Supplemental Technical Information For Model: Thiel Mcs1
Supplemental Technical Information For Model: Thiel Mcs1
Supplemental Technical Information For Model: Thiel Mcs1
THIEL MCS1
Coherent Source Loudspeaker
This paper contains only information specific to the MCS1 speaker system. It is intended to supplement the general technical information paper which explains our engineering philosophy, goals and techniques.
47 Hz - 23 kHz 50 Hz - 20 KHz 2 dB minimum 5 90 dB @ 2.8 v-1m 4, 3 minimum 50-300 watts 10 x 12 x 28.5 inches 61 lb
Midrange
4.5" (2.7" radiating area) with anodized aluminum diaphragm, cast frame, 1" dia voice coil. Underhung coil (short coil/long gap) motor system. Linear travel 1/8" pk-pk. Magnet weight of 1 lb. plus 1 lb. shielding magnet plus .4 oz. neodymium magnet powers midrange and tweeter. Copper pole sleeve. Ferrofluid. Made by THIEL.
Tweeter
1" (1.2" radiating area) with anodized aluminum dome. Powered by midrange motor. Coincident with midrange.
7/00
Frequency response
The graphs below show the frequency response of the MCS1. The upper graph shows the (normal) on-axis response and illustrates the very high degree of accuracy; no frequency is under or over emphasized more than 2 dB. The second graph shows the on-axis, octave-averaged response. This curve is representative of the speakers tonal balance and shows that the MCS1 is very accurately balanced, especially through the midrange where any over or under emphasis is less than 0.5 dB. The third graph shows the 30 off-axis, octave averaged response and illustrates that the speakers overall energy response is well balanced, with no large depressions in any area of the spectrum. This high degree of uniformity is in part the result of the MCS1s first order crossover system.
25
Amplitude dB
Frequency
Step response
This graph shows the MCS1s response to a step signal. Notice that the overall triangular shape is very well preserved with the output remaining smoothly positive until 2.6 ms when it finally crosses zero due to the fact that the bass response extends to 50 Hz rather than DC. The irregularities seen in the first few hundred microseconds are due to the tweeter diaphragm resonance at the ultrasonic frequency of about 23 KHz. Waveform accuracy this good can only be achieved with first order crossovers and time coherent driver positioning.
Virtual driver
DAppolito drivers performance at low frequencies is equivalent to a center located virtual driver.
At mid frequencies where the driver spacing is greater than the wavelength coherence is not maintained.
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
Output
To maintain a coherent wavefront through the mid frequencies the MCS1 utilizes a 3-way configuration which Time response allows the woofers to operate only below 800 Hz. Coherence of The energy-time response of the MCS1 shows that the the high frequencies with the mid (and low) frequencies is speakers output quickly decays to -40 dB in less than 1.5 provided by coaxially mounting the tweeter with the mid driver. milliseconds, indicating very clean inter-transient silence. Such So, by utilizing the topology of coaxially mounted tweeter performance is the result of metal diaphragms that have no and mid drivers flanked by a pair of woofers, the MCS1 provides resonances within their operating frequency range and very a time coherent wavefront at all frequencies and in all directions. strong cabinet construction. In other words, even an off-axis listener will always hear the 5 sound from Acoustic Acoustic 0 plane plane each of the -5 -10 drivers at the -15 Normal Shallow same time. -20 woofer MCS1 -25 To diaphragm diaphragm -30 maintain time -35 coherence the Recessed 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 Time msec coax coaxially mounted drivers must be aligned with the woofers. Usual woofers are deep enough that the coaxial drivers would need to be recessed to a degree that would cause substantial diffraction and horn loading effects. To avoid this problem woofer diaphragms of a very shallow shape were developed for the MCS1. The diaphragms use polystyrene reinforcement to maintain high strength with a very shallow profile.
Output dB
Time msec
The most unusual technical feature of the MCS1 is its use of a compound driver where the tweeter dome and the midrange cone are both driven by a single voice coil. The advantages of Cast aluminum chassis Aluminum diaphragm this unique driver are that perfectly time-coherent performance is achieved without the cost and complexity of two magnet Large magnet structures or an electrical crossover network for the mid-toLong magnetic gap tweeter transition. The design is implemented with a mechanical Shielding magnet crossover a coupling suspension between the coil and the midrange cone. By optimizing the compliance and damping of the coupling suspension and the ratios of area and mass of the two diaphragms, the driver exhibits extremely uniform response from 100 Hz to 20 KHz.
(shielding cup not shown)
Compound driver
Moving system
midrange cone
midrange suspension
voice coil
Mechanical crossover
Short voice coil Polystyrene diaphragm reinforcement
Amplitude dB
10 5 0 -5 -10
Combined output
Tweeter
-15 -20 -25
Midrange
20
100
1K
10K
20K
Frequency
8 Conventional motor 6
peak excursion mm
THIEL 1026 Nandino boulevard Lexington, Kentucky 40511 USA Telephone: 859-254-9427 Fax: 859-254-0075 E-mial: [email protected] Web: www.thielaudio.com