Is my power tapering wired correctly?

[GuyPanico]

I think I am, but I want to make sure i'm wiring my speakers correctly. I have 9, 8ohm drivers. I'm trying to wire them 4/3/2 in series. Then those 3 strings, in parallel to give me 7.38ohms. Is my crude schematic correct?

[janneman]

Originally posted by GuyPanico
I think I am, but I want to make sure i'm wiring my speakers correctly. I have 9, 8ohm drivers. I'm trying to wire them 4/3/2 in series. Then those 3 strings, in parallel to give me 7.38ohms. Is my crude schematic correct?

Just to make sure I understand: you have 9 drivers, each 8 ohms nominal. So what are those resistance numbers in the drawing?
If I had 9 times 8 ohms, I would wire 3 each in series, that gives each string of three 24 ohms. Then I would parallel those three strings, giving me, surprise, 8 ohms!

If you have equal impedance drivers, and you wire them in different groups, you may get a 'good' impedance, but the drivers will have unequal loads and unequal loudness.

Jan Didden

[janneman]

Anyway, what you want to do is the following:


Jan Didden

[BassAwdyO]

9 drivers is kinda an odd number to be dealing with here. janneman's illustration is right though, I guess....

[GuyPanico]

I labeled them according to thier series impedance.

8-8-8-8 = 32ohm
8-8-8 = 24ohm
8-8 = 16ohm

It's my understanding power tapering of line arrays improves the sound quality. Albeit my line isn't terribly long.

[janneman]

Originally posted by GuyPanico
I labeled them according to thier series impedance.

8-8-8-8 = 32ohm
8-8-8 = 24ohm
8-8 = 16ohm

It's my understanding power tapering of line arrays improves the sound quality. Albeit my line isn't terribly long.

Well, I don't know, I'm no speaker expert, maybe it has to do with beaming or lobing. But the group of 4 will have 3dB less power each than the group of 2. Isn't that kind of drastic?

Jan Didden

[thylantyr]

I have no power tapering in my NSB array using 16 and there is no sound quality issues because of it. Try a simple wiring method first before you do an exotic one. Bring each NSB wire to a terminal block
so you can configure your wiring method by jumpering wires on the other side of the terminal block.

I also read on another forum someone tried tapering on their NSB then went back to non-tapered and liked it better.

There is no absolutes, just try.

ie,
http://www.lusty-blundell.co.nz/eweb...ck%2020Amp.jpg

[Andy G]

The point of power tapering is to anchor the sound more towards the middle of the array, so really you are looking for a symmetrical layout with the outer speakers tapered down a bit.

What you are suggesting with the 4,3,2, config will not achieve this purpose. Go with 3 lots of 3 in a short array or get an extra driver each side and taper 3/2/2/3

[GuyPanico]

I am actually putting the higher output drivers in the middle. In terms of differences of output, my line will like like this.

In decibels

+0
+0
+1.25
+3
+3
+1.25
+1.25
+0
+0

Worst case scenario I rewire them so they all have the same output.