Hi-Vi B3S for Line Array?

[sdclc126]

Hello Friends!

Has anyone built something like this, or seen any designs? Is it an appropriate driver for LA? The price is certainly right - less than $10 a pop from PE, so maybe a few hundred bucks for LAs with what are supposed to be some pretty darn good little speakers. Not as cheap as NSBs, but probably much higher end sound.

They're not very efficient nor can tolerate a lot of power, but arrays are supposed to make up for that I believe? Also shielded, so bonus points for an HT set-up. The square frame would allow for the closest possible mounting, with driver edges almost touching! That would also make for a nice clean no-grill look for the speakers, as well as easier baffle cutting - just a straight trench!

With an FR up to 15k, maybe only a single tweeter per side needed; also kind of a high x-over to bass at 300, but workable I think - not to subs but maybe to 8 inchers, possibly part of the array itself.

Thoughts? Thanks all.

[edjosh23]

Perhaps you should check out a couple of articles.
First off, here is a line array that could turn out quite well at parts express called the Cynosure
Also check out this thread about comb filtering

The last read is the line array white paper by James Giffin.

Hopefully you will learn a little about line arrays.

Good luck,

Josh

[sdclc126]

Yes I've been doing some initial research, my question being part of that research...

I was hoping someone might have opinions or references on the specific driver I was asking about, rather than referring me elsewhere.

[RJ]

How many of the B3S were you going to use per side???
I have toyed with the B1S in a a small array. They have a nice midrange, but you can forget about anything above 10 khz with the B3S. Anyways, comb filtering sets in as it did in my B1S's. To fix that I hooked up this super tweeter in back of the cab to bring back the upper octave;
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=272-115
Worked great, I used the cap that it came with and that's all it needed.
Sounded great also. It added Ambience and Air to the sound stage.
You'll also need a sub. I see on the graph that it slopes very steeply at 100 hz.
I crossed my B1S's at 150 hz if I recall correctly. I could get them to play pretty loud. Also the sensitivity might be underated. Mine kept up with 2 8" woofers rather well.
Also I hope the driver terminals are beefier than my B1's. Mine were very fragile and a couple broke off and I had to glue them back on.
Good Luck!!! Rudy....

[sdclc126]

Originally posted by RJ
How many of the B3S were you going to use per side???

Great info Rudy. I was thinking maybe 10 per side, 5 upper & lower w/ center tweet. Not a "ceiling to floor" array, but beefy nonetheless.

Yes, tweets & sub absolutely necessary, maybe even, as I said, regular woofers on the array too - SEAS aluminum, also for the tweets (so an all metal project). This could get costly but this is my ultimate reference project. Open baffle too!

Sound like you had decent results with your Hi-Vis - the B3S has got to be a good candidate .

[Danse]

If you can wait a few weeks I sould be able to let you know.

[sdclc126]

Originally posted by Danse
If you can wait a few weeks I sould be able to let you know.

Please do! Great looking project there. What are you using for the tweet? Hope you plan to post a thread on the build process, etc. Also I'd really like to know the details of the x-over design.

Keep in touch!

[JWFokker]

Originally posted by sdclc126


Great info Rudy. I was thinking maybe 10 per side, 5 upper & lower w/ center tweet. Not a "ceiling to floor" array, but beefy nonetheless.

Yes, tweets & sub absolutely necessary, maybe even, as I said, regular woofers on the array too - SEAS aluminum, also for the tweets (so an all metal project). This could get costly but this is my ultimate reference project. Open baffle too!

Sound like you had decent results with your Hi-Vis - the B3S has got to be a good candidate .

An open baffle line array of B3S's? Sounds interesting. Could be a good project for a home theater.

[Danse]

The Tweeter is Fountek

NeoCD3.0 3" Ribbon Tweeter.

Hopefully I'll get some time to work on it this weekend.

This is my first try at Needle array, so the xrossover will be a challenge.
They are currently wired 3-3-4-4 but I may change it to 2-2-3-3-4
thanks for your interest.

[Danse]

I found the time to assemble one, sounds promising.

I still have to paint the back on the second one, and mount and wire all the drivers.

I will wire the second one 2-2-3-3-4 and compare.

You must have subs with these!