Specifications

Electrostatic History 15
In 1947, Arthur Janszen, a young Naval engineer, took part
inaresearchprojectfortheNavy.TheNavywasinterested
in developing a better instrument for testing microphone
arrays. The test instrument needed an extremely accurate
speaker, but Janszen found that the cone speaker of the
period were too nonlinear in phase and amplitude response
to meet his criteria. Janszen believed that electrostats were
inherently more linear than cones, so he built a model using
a thin plastic diaphragm treated with a conductive coating.
This model confirmed Janszen’s beliefs, for it exhibited
remarkable phase and amplitude linearity.
Janszen was so excited with the results that he continued
researchontheelectrostaticspeakeronhisowntime.He
soon thought of insulating the stators to
prevent the destructive effects of arcing.
By 1952, he had an electrostatic
tweeter element ready for commercial
production. This new tweeter soon
created a sensation among American
audio hobbyists. Since Janszen’s
tweeter element was limited to high
frequency reproduction, it often found
itselfusedinconjunctionwithwoofers—mostnotably,
those from Acoustic Research. These systems were highly
regarded by all audio enthusiasts.
As good as these systems were, they would soon be surpassed
by another electrostatic speaker.
In 1955, Peter Walker published three articles regarding
electrostatic loudspeaker design in Wireless World, a British
magazine. In these articles, Walker demonstrated the benefits
oftheelectrostaticloudspeaker.Heexplainedthatelectro-
statics permit the use of diaphragms that are low in mass,
large in area and uniformly driven over their surfaces by
electrostatic forces. Due to these characteristics, electrostats
have the inherent ability to produce a wide bandwidth,
flat frequency response with distortion products being no
greater than the electronics driving them.
By 1956, Walker backed up his articles by introducing a
consumer product, the now famous Quad ESL. This speaker
immediately set a standard of performance for the audio
industryduetoitsincredibleaccuracy.However,inactual
use, the Quad had a few problems. It could not be played
very loud, it had poor bass performance, it presented a dif-
ficult load that some amplifiers did not like, its dispersion
was very directional and its power handling was limited to
around 70 watts. As a result, many people continued to use
box speakers with cones.
Intheearly1960’sArthurJanszenjoinedforceswiththe
KLHloudspeakercompany,andtogethertheyintroduced
theKLH9.DuetothelargesizeoftheKLH9,itdidnot
haveasmanysoniclimitationsastheQuad.TheKLH9
could play markedly louder and lower in frequency than
the Quad ESL. Thus a rivalry was born.
Janszencontinuedtodevelopelectrostaticdesigns.He
was instrumental in the design of the Koss Model One,
the Acoustech and the Dennesen speaker. Roger West,
the chief designer of the Janszen
Corporation, became the presi-
dent of Sound Lab. When Janszen
Corporation was sold, the RTR
loudspe aker company bo ught
half of the production tooling. This
tooling was used to make the elec-
trostatic panels for the Servostatic, a
hybrid electrostatic system that was
Infinity’s first speaker product. Other companies soon
followed; each with their own unique applications of
the technology. These include Acoustat, Audiostatic,
Beveridge, Dayton Wright, Sound Lab and Stax, to name a few.
Electrostatic speakers have progressed and prospered
because they actually do what Peter Walker claimed they
would. The limitations and problems experienced in the
past were not inherent to the electrostatic concept. They
were related to the applications of these concepts.
Today, these limitations have been resolved. Advancements
in materials due to the U.S. space program give designers
the ability to harness the superiority of the electrostatic
principle. Today’s electrostats use advanced insulation
techniques or provide protection circuitry. The poor dis-
persion properties of early models have been addressed by
using delay lines, acoustical lenses, multiple panel arrays or,
as in our own products, by curving the diaphragm. Power
handling and sensitivity have also been increased.
These developments allow the consumer the opportunity
to own the highest performance loudspeaker products ever
built. It’s too bad Rice and Kellogg were never able to see
justhowfarthetechnologywouldbetaken.
These developments allow
the consumer to own the
highest performance loud-
speaker products ever built.