Hybrid Audio Technologies Legatia - Manual (Page 6)

Legatia User’s Manual ©Hybrid Audio Technologies Page 6 of 65
Legatia Speaker Design Considerations
The Legatia-series component speakers are electrodynamic drivers that are comprised of a
diaphragm (cone, or in the case of the Legatia L1V2 tweeter, a dome) that is set in motion by a motor
system that has both electrical and mechanical components. For more details about the Stage V
Legatia tweeter offering, the Legatia L1V2, please go to page 10. The following design tenets typical
of all Legatia-series midranges and midbass’ are as follows:
Motor
The motor of the Legatia midrange and midbass drivers are paramount to the performance of the
drivers, providing for a flat and wide BL curve. The BL curve is flat and extended in all models,
yielding exceptional two-way linear excursion, resulting in the Legatia midrange and midbass drivers
being able to accurately track the input signal. Reduced distortion and greater dynamics are the
immediate sonic benefits. The motor of the L3V2, L6V2, and L8V2 includes a high-energy strontium
magnet with an opposing high-grade NdFeB magnet at the top of the magnetic gap to improve
restorative force, compliance, motor strength, displacement, and power handling. The magnet
assemblies fully surround the voice coil. The motor of the L4 includes only a high-energy strontium
magnet for class-leading restorative force, compliance, motor strength, displacement, and power
handling.
Voice Coil
The voice coil diameter of the Legatia range of midrange and midbass drivers represents the optimal
balance of diameter, power handling, and moving mass. The L3V2 and L4 use a large 25.5mm (1-
inch) voice coil, and the L6V2 and L8V2 use 35.5mm (1.4-inch) voice coils. The voice coil diameter
serves several key functions: elevated power handling, dissipation of heat (thereby lowering power
compression), and maximizing the size of the magnet assembly for enhanced motor compliance. The
voice coils used in all Legatia designs are high-purity aluminum, which is superior to copper for heat
dissipation, as well as significantly reduced moving mass. The result is an extremely light weight
winding with good power handling and low inductance.
How much amplitude a speaker can reproduce depends on the volume of air it excites without
overheating. The volume of air that a speaker excites is determined by the surface area of the cone
and the excursion capability of the motor system. Xmax is defined as the width of the voice coil that
extends beyond the front plate, and relates to how far the speaker can move in either direction
without appreciable distortion. The Legatia designs boast exceptional one-way linear excursion
(Xmax).
Phase Plug and Shorting Rings
All Legatia midrange and midbass drivers come equipped with a phase plug pole piece extension at
the center of the cone. The phase plug is aluminum and, by design, ensures enhancement of the
total inductance profile, providing much of the inductance reduction benefits noted. The phase plug is
anodized black, which by design does not negatively reduce eddy current, and adds thermal
dissipation potential. The phase plug extends well down inside the pole vent, and acts as a very
large and efficient heatsink for any heat that radiates into the pole. The highest frequencies of audio
emanate from the area around the center of the cone and the lower frequencies are produced by the
area of the cone that is farther from the center. The phase plug pole piece extension improves the