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The Solus 'DR-ir6' is a legitimate advanced technology, two-way high performance loudspeaker system made for custom in- wall installation where external or free-standing speakers are prohibited by space limitations, or architectural considerations are primary. It is intended for use as a high quality home theater surround sound / sound distribution loudspeaker as well as a high-end audio loudspeaker for in-wall placement.
System Parts
Physical components include a molded 3/4 inch lip-edged frame mold of 10 1/2" by 14 1/8" polystyrene as a wall mount with 4 hardened plastic screw-held clamping feet attached for securing the frame to the wall. There are also 4 protruding feet as part of the frame itself each with a hole down the center. These frame feet allow for direct stud secure attachment by putting a screw through each foot into the wall stud. The stud attachment can be optimized by wedging a ¼" rubber O-ring between the stud and the frame foot, and then securing with a screw through all three. Such attachment now allows for isolation from vibration for improved bass response and overall clarity as well as solid stud securement, a unique installation advantage of Solus Diamond Reference Series products. The speaker baffle itself holds secure an 6.5" co-polymer cone woofer, a 5" 'Planar-Ribbon' extended range driver, and a linear phase, 6db/octave filter with accompanying Zobel network. Both drivers are proprietary designs, designed, tested, and QC'd by Solus. The filter network is computer optimized for integration with the above drivers. A fitted metal grill covers the system with final finish out flush with the wall. Both the frame and grill, which come standard in decorator white, are easily paintable and cloth coverable for custom matching applications. The grill is also primer treated for use in high moisture area applications such as bathrooms.
Solus Components - DR-ir6 Woofer
Components include a proprietary 6.5" talc damped polypropylene, focus field woofer integrated with Solus's unique 'Planar-Ribbon' extended range driver. The woofer cone is inert enough to dampen all unwanted spurious signal responses yet rigid enough for high power, low distortion performance. A Nitryl surround is used that is light in weight allowing for 89db efficiency at one meter with 2.83 volts input. The surround material is, while light weight, dense and inert effectively eliminating unwanted frequency disturbing signal reflections off the frame. It's inverted roll structure also eliminates edge reflections usually occurring around 1200 Hz in a woofer of this size. Gained is a smooth, clean, extended frequency response with predictable roll off rate attenuation, a necessary quality for use with minimum phase filter networks to achieve total system optimization.
Enhanced power handling capacity has been gained through the use of Black Kevlar* voice coil formers. Besides being lightweight and rigid in structure, it uniquely radiates heat to the pole piece and top plate more efficiently than aluminum yet doesn't conduct heat longitudinally to the temperature sensitive coil / cone juncture. The result is greater thermal cooling, less chance for overheating, and greater power handling capacity.
These benefits are further enhanced with Solus' shaped magnetic gap, which yields greater efficiency, damping, and lower harmonic distortion at high listening levels. This is accomplished through the use of an undercut or 'T' shaped pole piece and chamfered top plate focusing magnetic lines of force evenly into the gap. The end result is a symmetrical energy field drive. To ensure evenness of mass to compliment this feature split lead wires are used, one on each side of the cone.
Unique to Solus in the DR-ir6 woofer is its optimized high frequency roll off. It is specifically engineered to achieve a 12db per/octave roll off at a specified frequency such that when integrated with a single pole, minimum phase filter network a perfect 18db acoustic roll off is achieved. First order filter networks have always been revered for their open, uncompressed sonic attributes, but have not been protective enough of driver components for long term high power handling usage. When combined with the DR-ir6 'Planar-Ribbon' driver, engineered to achieve the same results at the low end of it's response, perfectly symmetrical 18db/octave Butterworth, highly protective acoustic slopes are achieved and system network and performance integrity become optimized. Clean, high output levels are enjoyed with an uncommon openness, seemingly effortless, uncompressed, spatial presentation.
DR-ir6 'Planar-Ribbon' Extended Range Driver
Phenomenal transient response, flat frequency response (+/- .6 db from 2 KHz to beyond 50 KHz), and a flat, amplifier friendly impedance are but a few of the features of the Solus 'Planar-Ribbon' driver. The diaphragm is made of lightweight, high power handling thin film Kapton adhered with .00035" thick aluminum. A computer generated voice coil drawing is used for photo etching the aluminum to a length and impedance desired. The DR-ir6 uses a 5" design with an amplifier friendly flat impedance of 7 ohms. Unlike similar planar speaker designs, no phase disturbing transformer is needed. The motor assembly uniquely acts as a heat sink for the diaphragm, and by inherent design, the diaphragm is its own fan, enhancing thermal cooling and improving its own power handling capacity.
The unit itself is a direct air coupled, high driven area to mass design. The only area of the diaphragm that moves, approximately 1/4" wide, is directly over the shaped magnetic field gap. Such minimal radiating area, tightly stretched over the gap becomes inherently damped and provides for almost 100% driven area to mass, an attribute few, if any, other drivers can claim. The result is a natural, rapid 12db/octave roll off rate at the low end of its response, and unparalleled diaphragm control resulting in instantaneous responsiveness both starting and stopping. Waterfall graphs support -30 db time decay in under 1.3 mS (most tweeters take 5 to 10 mS) verifying exceptional transient response.
The low end roll off rate, part of the ribbons' overall design call, when coupled with a single pole series polypropylene capacitor achieves an 18db/octave acoustical roll off. This steep rate is highly protective of the driver providing for high power handling capacity, yet allowing for minimum phase filter network usage.
DR-ir6 Linear-Phase Filter Network
A true 6db/octave linear phase filter network is employed for both the high end roll off of the woofer and low end roll off of the 'Planar-Ribbon' driver. The iron-core laminate inductor for the woofer is designed and tested by Solus to meet exact DCR & mh required values. The ribbon employs a series, low ESR, high quality polypropylene capacitor and bypass. A current limiting protection circuit is used just in case of amplifier misbehavior. To flatten out even further and already relatively smooth impedance response, a Zobel, or impedance compensating network is used on the woofer. System impedance measures and extraordinarily smooth +/- 3 ohms from 80Hz to 20KHz. Such smoothness results in very low to almost non-existent electrical phase shift throughout the frequency range. The audible benefit of such is greater preserved accuracy of the input signal along with precise imaging and spatial stage presentation.
A low order network can be used because of the integration of the Solus drivers specifically engineered to achieve steep, symmetrical, 12db/octave roll off rates on their own at the proper frequency. When used together, steep, protective, symmetrical 18db/octave roll off rates are achieved through 3 octaves on both sides of the cross-over frequency.
DR-ir6 Integrated System
The complete system achieves the best performance qualities that both design technologies are known to offer. Steep acoustical roll off rates provide greater protection against excessive power, improve power handling capacity, and allow for cleaner presentation of information from each driver. Use of a linear phase 6db/octave electrical network, integrated with a Zobel network to flatten woofer and overall system impedance, results in an open, uncompressed, spatial sound presentation not obtainable with the use of steeper electrical filters. In addition, the flat system impedance, +/- 3 ohms, 80 Hz to 20 KHz, is totally amplifier friendly, and less amplifier stress usually lends itself to cleaner, more enjoyable sound and greater overall system longevity.
DR-ir6 "In-wall" Loudspeaker Specifications:
Woofer Size: 6.5 Inch
Tweeter Type & Size: High Output Ribbon, 5 Inch - Twin Drive
Crossover Type: Linear Phase 6db / Octave with Zobel (Impedance Compensation ) Network
Crossover Frequency: 2000Hz
Sensitivity: 89db, At One Meter, 2.83 Volts Input, Full Frequency Pink Noise Rated
Frequency Response: 55Hz - 50KHz, +/- 3db
Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms
Suggested Maximum Power: 150 Watts IES
Outside Frame Dimensions: 10 1/2" by 14 1/8"
Depth: 3 1/4 Inches
Warranty: Limited Lifetime |
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