Electrostatic Speaker Frequency?

[AndyF]

Hello all,

I need info on ESLs. I know there are a lot of DIY projects out there but I have a question about the frequency range. How high can you go with an ESL(leaving the driver frequency range aside). I don't have a lot of experience with speakers design but my understanding is that the lower mass of the diaphragm(membrane) the higher the frequency. Has anyone done some measurements on this topic.

 

[BinaryMike]

I quote from Roger Sanders' Electrostatic Loudspeaker Design Cookbook: "The mass of an ESL's diaphragm is the ultimate limit on high-frequency response, but this usually isn't a problem because the limit is supersonic. For example, in 1/4 mil Mylar film diaphragms, the diaphragm's mass only starts to roll off the high frequencies at 32KHz. It's reasonable to think of ESLs as having unlimited high-frequency response. From a practical viewpoint, the audio drive voltage restricts the high-frequency response."