Laboratory Jottings

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 36, 21 March 1930, Page 31

Laboratory Jottings

M.P.A. Speakers. (CUNNINGHAMS, LIMITED, have sent two fine examples ‘of the M.P.A. line of speakers, the popular cabinet (priced at £4 10s.) and the popular plaque (£2 10s.). , The popular plaque is.a-.cone. type speaker with unconventional _woodwork, It has a fretted front, supported by an octagonal frame, and is in all a very neat and efficient speaker. For a light speaker it covered a remarkably wide range of frequencies, It: will respond to the range of ® piano up to about 3000 cycles with. very little attenuation. This is probably the highest frequency used in- ‘piano: music. The frequency. limit of the speaker is much higher than this, as ‘if brings in all the overtones ne¢essary .to.preserve the quality of instrumetits such as the violin, flute, and’ piccolo. The bass is surprisingly strong,-for it will go down into the region of the drums without difficulty. :-It will even reproduce, though thinned, the deep notes of the ’celio, Its sensitivity is very sharp, in fact we have worked this speaker with satisfactory results directly from: a: erystal set. The popular cabinet is. a much heavier speaker, using a bigger cone ‘and unit. In its reproduction it is quite the best we have heard for cones. It is strong on the upper notes, bringing in clearly and crisply notes three octaves up from middle C. It will go down two octaves below ©, and this brings us into the region of the ’cello, the bass clarinet, and the French horn. This spéaker, too, is very sensitive, but not quite'so sensitive as the plaque. It will handle a

greater output, but both speakers can deliver ample for an ordinary room without overloading or blasting, Neither speakers are harsh or metallic, the cabinet particularly having a pleasing round mellow tone. It is finished in a deep shade of rosewood. Messrs. N. R. Cunnigham must be congratulated on these two very find es.