Bohlender Graebener Neo10 Planar Transducer
BG's newest patent pending planar-magnetic transducer, the Neo10, offers excellent sound quality and is suitable for a number of applications as a high-performance wideband midrange. The Neo10's low mass, high temperature diaphragm is directly driven for high power handling, outstanding transient response, and superior damping. A carefully engineered push-pull symmetrical motor structure produces a focused magnetic field for inherently low distortion and high sensitivity. Very low self-inductance minimizes intermodulation and phase distortion for increased accuracy and coherency. The resistive impedance of the Neo10 motor circuit presents a non-reactive load that is amplifier friendly.
Specifications: • Power handling: 75 watts RMS/200 watts max • Impedance: 8 ohms • Re: 6.5 ohms • Frequency range: 150-6,000 Hz • SPL: 92 dB 2.83V/1m • Net weight: 2.2 lbs. • Dimensions: 10" L x 5" W x 1/2" D.
Background
The Neo10 is the next step in the line of BG's planar ribbon drivers. The design goals include higher sensitivity, lower distortion, a lower usable cut off frequency, and higher power handling than previous offerings. This provides a solution to an important system goal – uncompromised reproduction of the human vocal range.
An additional benefit of the extended bandwidth is improved integration with a dynamic woofer. Seamless integration has been a challenge in practice historically and this is much easier to accomplish at 150-250 Hz than at an octave higher.
Construction Details
While the Neo10 has design principles similar to the Neo8, its construction has significant differences. The goal of extended low frequency reproduction dictated the use of a larger magnetic gap for higher excursion. Large magnets were used to further increase magnetic flux density in the gap. The magnet system is a symmetrical “push-pull” configuration that has proven to offer low distortion and improved sensitivity. The Neo10 also uses significantly thicker metal for its plates to provide the required dimensional stability when using a physically larger magnet structure. Plate shape also becomes analogous to diaphragm shape under excursion, which facilitates extended low frequency output. Specifically tuned fabric screens have certain acoustical resistance and play an important role in stabilizing and damping of the Neo10’s diaphragm. Finally, the NEO10’s unique diaphragm technology provides low distortion and the ability to reproduce signals down to 150Hz, thus achieving the driver’s design goals.
