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We recently experimented with line array speakers. To wit: Cy (as in Cyrus Brenneman) got his hands on a bunch of 2" drivers. Naturally, we decided to build a line array speakers which also - naturally - meant that I had to build the boxes. Anyways, the results were amazing. No, this line array didn't outperform my reference horn system. But it was shockingly close. So, I got the bug. I would love to hear from folks re line arrays and their ideas, pros and cons, and what speakers are best suited for this application. And such.
Follow Ups:
It's actually quite funny when DIY folks put a bunch of little speakers in a line and deem it "very good", but when a manufacturer puts a bunch of little speakers in a compact enclosure and includes an equalizer, the product is laughed at with disdain.Just sayin'.
:)
Edits: 04/16/14
Hi,
Listening to DALI MegaLine III loudspeakers...absolutely fabulous; however, require four channels of amplification and two pairs of speaker cables!
Vbr,
Sam
I've been a line array fan for more than thirty years using Acoustat 2+2s, Sound Lab U-1s and Acoustat 1+1s. These speakers are also dipolar and are full range electrostats.
What I find line arrays do wonderfully is duplicate the natural level roll off of sound level I hear with live instruments. With the stats upstairs, apparent level differs very little most anywhere in the room. Close to the speakers. Further away from the speakers. In front of them. Behind them. And present a believable image size. You never "listen down" to them.
With the 1+1s used the garage, the sound character and articulation are excellent even at pretty considerable distances (50+ ft) when observed from my neighbor's driveway. Fortunately, they are accustomed to hearing my music and enjoy it, too. :)
Line arrays work. Witness the Pipedreams speakers and the later Scaena speakers from many of the same people. But with good parts they are obviously expensive. To be at their best the quality has to be there and that costs dollars.
Imaging from a good line source can be amazing. The pipe dreams imaged beautifully outside of the area between the towers. The sweet spot was even better.
This kit sold by Parts Express is based on military research, and is supposed to overcome some of the problems with typical vertical line arrays. I have not heard them, but by what I have read, they sound very good. You may want to experiment with the same drivers.
With such small drivers I wonder if tweeters are necessary at all. The project that prompted me to start this thread consisted of 9 x 2" drivers per side and had very good top end - no tweeters required.
uses 25 - 3.5" drivers in his IDS-25 and still found the need to equalize both ends. Smaller drivers would likely help on the top, but compromise the bottom.
IDS-25 Speaker
A good loudspeaker system should use drivers that are optimized for the physical characteristics - cone stiffness, suspension compliance, Q's and F's and a host of other perameters - if it doesn't have a flat response but does all the other stuff exceptionally - then a little (or lot) of Passive (or Active EQ) is a great way optimize the frequency response. Note you can't just use any EQ - to preserve an great impulse response you need to properly model the EQ, the correct poles and Zeros. Remember it is not the frequency response we are trying to optimize (the room destroys that) it is the impulse response. A flat frequency response is the result of a good impulse response. Heyser taught us that!
Three most important things in Audio reproduction: Keep the noise levels low, the power high and the room diffuse.
the boost required will likely require an active solution as Rog found to be the case.
Almost $19K? How do people come up with these numbers? Well, not in this year's budget...
I have a set of Bose 901 series III that I picked up for free. That gives me 18 4.5" drivers...I was toying with the idea of turning them into a pair of line arrays, I wonder if anyone has ever done that hack?
I imagine most small drivers could get away with no tweeters. I was really trying to show the research behind that particular curved line array improving on the traditional straight line array.
It's also quit possible that after 50+ one simply doesn't need tweeters...
Edits: 04/10/14
These drivers are made by Aurasound. They feature Aurasound's Neo-Radial Technology (NRT) motors, with neodymium magnets. This is the technology that first appeared on the Aura 1808 professional 18" subwoofer driver, which was extremely well-recieved and one of the longest-excursion pro sound drivers in its day, used in the huge BassMaxx subwoofer. Need lots of power, using Emotiva LPA1
The TOTL seas dome tweeters use the neo-radial design also.
Maybe others too, don't know.
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