I am constantly asked what is a ribbon speaker ? 

Ribbon Loudspeakers differ from conventional loudspeakers in several ways namely:

• The conventional loudspeaker dome tweeter is replaced by a aluminum foil suspended in a magnetic field to reproduce the middle and high frequencies. Ribbon drivers normally have a much better weight to size ratio compared to conventional dome tweeters which results in a much faster transient response.  From a design and technical perspective it is nearly impossible for a conventional midrange and domed tweeter to match the realism and transparency of a well designed ribbon driver. 
• There are fundamental differences in sound reproduction between conventional loudspeakers (point source drivers) and ribbon drivers- especially the larger ribbons which lean towards becoming line-source drivers. Conventional cone type loudspeakers have a radiation pattern that can be described as point source and are best suited for where the listener is seated midway between the left and right speakers.  This is the so-called "sweet spot" is determined by physics and the psycho-acoustic  effects of the listening room.  The longer distance of the radiating surface of the ribbon drivers start to emulate a line-source  driver with  a much more linear and uniform sound pressure level compared to point source loudspeakers. Ribbon speakers and therefore less susceptible to first order room reflections compared to conventional loudspeakers.  With conventional loudspeakers timbral realism will be the greatest when strong, early reflections from the floor and ceiling are suppressed by broadband sound absorbing panels on the floor between the listener and the speakers and on the ceiling directly above and forward of the listening position.  This arrangement is practically impossible in a normal domestic environment unless one is prepared to select a ribbon speaker with a more line source radiation pattern which can cope much better with room reflections.
• Our loudspeaker enclosures have been made as narrow as possible in order to reduce diffraction and maximize soundstage depth and focus.  From 1.5 kHz upwards the enclosures are only as wide as the ribbon structure itself. In a conventional loudspeaker system the dome tweeter is on the same baffle width as the woofer. Therefore from 5kHz and up the sound wave along the baffle must bounce at least twice before it encounters the 90 degree side of the enclosure where it suddenly drops off.  In conventional speakers these problems cannot be eliminated even with the very best of drivers.  Newform Research Ribbon Loudspeakers have  the smallest acoustic profile of any speaker on the market which results in a soundstage which we believe will be extremely difficult if not impossible to be improved upon by conventional speakers.  

The difference between the R30 and R45 Ribbon Drivers can be described as follows:

The R30 has excellent depth of soundstage and dynamics and is suitable for most domestic requirements.  The ribbon itself weighs 11 Kg and is relatively heavy compared to other drivers. 

The R45 addresses the issues of sensitivity, vertical coverage and dynamics in excess of what the R30 provide. For those people who like to walk while they listen, or have very large listening rooms or very low powered amps, the R45 fits the bill. 

All Newform Ribbons are finished in low gloss black epoxy powder coat. Crossovers for all the Ribbons take the form of a single capacitors for a 6dB electrical slope. Acoustically, the rolloff below 1kHz is much steeper. The capacitors roll the Ribbons off electrically at a much higher frequency than the acoustic crossover point because the Ribbons have a rising response the lower frequency they go. The capacitor flattens the this response and finally aids in the acoustic rolloff. 

R30 Specifications

R45 Specifications

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