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RE: Just how low can that Maggie ribbon go?

Posted by josh358 (P) on February 17, 2011 at 19:32:06

In Reply to: Just how low can that Maggie ribbon go? posted by Webnick on February 17, 2011 at 15:32:46:

I think that would depend on the maximum level you want. For a given SPL, excursion increases rapidly as frequency goes down. At some point, that will distend a ribbon to the point at which it stretches and sags, or, worse, break it. It would also depend on the slope of the crossover -- a higher slope crossover would allow a lower crossover frequency.

I believe I read somewhere that the 2.6 ribbons are thicker than the other ones. Magenpan may also have assumed lower maximum SPL's.

In any case, it is possible to use a true ribbon at lower frequencies, Apogee used them in the midrange. But their midrange ribbons were 3" wide, which gave them substantially more output for a given excursion. Also, they had a tendency to become unstable at high SPL's.

Using two quarter inch ribbons would allow a slightly lower crossover point, but the effect would be marginal and you'd have problems with lobing and dispersion, have to use a .5 way crossover. Not worth it, I think. But an Apogee-style 3" ribbon might be. Another problem with a wider ribbon is that the impedance drops, meaning you need a transformer, or a Krell. Later Apogees got around this limitation (and Magnepan's patents?) by putting three conductors on a Mylar backing.

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