So, here is second part of Odin's history translation. Original story was written by one of the Kennerton's designers, Maxim (aka Hardcorist) and posted in their non-official blog. I've made a (poor) translation, hope it will be interesting
On august 2012, our director Valentin, with sparkling eyes rushed in our office and stated: "OK, let's try! Nikita, make me an isodynamic!". And it started. Approximate driver configuration was on our mind, because Nikita and I discussed possibility of such project before. We've started search, who can help us construct it properly and then manufacture it. Chinese membranes we rejected because of their physical specs (and also we don't want to create another HiFiMans). I've suggested to look at manufacturers, who makes flexible PCBs, as technologies are similar.
Director of one company (I won't disclose names) that makes speakers for big acoustics came to help us. This company has great experience (it's a last shard of legendary All-Union Scientific Research Institute of broadcast reception and acoustics named after A. S. Popov), and company's director once was a disciple of Irina Arkadjevna Aldoshina (famous russian psychoacoustic researcher — note from translator). So, our R&D started to progress drastically. Actually, this company manufactures Odin's drivers. We've figured out drivers geometry and created specifications. Next few month we spent together, working on magnetic system and membrane configuration. We've learned magnetic fields strength chart and other sophisticated stuff, found issues, redo plots and started again. Half year later, we've got first driver samples. That sample had 100% of surface covered with tracks (and I preferred that sample more than final release driver).
The fact is that flexibility of such membrane is more uniform and predictable, but it caused more wight and worse internal fading in membrane (I hope you know, what is that). Nikita selected another option, we're using now, without false-tracks on the sides. Partially, I've agreed with this decision, but we had really lot of work to make it sound properly.
Further research showed that we need to get under control bending deformation of membrane. I've offered corrugating, in first version concentrical, then — linear across the membrane's tracks. Also I've offered vibration damping coating at membrane's edges to reject edge reflections. I've got this idea from studying vintage isodynamic treble speakers. We were impressed with this sample, and Nikita decided to use it. Then we've started the work on acoustical design (driver damping). So passed year. Meanwhile I was developing construction of headband and cups. And I can say firmly — I'm proud of this work. We've really made something unique, sturdy, beautiful and comfortable. And we didn't get any single element from existing solutions, it was 100% created in my head.
I'll share a secret. First we wanted to make cable connection via binding post, like in big speakers. Just imagine, you take any piece of wire, bind it, and you got cable! But after few weeks of estimation and 3D modelling, we've decided that it would be really problematic. Cable should be somehow fixated to avoid tottering and possible break near the terminal. It can't be done nicely, and total size of this connector grown unpleasantly. So, we decided to not invent wheel and go on with miniXLR. I've redesigned cups for this connectors and presented final design to colleagues.
Meanwhile, it was summer 2014. Nikita continued experiments with damping, one subcontractor was sewing earpads, other one was casting grills, third one was printing membranes. I've spent pair of month in wood workshop alone with commuter and miller, and dived into cups manufacturing. Yes, I'm making first samples myself, it allows me to "feel" final product and work out technology of mass production. At that time, we've opted to participate in IFA-2014 in Berlin. Final version of Odins I've brought to office one day before sortie. We even didn't burn them in.
