Who we are:
Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida D+S Sound Labs is a small company dedicated to LARGE audio for the home,
yacht, jet or commercial application! We are dedicated to those who need much more than bookshelf sound. We are
dedicated to those who crave the true impact and clarity of a live performance. Our systems use multiple drivers (up to
18 per cabinet for our FM6) for two very important reasons. One, you simply do not get real impact without moving a
massive amount of air. And two, the power handling and piston excursion requirements are divided equally among the
drivers. This greatly reduces distortion over single driver systems. Clear, realistic performance. That's D+S Sound
Labs.
What we offer:
We design and hand build some of the finest stereo and home theater loudspeakers in the world. Our systems easily
surpass all major store bought speakers in every respect - quality, appearance and, of course, sound. We build
powerful compact systems but are recognized for our larger systems, such as our 7'6" monster, the FM6. What ever
your needs are, we either have it or can build it custom for you.
Quality and reliability are top priorities at D+S.
The Shape of Things to Come:
All but our center and rear speakers of our Foundation Series have the D+S trademark wedge shape as seen to the
right. The baffle (front) panel is angled in toward the listener providing many advantages. The stereo image is widened
and improved by direct on-axis radiation. This is why we angle our speakers toward us in the first place. Radiation from
the sides of our head toward our ears, rather than toward our face also improves imaging and spaciousness. A set of
headphones would be the extreme example of this. Radiating sound away from room boundaries and at an angle to
opposing boundaries reduces the blurring effects of excessive reflections and standing waves in the room. And
nonparallel panels in the cabinet reduce internal standing waves and colorations of sound from the cabinet. Also, the
baffle corners of all our products are smoothly rounded to reduce high frequency diffraction effects. As you can see,
our cabinets were designed with the physics of sound in mind, not just flashy appearances.
Computer Optimized Design:
All our products are optimally designed using sophisticated computer software and hardware. A new design begins in
our Simulation and Modeling Department, "The S&M Lab". Here, we can virtually see and test a speaker and its
theoretical crossover for numerous physical and electrical qualities before a tool is ever raised. Then prototypes are
built and tested in our anechoic chamber, "The Dead Room". Refinements are made to both cabinet and crossover
until the speaker meets our strict standards. Then the prototype moves on to "The Den" for further listening tests.
When a design is complete, products are built and assembled WITHOUT a crossover network. We believe the
crossover is the heart (and mind) of the speaker. So we custom build each crossover to match each speaker using our
own EDC™ process. We start with computer measurements of both frequency response and impedance sweeps of
each of the speaker's driver sections (lowpass, bandpass and highpass). We then import this real data into computer
optimizing software to design the perfect crossover. This software blends all the driver components together into a
seemless musical experience. Complex responses and driver loads are flatted to near perfection.
Mass produced speakers (nearly all other companies) simply cannot afford the time and expense we put into our
products - and yet our prices are still very competitive!
Internal Construction:
All of our products are built to last a lifetime. D+S cabinets use thick medium density fiberboard (MDF) and all internal
seams are reinfored with glue-block bracing. Our larger systems use horizontal shelves spanning the entire cross-
section of the enclosure positioned between each woofer. All this bracing ensures rock solid, room shaking bass
without unwanted cabinet vibrations coloring the sound. There are no assembly line procedures used at D+S. All our
systems are built by hand by audiophiles who love what they do.
Cabinet Finish:
All of our products can be finished from a large selection of 24 different colors. All finishes are hand stained and
lacquered real wood veneers. We never use cheap vinyl covering. This is yet another reason why we stand above the
rest of the crowd in the loudspeaker business. Our products are made to be high-end pieces of furniture as well as
high-end audio.
Our Drivers:
All of our products use only the finest drivers found in the world. The 12" woofers employ an extra heavy magnet and
vented motor assembly, an extended pole for maximum magnetic energy, a thick polypropylene cone, a durable butyl
rubber surround, and an inverted dust cap to eliminate distortion from edge interference. Bass from these woofers is
smooth, pure and very deep. The 5-1/2" midranges use a superior "composite sandwich" cone for extra stiffness and
superb linearity. Add to this an extra heavy magnet and a "distortion killer" short circuiting ring attached to the pole
piece. The punch of a snare drum and the brilliance of brass are like you've never heard before! The 1.1" treated soft
dome tweeters use a compact, vented Neodymium magnet system coupled to a large rear air chamber for a low
resonant frequency. Do not let their size fool you. They exceeded all our expectations. Using small-frame tweeters
allows us to "pack" our drivers tighter together on the baffle. This is great for point-source imaging rather than
smearing the signal across a larger surface area. Together, the seamless integration of these units is ultimately
musical.
Our Crossovers with EDC™:
All of our products employ computer optimized crossover filters that are designed with our proprietary EDC™
Procedure. These crossovers are custom tuned to each speaker. In addition, the impedance of each driver network
(woofers, midranges and tweeters), is flattened and controlled with one or more stabilizing circuits. These circuits
provide consistent loads and minimal phase for the crossover and greatly eases the complexity of the load on your
amplifier. These extra networks are expensive and are simply NOT found in conventional loudspeakers. Even the
inductors in these networks are configured to maximize heat dissipation and eliminate electromagnetic crosstalk. Only
the most advanced hexagonally wound inductors, fast metallized polyproylene capacitors and cement wire wound
resistors are used in our crossover networks. The result is pure, clean audio.
Crossover Design Using Environmental Driver Control™:
The goal of the loudspeaker designer is to extract the optimum performance from each driver while blending all drivers
to achieve a flat frequency response and a stable, linear phase and impedance of the system. Frequency response
and impedance is greatly affected by the environment of the drivers. The internal volume of the cabinet behind the
woofers, the shape and dimensions of a tuned port (if any), the amount of insulation, the mounting of the drivers, the
shape and dimensions of the cabinet baffle, the shape and dimensions of the drivers themselves, the location and
orientation of the drivers on the baffle, the thickness and resonant properties of the cabinet, etc., are all environmental
conditions affecting overall performance. The list goes on ...
There are too many variables affecting the overall response of the system to mathematically predict end results from
theoretical data. There is only one way to account for ALL variables and that is to measure the frequency response
(SPL) and impedance of each driver section when they are installed in their final environment, then blend the sections
together. The "final environment" should even include appropriate placement of the speaker in the intended listening
room, but we can't quite get that close to each customer on a production basis. So we settle for anechoic
measurements.
All D+S speakers are built with the following process:
Electromechanical woofer parameters are measured by the LMS computer hardware system. The data is imported into
the LEAP computer software system to compute the optimal cabinet volume and port dimensions for deepest and
smoothest bass alignment.
The cabinet is built to completion with insulation and all drivers and ports installed.
Leads for each driver section (woofer, midrange, tweeter) are hung out the port for individual measurements.
Full range anechoic measurements of impedance/phase are made by LMS for each driver section.
Full range anechoic measurements of on-axis SPL/phase are made by LMS for each driver section.
All impedance and SPL measurement data is imported into LEAP for analysis.
Conjugate networks are optimized to flatten impedance and phase of each driver section.
Crossover (with conjugate circuits) is optimized to flatten SPL response to within +/- 2db.
Crossover is built using highest quality components.
Speaker is tested with crossover outside enclosure to verify correctness.
Crossover is then installed and the speaker is fully tested and broken in.
This process ensures consistent ruler flat response with linear phase and precise imaging.
No "mass produced" store bought speaker can ever come close.
Gold Plated Connections:
All of our speakers are terminated with gold plated binding posts. Connections can be made using dual or single
banana plugs, spade connectors, straight pins or bare wire up the 8 gauge thick. We also supply high quality 12
gauge, oxygen-free copper speaker wire of any length equipped with dual banana plug connectors.
Made in the U.S.A.
Our systems are designed, built and tested by hand in the U.S.A. We take tremendous pride in the quality and
durability of our systems.
Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida D+S Sound Labs is a small company dedicated to LARGE audio for the home,
yacht, jet or commercial application! We are dedicated to those who need much more than bookshelf sound. We are
dedicated to those who crave the true impact and clarity of a live performance. Our systems use multiple drivers (up to
18 per cabinet for our FM6) for two very important reasons. One, you simply do not get real impact without moving a
massive amount of air. And two, the power handling and piston excursion requirements are divided equally among the
drivers. This greatly reduces distortion over single driver systems. Clear, realistic performance. That's D+S Sound
Labs.
What we offer:
We design and hand build some of the finest stereo and home theater loudspeakers in the world. Our systems easily
surpass all major store bought speakers in every respect - quality, appearance and, of course, sound. We build
powerful compact systems but are recognized for our larger systems, such as our 7'6" monster, the FM6. What ever
your needs are, we either have it or can build it custom for you.
Quality and reliability are top priorities at D+S.
The Shape of Things to Come:
All but our center and rear speakers of our Foundation Series have the D+S trademark wedge shape as seen to the
right. The baffle (front) panel is angled in toward the listener providing many advantages. The stereo image is widened
and improved by direct on-axis radiation. This is why we angle our speakers toward us in the first place. Radiation from
the sides of our head toward our ears, rather than toward our face also improves imaging and spaciousness. A set of
headphones would be the extreme example of this. Radiating sound away from room boundaries and at an angle to
opposing boundaries reduces the blurring effects of excessive reflections and standing waves in the room. And
nonparallel panels in the cabinet reduce internal standing waves and colorations of sound from the cabinet. Also, the
baffle corners of all our products are smoothly rounded to reduce high frequency diffraction effects. As you can see,
our cabinets were designed with the physics of sound in mind, not just flashy appearances.
Computer Optimized Design:
All our products are optimally designed using sophisticated computer software and hardware. A new design begins in
our Simulation and Modeling Department, "The S&M Lab". Here, we can virtually see and test a speaker and its
theoretical crossover for numerous physical and electrical qualities before a tool is ever raised. Then prototypes are
built and tested in our anechoic chamber, "The Dead Room". Refinements are made to both cabinet and crossover
until the speaker meets our strict standards. Then the prototype moves on to "The Den" for further listening tests.
When a design is complete, products are built and assembled WITHOUT a crossover network. We believe the
crossover is the heart (and mind) of the speaker. So we custom build each crossover to match each speaker using our
own EDC™ process. We start with computer measurements of both frequency response and impedance sweeps of
each of the speaker's driver sections (lowpass, bandpass and highpass). We then import this real data into computer
optimizing software to design the perfect crossover. This software blends all the driver components together into a
seemless musical experience. Complex responses and driver loads are flatted to near perfection.
Mass produced speakers (nearly all other companies) simply cannot afford the time and expense we put into our
products - and yet our prices are still very competitive!
Internal Construction:
All of our products are built to last a lifetime. D+S cabinets use thick medium density fiberboard (MDF) and all internal
seams are reinfored with glue-block bracing. Our larger systems use horizontal shelves spanning the entire cross-
section of the enclosure positioned between each woofer. All this bracing ensures rock solid, room shaking bass
without unwanted cabinet vibrations coloring the sound. There are no assembly line procedures used at D+S. All our
systems are built by hand by audiophiles who love what they do.
Cabinet Finish:
All of our products can be finished from a large selection of 24 different colors. All finishes are hand stained and
lacquered real wood veneers. We never use cheap vinyl covering. This is yet another reason why we stand above the
rest of the crowd in the loudspeaker business. Our products are made to be high-end pieces of furniture as well as
high-end audio.
Our Drivers:
All of our products use only the finest drivers found in the world. The 12" woofers employ an extra heavy magnet and
vented motor assembly, an extended pole for maximum magnetic energy, a thick polypropylene cone, a durable butyl
rubber surround, and an inverted dust cap to eliminate distortion from edge interference. Bass from these woofers is
smooth, pure and very deep. The 5-1/2" midranges use a superior "composite sandwich" cone for extra stiffness and
superb linearity. Add to this an extra heavy magnet and a "distortion killer" short circuiting ring attached to the pole
piece. The punch of a snare drum and the brilliance of brass are like you've never heard before! The 1.1" treated soft
dome tweeters use a compact, vented Neodymium magnet system coupled to a large rear air chamber for a low
resonant frequency. Do not let their size fool you. They exceeded all our expectations. Using small-frame tweeters
allows us to "pack" our drivers tighter together on the baffle. This is great for point-source imaging rather than
smearing the signal across a larger surface area. Together, the seamless integration of these units is ultimately
musical.
Our Crossovers with EDC™:
All of our products employ computer optimized crossover filters that are designed with our proprietary EDC™
Procedure. These crossovers are custom tuned to each speaker. In addition, the impedance of each driver network
(woofers, midranges and tweeters), is flattened and controlled with one or more stabilizing circuits. These circuits
provide consistent loads and minimal phase for the crossover and greatly eases the complexity of the load on your
amplifier. These extra networks are expensive and are simply NOT found in conventional loudspeakers. Even the
inductors in these networks are configured to maximize heat dissipation and eliminate electromagnetic crosstalk. Only
the most advanced hexagonally wound inductors, fast metallized polyproylene capacitors and cement wire wound
resistors are used in our crossover networks. The result is pure, clean audio.
Crossover Design Using Environmental Driver Control™:
The goal of the loudspeaker designer is to extract the optimum performance from each driver while blending all drivers
to achieve a flat frequency response and a stable, linear phase and impedance of the system. Frequency response
and impedance is greatly affected by the environment of the drivers. The internal volume of the cabinet behind the
woofers, the shape and dimensions of a tuned port (if any), the amount of insulation, the mounting of the drivers, the
shape and dimensions of the cabinet baffle, the shape and dimensions of the drivers themselves, the location and
orientation of the drivers on the baffle, the thickness and resonant properties of the cabinet, etc., are all environmental
conditions affecting overall performance. The list goes on ...
There are too many variables affecting the overall response of the system to mathematically predict end results from
theoretical data. There is only one way to account for ALL variables and that is to measure the frequency response
(SPL) and impedance of each driver section when they are installed in their final environment, then blend the sections
together. The "final environment" should even include appropriate placement of the speaker in the intended listening
room, but we can't quite get that close to each customer on a production basis. So we settle for anechoic
measurements.
All D+S speakers are built with the following process:
Electromechanical woofer parameters are measured by the LMS computer hardware system. The data is imported into
the LEAP computer software system to compute the optimal cabinet volume and port dimensions for deepest and
smoothest bass alignment.
The cabinet is built to completion with insulation and all drivers and ports installed.
Leads for each driver section (woofer, midrange, tweeter) are hung out the port for individual measurements.
Full range anechoic measurements of impedance/phase are made by LMS for each driver section.
Full range anechoic measurements of on-axis SPL/phase are made by LMS for each driver section.
All impedance and SPL measurement data is imported into LEAP for analysis.
Conjugate networks are optimized to flatten impedance and phase of each driver section.
Crossover (with conjugate circuits) is optimized to flatten SPL response to within +/- 2db.
Crossover is built using highest quality components.
Speaker is tested with crossover outside enclosure to verify correctness.
Crossover is then installed and the speaker is fully tested and broken in.
This process ensures consistent ruler flat response with linear phase and precise imaging.
No "mass produced" store bought speaker can ever come close.
Gold Plated Connections:
All of our speakers are terminated with gold plated binding posts. Connections can be made using dual or single
banana plugs, spade connectors, straight pins or bare wire up the 8 gauge thick. We also supply high quality 12
gauge, oxygen-free copper speaker wire of any length equipped with dual banana plug connectors.
Made in the U.S.A.
Our systems are designed, built and tested by hand in the U.S.A. We take tremendous pride in the quality and
durability of our systems.
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