Thursday 29 November 2018

Hadron: Product descriptions, specifications and the most common question: "How does it sound?".



A manufacturer must offer product information and I would like to do this in the following context.

As perfectly natural as it is to request information and specifications it is difficult to provide, it in a useful way, for several reasons.

The first reason is that audio manufacturer specifications are uncontrolled publications with no independent oversight agency. People can literally say whatever they like about their product. The result is that specifications have simply become a boasting platform of commercial interest, and little else, with no common language or regulation. What a manufacturer means by 20hz to 20,000hz frequency response has little relation to what a collective consciousness understands it as. To enter into this arena is compromising at best.

Much of what we are looking for in audio is not described in specifications.

As a result, it is understandable that, specifications are often misunderstood.

In this context here is the following information about the Hadron Loudspeaker.

The Hadron has several interesting design features.

Drivers are high efficiency, mixing what is considered vintage technology, like low Xmax, fabric surrounds, curvilinear paper cones, field coils, etc... with newer technology like Mylar, Beryllium, and more recent horn expansions such as JMLC.


The bass driver breaks the 100dB barrier at 101dB efficiency, with field coil magnet, exponential, curvilinear paper cone and textile surround. It has an Xmax of 4mm and a moving mass of 18g. 



The compression driver in its horn is 115db efficient attenuated with nickel core transformer. It features copper clad, aluminium, edge wound, ribbon voice coil, copper faraday stabilised magnetic field and Beryllium diaphragm with Mylar surround. It has an extended response to 25,000hz.

The JMLC horns are individually designed with the cabinet to align the specific drivers physically in the time domain.

Acoustic centres of the drivers are located within the crossover frequency wavelength distance.

These two elements combine to provide point source presentation with minimised acoustic lobing.





Cabinets are modelled with golden section curvatures providing even proportions and cancelations of rear waves. Surfaces are amorphous to randomise, cancel and reduce reflections of medium and high frequency levels. They are constructed from selected coniferous woods which are laminated and then milled from a single block. They are finished with resin which has appropriate resonance characteristics as well as an attractive appearance.




The rear wave, reflex alignment is a critical element. There are many, many variations. The Hadron's alignment has been derived from the vintage genre which allows the driver to maintain its speed with a more generous volume and port size than is commonly used today. 





Crossovers are the product of reductive design and overbuild philosophy. Countless steps are taken in modelling, proving, measuring and listening for performance before being distilled, element by element to be made as simple as possible. Component size and quality are then selected to grossly exceed requirements for lowered losses and robust reliability. Crossover point is near 950hz.


Room response will vary depending on room and placement. It is not unreasonable to expect 40hz and below in an average sized room. We also offer an additional small sized, open baffle bass system which matches in speed and triode amplifier character with response flat to 20hz with 15hz at -3db. Few find the need for this augmentation.

"How does it sound?" 
The response is reasonably flat and overall distortions are low. There are nice waterfall, and transient response plots. However the real intention is have music after the modelling and measurements are done. The ear is still given priority to ensure the music remains intact at each stage. 

When asked about drivers the inclination is to reply: "Is it the string or the Stradivarius which makes the sound?" 







When asked how much distortion, the reply: "How much would you like?" comes to mind.





In the end it is about the human adeptness, care and attention which goes into each loudspeaker. In a familiar restaurant it is easy to know who is, or is not, in the kitchen when the plate is set on the table. In much the same way it is identifiable when a manufacture lives up to this claim or does not. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. The rest, in my humble opinion, is essentially smoke.







The Hadron Loudspeaker

Hear it for yourself.




Please email us to book an appointment, further information or to place an order.


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