theoretically ideal horn design?

yosh · 29th May 2004, 07:34 PM

hi everyone

I am very new to this world and still looking for alot of answers to simple questions.so here is my question of the day.

After seeing that many people are building horn speakers(i hope my wording is correct),is a horn speaker by deffinition a encolure that is tapering and spiraling?if so what are the benifits of this design?
The horns that i have been looking at are very angular internally is this on pupose or to simplify the building procces?is somthing like the nautilus the ideal shape for a horn.And lastly does any one know of a source for the equations to figure the internal shape of something like a nautilus?

Thank you all for looking and please respond with ANY info,i mean it when i say that i have alot of learning to do.
Thanks
Yosh

qi · 29th May 2004, 08:21 PM

My favourite is the spherical (aka tractrix) ...

qi · 29th May 2004, 08:24 PM

Here is one...

yosh · 29th May 2004, 08:27 PM

by spherical you mean a spherical inclosure behind the driver?

VEC7OR · 29th May 2004, 10:25 PM

Hi fellow builder, I'm biulding some horns for myself too aswell (Car subwoofer (2x8" fancy design discussion))

Horn is basically a pipe which diameter changes along the way by means of mathematical function (hyperbolic, exponential, tractrix, conical)

qi · 29th May 2004, 10:35 PM

Quote:

by spherical you mean a spherical inclosure behind the driver?

It refers to the rate of flair of the horn in front of the driver (the red thingie that looks like a tuba in the previous pic)...

qi · 29th May 2004, 10:40 PM

It is interesting to note that the most expensive horns use the spherical (tractrix) flair -- claiming it provides the least colouration of sound.

sreten · 29th May 2004, 10:49 PM

As with everything there is no such thing as ideal or perfect.

A "caternary" profile is probably the best compromise.

This profile is formed by a hanging chain.

But TBH a mildy truncated version is better.

sreten.

johninCR · 30th May 2004, 02:11 AM

Actually there is an ideal shape and that is having a straight center line which is only common with mid range and higher frequency horns like those pictured above. Straight bass horns are uncommon due to the required lengths involved. The folded horns that you've seen are for bass and maybe even midbass frequencies since the folds have less of an effect in the lower frequencies. The best expansion rate (flair rate) is a matter of preference and debate and seems to be frequency dependant.

A nautilus shell has a "golden ratio" rate of expansion. See http://www.camerahobby.com/Ebook-Gol..._Chapter16.htm . If made large enough, it might make a great bass horn.

Here's some good basics about horn theory:
http://www.volvotreter.de/downloads/...le_Horns_1.pdf
http://www.volvotreter.de/downloads/...le_Horns_2.pdf
http://www.volvotreter.de/downloads/...le_Horns_3.pdf

mikee12345 · 31st May 2004, 04:54 AM

http://home.comcast.net/~labhorn/pics/index.html

29th May 2004, 07:34 PM	#1
yosh diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: port townsend	theoretically ideal horn design? hi everyone I am very new to this world and still looking for alot of answers to simple questions.so here is my question of the day. After seeing that many people are building horn speakers(i hope my wording is correct),is a horn speaker by deffinition a encolure that is tapering and spiraling?if so what are the benifits of this design? The horns that i have been looking at are very angular internally is this on pupose or to simplify the building procces?is somthing like the nautilus the ideal shape for a horn.And lastly does any one know of a source for the equations to figure the internal shape of something like a nautilus? Thank you all for looking and please respond with ANY info,i mean it when i say that i have alot of learning to do. Thanks Yosh

29th May 2004, 10:25 PM	#5
VEC7OR diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Vilnius	Hi fellow builder, I'm biulding some horns for myself too aswell (Car subwoofer (2x8" fancy design discussion)) Horn is basically a pipe which diameter changes along the way by means of mathematical function (hyperbolic, exponential, tractrix, conical) __________________ Profanity took a very interesting form in Russia where there exists a language of sorts, most of its words based on four basic profane roots - nouns p...is, wh.0.e, c..t and verb f..k. It is possible to sensibly communicate using just these four basic roots.

30th May 2004, 02:11 AM	#9
johninCR diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Costa Rica	Actually there is an ideal shape and that is having a straight center line which is only common with mid range and higher frequency horns like those pictured above. Straight bass horns are uncommon due to the required lengths involved. The folded horns that you've seen are for bass and maybe even midbass frequencies since the folds have less of an effect in the lower frequencies. The best expansion rate (flair rate) is a matter of preference and debate and seems to be frequency dependant. A nautilus shell has a "golden ratio" rate of expansion. See http://www.camerahobby.com/Ebook-Gol..._Chapter16.htm . If made large enough, it might make a great bass horn. Here's some good basics about horn theory: http://www.volvotreter.de/downloads/...le_Horns_1.pdf http://www.volvotreter.de/downloads/...le_Horns_2.pdf http://www.volvotreter.de/downloads/...le_Horns_3.pdf __________________ Everyone has a photographic memory. It's just that most are out of film.

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29th May 2004, 08:21 PM	#2
qi diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: .	My favourite is the spherical (aka tractrix) ...

29th May 2004, 08:27 PM	#4
yosh diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: port townsend	by spherical you mean a spherical inclosure behind the driver?

29th May 2004, 10:49 PM	#8
sreten diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brighton UK	As with everything there is no such thing as ideal or perfect. A "caternary" profile is probably the best compromise. This profile is formed by a hanging chain. But TBH a mildy truncated version is better. sreten.

31st May 2004, 04:54 AM	#10
mikee12345 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NZ	http://home.comcast.net/~labhorn/pics/index.html

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