Simple and easy radial speaker with only one driver

[Squeak]

Ok, I'm contemplating doing a radial design with only one fullrange (commercially available) driver (currently FE126 as I want to floor-load it).

So, the first problem seems to be how to do the reflector. Where to get it or alternatively how to DIY easily?
- A simple cone seems not to be the preferred shape, but could it work? And how steep can/must it be?

- A ball would reflect most of the highest frequencies right back at the driver, so even though some use it, it seems too much of a compromise, especially when talking fullrange one driver.

- An exponential spike (mount Fuji shape) like the Duevels seems ideal, but very hard to DIY or find as a part.

- A horizontally curved panel like the Paragons (http://www.audioheritage.org/html/pe...lf/paragon.htm) seems to be the easiest way to go, but how long does it have to be to be effective? And also, it needs to be mounted horizontally so that means a wide speaker, something I would like to avoid as it limits the placing options.

- One alternative I've been thinking about is bending an oval (to compensate for anisotropy) piece of plexiglass lengwise in an obtuse angle.
Then put it at a 45 degree angle above an upwards firing driver to get a good 180 spread, instead of the 360 spread, where much of the sound goes to waist in curtains, walls and furniture.

Anyone tried something like this, or have any interesting links to simple DIY radial speaker projects?

[doorman]

What's your design goal?
Don

[Squeak]

Originally Posted by doorman

What's your design goal?
Don

Well, I know I'm not going to get quite the bass of my current BIB, solely because of the length of the line necessitated by the driver hight (1 - 1.5 metres).
But other than that, I hope to get a good to great fullrange speaker where I and the people I love can have an "optimal" listening position anywhere in the room.

[Tom V]

How about this?

Dayton H08RW 8" Round Waveguide 1" Threaded | Parts-Express.com

And if you decided you needed a tweet later for air, you know where to put it.

I am digging the concept. I am listening right now to a pair of speakers that have a down firing port onto a flat open surface, and they sound real good and image like a son of a gun. I am assuming an omnidirectional speaker wouldn't need baffle step compensation?

-Tom-

[Squeak]

How does the back of those look? You'd need to put a cone over that hole at the mouth. And still, I'm unsure about how the high frequencies are going to behave. Wouldn't a 180 degree reflector be overall better in this kind of setup?

[el`Ol]

Here is a diffusor cone for 130 mm drivers.
www.h-audio.de Elektroakustik, Lautsprechershop, Grammophonfabrik Hannover, Pa Lautsprecher, Frequenzweichenenbauteile, Lautsprecherentwicklung, PAF212, RCF Kits, DIY Lautsprecherbausatz, Studiomonitor, Fullrange Driver, www.lautsprechershop.net, Lau
Personally I prefer fullrangers with strong treble rise and no diffusor (this is my experience with 8"ers), just the ceiling reflections. I will have a pair of TLs with the Ciare HX135 ready in two weeks or so, will post my impressions here, if you don't see it as threadjacking.

[Squeak]

No by all means do. That is exactly the kind of input and inspiration I'm looking for.
It seems radial speakers are treated kind of like a dirty word. Every thread I've seen on the subject dies out quickly and most of them only cover the same old ground.
Here's for instance a quite good little page that shows developments in the 30's to 60's along a completely different evolutionary path, until every speaker designer suddenly started imitating bookshelf speakers. Ie. square closed boxes with all the drivers facing forwards.
Citation X and Eico HFS-2 Speaker Systems

[el`Ol]

It's possible that the PU diffusor cone eats treble and the metal one is more expensive.
IT IT Lautsprecher - Produktkatalog & Shop - Shop - Shop - 1384801 | 70227_J2 DIFFUSORKEGEL

[el`Ol]

The speakers are finished. Slim speakers, 1m high (driver on ear level facing 90° upwards, no diffusor). Rockwool stuffing 40cm on the bottom.
Listening impression:
Tops should be tilted to have the drivers 60° off axis, 90° is a bit much. When distance to the wall is not too high (about 50 cm) bass is sufficient. The FE126E in a BR runs out of the magnetic gap what causes linearity problems (I haven't listened to it in a pure horn construction, probably this would be better). I did't notice such linearity problems with the HX135. Transparency is also much better than of any other paper cone I know. Quite an expensive driver for its size but worth the money if a true point source is the goal.

[Squeak]

Maybe you could try an experiment for me? Put two curved reflectors over the drivers, like two identical buckets or something, at a 45 degree angle or so, with the opening facing up towards you. And then tell me how that sounds.

I don't really get what you are saying about the Fe126e, but it's about it not being loaded enough in a back radiator, right?