Editing Electrostatic loudspeaker (section)

==Advantages==

Advantages of electrostatic loudspeakers include:
# the very low [[mass]] of the [[Diaphragm (acoustics)|diaphragm]], which is driven across its whole surface
# exemplary [[frequency response]] (both in [[amplitude]] and [[phase (waves)|phase]]) {{citation needed|date=June 2023}}because the principle of generating force and pressure is almost free from resonances unlike the more common electrodynamic driver.

Musical transparency can be better than in [[Electrodynamic speaker driver|electrodynamic speakers]] because the radiating surface has much less mass than most other drivers and is therefore far less capable of storing energy to be released later. For example, a typical [[electrodynamic speaker driver]] can have a moving [[mass]] of tens or hundreds of grams, whereas an electrostatic membrane only has a mass of a few milligrams, several times less than the very lightest of electrodynamic [[tweeter]]s. The concomitant air load, often insignificant in dynamic speakers, is usually tens of grams because of the large coupling surface, thus contributing to the damping of resonance buildup by the air itself to a significant, though not complete, degree. Electrostatics can also be executed as full-range designs, lacking the usual crossover filters and enclosures that could color or distort the sound.

Since many electrostatic speakers are tall and thin designs without an [[Loudspeaker enclosure|enclosure]], they act as a vertical [[dipole]] line source. This makes for rather different acoustic behavior in rooms compared to conventional electrodynamic loudspeakers. Generally speaking, a large-panel dipole radiator is more demanding of a proper physical placement within a room when compared to a conventional box speaker, but, once there, it is less likely to excite bad-sounding room resonances, and its direct-to-reflected sound ratio is higher by some 4–5 decibels.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} This in turn leads to more accurate stereo reproduction of recordings that contain proper stereo information and venue ambience. Planar (flat) drivers tend to be very directional giving them good imaging qualities, on the condition that they have been carefully placed relative to the listener and the sound-reflecting surfaces in the room.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} Curved panels have been built, making the placement requirements a bit less stringent, but sacrificing imaging precision somewhat.