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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Of great appeal to both the lay and the expert., 17 Mar 2002
The format of this book is unusual in that the chapters are written by different authors, many of which will be names familiar to enthusiasts and engineers. Peter Baxandall and Martin Colloms to name but two. John Borwick has done a skilful editing job in dovetailing the contributors topics such that they are complementary rather than an assemblage of engineering papers. Not that chapters are immune from 'academic defect', whereby theory is presented implicitly rather than explicitly, but on the whole the information is readily accessible. Throughout the book, the well proportioned text is appropriately laced with intelligible equations, copious diagrams, charts and photographs.Aspects of loudspeaker technology, environment and usage are explored in lay terms and deeper theoretical basis. As such there is a wealth of material for both the beginner and educated engineers. Ultimately of course the focused expert would require more arcane theory, but is well directed by the comprehensive references. Also included is a welcome reference section on terminology and symbols. Refreshingly there is little discussion of the 'audiophile' pseudo technology which has no place in authoritative literature. The only chapter which rankles slightly concerns DML technology (NXT flat panel distributed mode loudspeaker). It lacked the usual objectivity and tended to be glib. Nevertheless, if you want to learn about the theory and practice of flat panel speakers this is a very good reference. Perhaps the chapter on headphones sits a little uncomfortably with the other fifteen chapters, being essentially a tangential discipline. It is however comprehensive, furnishing information not generally available and will be of interest to those concerned with the 'dirty end' of sound reproduction. Readers should be satisfied by the range and depth of the topics though there are a couple of omissions. A chapter devoted to feedback would have been good, also greater examination of the effects and implications of acoustic phase in complex environments. Microphones, which legitimately might be included in the topic also only receive cursory attention. This is a well balanced, contemporary, wide ranging professional book which will appeal to all levels of expertise. Never simplistic or obscure. The title actually understates the authority. It is a 'handbook' only in the sense of a reference book, not small and brief. To do the volume justice it would have to be called 'Loudspeakers, how they work, where they work, how to use them, a bit of history, problems, solution, alternative technologies and a hundred pages on headphones'.
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