'Flat' is not correct for a stereo system ?

[LineArray]

@ Dr. Geddes

Since you already have given the answer implicitly
- as self adjusting is neither the case nor intended -
both chanels will decorrelate smoothly and gradually as
you move outside of the symmetry.

A very nice effect: You do not even notice it. There is
a smooth transition between "definite phantom sources"
which is much like sitting in the sweetspot of a conventional
speaker and an "easy listening area" farther away from
symmetry, which keeps tonality and spaciousness but
does not fix the phantom sources as sharply.

You can walk around and choose your place to listen, but
there is no "line to cross" where the image breaks down or
the reproduction gets coloured.

If you want the most definite phantom source localization,
you will intuitively choose a seat near symmetry, but that
does not depend on some decimeters.

All in all: Very 'realistic', hard to demand for more from two
speakers in a room i would say. And with extraordinary depth
of image a stunning near/far localization of instruments on
good recordings.

[gedlee]

OK, those are all subjective opinions, nothing objective, so I guess we are finished with this part of the conversation.

[LineArray]

As you like, i urged nobody to discuss panel form
bending waves. I think we were starting from how
to deal with early reflections and whether it is helpful
to have diffusivity in the reverberant soundfield of
the listening room.

[MiiB]

Wonder where the music stopped and the theories took over...

[markus76]

Originally Posted by LineArray

As you like, i urged nobody to discuss panel form
bending waves. I think we were starting from how
to deal with early reflections and whether it is helpful
to have diffusivity in the reverberant soundfield of
the listening room.

I think the priority is to have a small number of decorrelated reflections over a large number of diffuse reflections.

[markus76]

Originally Posted by MiiB

Wonder where the music stopped and the theories took over...

In the moment someone took out a microphone to make a recording.

[gedlee]

Originally Posted by LineArray

I think we were starting from how
to deal with early reflections and whether it is helpful
to have diffusivity in the reverberant soundfield of
the listening room.

We were and that was an interesting objective discussion, but then all of a sudden it became subjectively based and those kinds of discussions don't interest me. Once it gets subjective anyone can say anything "I like this - Oh, I like that" and then it becomes not so interesting.

[Bob Richards]

Originally Posted by gedlee

The wavefront from a waveguide is extremely coherent across its entire extent. This is why there can be such a pronounced dip on axis. With other horn designs this "hole" disappears simply because the wavefront is not highly coherent. Axial cancellation requires a very precise timing of the diffraction and this can only occur when the wavefront is highly coherent without any inherent phase or amplitude anomalies.

I wonder what he means by the word "extent"? And what is this "hole"?

[Bob Richards]

I'm usually one to demand scientific basis for any opinions regarding audio circuit or speaker designs. There are all kinds of rumors, ******** claims, people trying to sell you their crap, etc. Having said that, I tend to agree with DBMandrake that after all is said and done, in the real world, it's your ears that you are trying to please, not test equipment.

I do the best I know how to do with all the theory and test equipment, but I don't pretend that covers everything; that I then know it all. There's way too many variables in the reproduction process, and they are different for each recording. Acoustics are very complex, as is the way the brain reads what it hears. Gedlee makes some good points, but seems to have a pretty tightly closed mind to subjective perspectives. When someone is substantially rude, it makes me wonder how enjoyable their system really is. Program source material is invariably corrupted in a variety of ways, and what I want to do is make it pleasant to listen to in spite of that, and in spite of my listening room acoustics. It challenges my technical abilities, and my creative abilities, in both an objective and subjective realm.

[markus76]

Originally Posted by Humdinger

I wonder what he means by the word "extent"? And what is this "hole"?

See the data from one of Earl's speakers, e.g. Abbey