Low diaphragm mass does not improve transient response in panels

Evidence

The resonant characteristics of these absorbers enable them to be tuned to low frequencies and so allow them to have absorption characteristics that complement those of porous absorbers. The peak absorption frequency of a resonant absorber is a function of the space behind the absorber and the effective mass of the front panel. To use an analogy with a spring and weight, the rear cavity acts like a spring whose stiffness is inversely proportional to the depth of the cavity, and the effective mass per unit area of the front panel determines the size of the weight. As the spring gets less stiff and the effective mass becomes greater, the resonant frequency drops. Thus deeper rear cavities result in lower resonances for both types. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2052 (#expands, via linked claim)

If the force is applied slowly, acceleration is weak. The force is then usually governed by compressibility or springiness, which therefore gives stiffness-dominated impedance. If a force is applied suddenly, the object hardly has time to move and sense its stiffness, but the mass of the object is felt immediately; the impedance is mass dominated. — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 86 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Deeper rear cavities and heavier panels lower a resonant absorber’s tuning frequency — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2052; Amplifier damping factor above 20 produces no audible effect on loudspeaker transients — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1782; Panel vibration does not prove audible sound is radiated (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Deeper rear cavities and heavier panels lower a resonant absorber’s tuning frequency #expands (0.82) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2052
• Slow forcing gives stiffness-dominated impedance; sudden forcing gives mass-dominated impedance #complicates (0.78) — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 86
• Panel vibration does not prove audible sound is radiated #corroborates (0.75)
• Amplifier damping factor above 20 produces no audible effect on loudspeaker transients #corroborates (0.72) — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 1782