Electrostatic Loudspeaker Design Cookbook

The electrostatic loudspeaker has intreagued music lovers since their first commercial introduction just after World War II. Hearing music via such a device often turns ordinary music listeners into dedicated, passionate partisans of this transducer format as the only true path to accurate sound reproduction. Add to this the additional incentive that such speakers can be constructed out of readily available materials, and the convert turns into a devotee ready to invest quantities of time and energy into the nearest equivalent of the perfect loudspeaker.

The ability to move a panel of graphite impregnated plastic immersed in a high-voltage field with an audio signal has fascinated audiophiles since the earliest days of high quality sound reproduction after World War II. This enthusiasm leads inevitably into explorations of the legendary output transformerless amplifier (OTL) genre since such devices match their high impedance outputs ideally to the electrostatic's input. Then there is the electrostatic headphone sideshow which beckons tantalizingly.

No one writing about the elecrostatic has contributed more to the success of amateur electrostatic speaker builders than Roger R. Sanders. His first article on the topic appeared in The Audio Amateur in 1975. His designs were inspired, to some extent, by the pioneering work of David Hermeyer, who published a series of Audio Amateur articles on building electrostatics, along with power amplifiers designed to drive them.

This volume is an encyclopedic exploration of the important issues, tradeoffs, and technical questions involved in building the radiating, electrostatically charged panel surfaces which make up the electrostatic loudspeaker. Construction advice for both flat and curved panels is offered, along with plans for the necessary interfaces and drive requirements, and power supply and crossover suggestions. In addition, Sanders provides guidance for building low-frequency systems to supplement the electrostatics for complete frequency coverage. Fully indexed with a thorough, descriptive glossary, parts sources, and a complete bibliography.