"Measurements are better than opinions," proposed F. E. Toole and other influential voices in the audio world. Their clear opinion was that a new standard for measuring speakers and presenting data should be agreed upon: the Standard Method of Measurement for In-Home Loudspeakers, ANSI/CTA-2034-A. In short, they had enough of opinions suggesting that a speaker sounds "blue" and its bass is particularly "boxy".]]> Tue, 19 Mar 2024 19:27:00 +0200 0
Sound Wave Length and Propagation. The length of a sound wave is determined by its frequency and the speed of sound propagation. While the speed of sound propagation varies with different air temperatures, for calculations, room temperature and a sound speed of 343 m/s can be used.]]> Mon, 03 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0300 0
Sound Pressure and System Power. Sound loudness, specifically sound pressure, is measured in decibels (dB). The decibel scale is relative and always referenced to a certain value (human hearing threshold, device maximum capability, etc.). The decibel scale can have both positive and negative values.]]> Tue, 04 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0300 0
In today's era of streaming, using Bluetooth for audio playback is a necessity rather than an option. However, not all Bluetooth connections are created equal. By default, phones use energy-efficient and stable connections but often with low-quality codecs. Currently, the only high-quality codec available on Android phones is LDAC (Lossless Digital Audio Codec).]]> Thu, 25 Jul 2024 19:28:45 +0300 0
Music frequency distribution is a crucial factor in speaker development. It's pointless to design speakers for frequencies that don't exist in music, but equally important to ensure that all essential frequencies are covered. While the concept seems straightforward, comprehensive statistics on music frequency distribution are surprisingly scarce.]]> Tue, 17 Dec 2024 19:29:16 +0200 0
Blog posts here have mentioned that some speaker problems can be solved with an equalizer. Let’s take a closer look at what kind of equalizer is needed and how to use it. Firstly, a "parametric equalizer" is needed. This means a simple thing: for each adjustment, you can choose the frequency, the amount of change, and the width of the frequency band to be adjusted.]]> Wed, 24 Jul 2024 19:28:18 +0300 0
Speaker directivity for enveloping. Speaker directivity should be decided before purchasing a speaker. Directivity depends solely on the speaker's construction and cannot be changed later. While placement and speaker direction can slightly adjust the direct sound and the proportion and direction of reflected sounds, the speaker's construction determines the core. Directivity is crucial for achieving both sound clarity and a enveloping.]]> Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0200 0
At home, you have another much larger speaker enclosure for your music. It's the listening room. The resonant frequency of a closed room is a quarter of the wavelength and its multiples. Depending on the positions of the speaker and the listener, additional sound reflections and their interference occur. Imagine a jagged line oscillating up and down – this is the graph of how your room's sound changes.]]> Wed, 16 Aug 2023 17:18:49 +0300 0
Sound Frequencies and Music Quality. A sound wave in the air can be visualized as a pressure wave consisting of densely packed and sparse regions. Lower sounds are modulated with finer lines that carry higher frequencies. The precise shape of these lines carries information about the frequency and amplitude of the sound.]]> Mon, 03 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0300 0
The greatest advantage of stereo sound is that the entire music selection is recorded, mixed, and designed for stereo. Thus, when listening to stereo, or two-channel audio, one can be sure - the sound is exactly what the artist intended to deliver. However, two channels also have their clear drawbacks. The biggest drawback is the central focus. If the artist performs in the center of the stage - equally from both channels, then when listening fro]]> Tue, 07 May 2024 19:27:47 +0300 0
When designing speakers, the objective is for each subsequent model to outperform typical speaker choices or previous TiFi models. Beyond functionality, there's a constant aspiration to craft superior speakers at a more affordable price. A superior speaker contributes to a richer sound image in a real-world environment. Naturally, part of achieving this enhanced sound image involves delivering lower bass tones.]]> Tue, 23 Jan 2024 19:25:46 +0200 0
What to expect from a good speaker? In reality, the question should be, what to expect from a good music playback system, as there are other elements besides the speaker. Traditionally, of course, the weakest link in the chain is the speaker. In any case, a good speaker is necessary for quality music playback.]]> Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:25:27 +0300 0
The need to build computer speakers arises from life itself. It's not possible to place floor speakers in the office, as the small office has a desk against the wall. Thus, computer speakers that would fit on the desk are necessary. This time, the goal was set to achieve an affordable price level. This means abandoning multiple amplifiers and a separate controller. However, timed sound is still desired. Therefore, the famous "single loudspeaker s]]> Sun, 18 Feb 2024 19:26:20 +0200 0
Speakers are meant for enjoying music, and it's worth testing them with music. Of course, you can beep, sweep, and listen to square wave signals, but all that effort should translate into the speaker's ability to deliver music well. When searching for test tracks, you'll definitely come across audio enthusiasts' forums. ]]> Wed, 16 Aug 2023 19:24:14 +0300 0
When adding a subwoofer to the product portfolio, it's essential to subject it to testing first. Initially, the thought was that it might appeal to TiFi Argos buyers who already possess their amplifiers but require a small active subwoofer. However, upon unpacking the box, it became apparent that this assumption was not entirely accurate. The Monacor SUB 100 is notably larger than the TiFi Kraken, boasting two down facing ports.]]> Sat, 23 Mar 2024 19:26:43 +0200 0
The goal of developing the TiFi Elf speaker was to create a compact floor-standing speaker for bedrooms and offices. The need arose from real-life situation. The shelf speaker in the bedroom was placed in the wrong location for optimal sound, and the correct position couldn't accommodate a shelf, speaker stand, or any standard-sized floor-standing speaker. ]]> Wed, 16 Aug 2023 18:03:48 +0300 0
When tuning the TiFi Elf speakers, I had to constantly move between my work desk and the listening spot. The speakers were positioned along the side walls of the room, approximately in the middle, with the listening spot on one side and the work desk on the other. While testing sample tracks, it was surprising to find that the Elf sounded remarkably good even when listened at right angle. As I continued to shuttle back and forth, the idea of crea]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2023 15:42:32 +0300 0
After various stereo solutions, it was time to address the needs of home theater system. Just like with computer speakers, the aim for home theater setups is to create speakers with a timing-aligned passive filter setup. In the context of a home theater system, there are too many speakers to digitally control all their drivers.]]> Thu, 25 Apr 2024 19:27:26 +0300 0
While developing the very special loudspeaker systems, TiFi Elf, and the even more extraordinary omnidirectional speaker, TiFi Poseidon, a mischievous idea began to germinate. Why undertake all this extensive development work when you could take all the known traditions and formulas of speaker design and create a truly traditional speaker, or at least something along those lines?]]> Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:24:58 +0300 0
Sound Quality in Audio Reproduction. There are numerous stages involved in audio reproduction, and achieving good end results requires quality at every stage. As listeners, we cannot influence the work done in studios and during recording. However, even here there are significant differences, and in real life, a common normal distribution applies – a lot of mediocrity and a touch of quality, along with some junk. Fortunately, we have the choice o]]> Tue, 15 Aug 2023 20:20:06 +0300 0