Audiophile Glossary: Materials
Join us as we explore the role of materials in audio equipment in our audiophile glossary. We’ll break down how choices like gold-plated connectors or wooden headphone cups can influence your listening experience, helping you make informed decisions about your gear. Let’s delve into the material world of music together!
A
Aluminum:
A commonly used metal often chosen for its lightweight and structural strength. Aluminum often comprises speaker cabinets and tweeters, turntable tonearms, and power amplifier heat sinks.
C
Commonly used in Hi-Fi systems as it is an excellent conductor of electricity, which is essential for transmitting audio signals without interference. Copper is often used in the wiring and cabling of audio equipment, including speaker cables and interconnects. Using copper in audio equipment can improve sound quality, allowing for a more accurate and detailed audio signal transmission. Additionally, copper is often preferred over other materials due to its affordability and availability.
Copper can be subject to oxidation and corrosion, resulting in a loss of conductivity and reduced sound quality over time. Additionally, the quality of copper can vary widely, with some grades being more suitable for use in high-end audio equipment than others. Finally, the use of copper in audio equipment can result in the introduction of unwanted noise and interference, especially if the cables are not properly shielded or if they are too long. Copper is essential in Hi-Fi systems, but using high-quality copper properly is important to ensure the best possible sound quality.
M
A material used in the construction of high-fidelity loudspeakers. It is a proprietary material developed by Dynaudio, a Danish loudspeaker manufacturer, and is used in their high-end speaker lines. The material is known for its stiffness, which allows for accurate sound reproduction even at high volumes, and its low resonance, which reduces distortion. However, MSP is also known for being relatively expensive and difficult to work with, making it challenging to produce speakers with this material.
P
A type of wood panel made from thin layers of wood veneer that are glued together. It is commonly used in constructing speaker cabinets due to its strength and durability. Plywood can also affect a speaker's sound quality by influencing the cabinet's resonance and vibration. The plywood's thickness and composition can impact the speaker's sound signature, affecting the overall frequency response and tonality. Therefore, selecting the right type of plywood and construction method is important in achieving high-fidelity audio.
A synthetic material commonly used in speaker design due to its durability and ability to produce clear, accurate sound. It often creates speaker cones, surrounds, and other components. One of the advantages of polyurethane is that it can withstand high temperatures and humidity, making it ideal for use in outdoor or high-moisture environments. However, some people believe that polyurethane can produce a harsh or artificial sound and may prefer the more natural sound produced by other materials.
Polyurethane foam is also commonly used in headphone earpads for its ability to provide comfort and isolate external noise. The foam conforms to the user's ears, creating a seal that blocks out ambient sounds and provides a cushioned surface for extended listening sessions. However, some users may find that polyurethane foam can become hot and uncomfortable over time or compress and lose shape with heavy use. Again, the use of polyurethane foam in headphone earpads is a matter of personal preference and depends on the specific needs and preferences of the user.
S
Used specifically for speakers, this is typically a thin layer of silk that is stretched over a metal frame. The silk is chosen for its ability to produce a smooth, natural sound, and the metal frame is used to provide support and ensure that the tweeter is properly aligned with the other drivers in the speaker. Overall, silk dome tweeters are known for their high level of accuracy and detail, particularly in the mid-to-high frequency range.
A proprietary material made by Focal using a unique blend of recycled, non-woven carbon fibers and thermoplastic polymer. The combination of these materials not only ensures that the product is eco-friendly and offers numerous benefits that are not available with traditional cones. For instance, Slatefiber is designed to be more durable and resistant to wear and tear, which makes it an ideal choice for various applications. Additionally, it has been proven to provide enhanced performance, which means it can outperform traditional cones in many different ways. With its unique combination of materials and impressive performance, Slatefiber is a revolutionary product unlike anything else on the market today.