Hi guys,
Calling on your collective wisdom again.
I've been playing about with some cheap 8" wide rangers, 10"woofers and minidsp with some interesting results and was toying with the idea of upgrading the wide ranger to a higher performing unit like a Mark audio or even a Visaton B80 (as they're easily available over here) but then I started thinking would a budget compression driver and horn be a better option? I don't listen at high volume (or in a big room) but have certainly appreciated the dynamic improvement going from tiny little full rangers (transmission line 3" tang bands) to big monkey coffins. I'm interested in running the horn low, like 600hz?
I've got 8 little tangbands I could enter into the fray as an odd little line array but fear for the issues that go with that?
Any and all opinions welcomed
Calling on your collective wisdom again.
I've been playing about with some cheap 8" wide rangers, 10"woofers and minidsp with some interesting results and was toying with the idea of upgrading the wide ranger to a higher performing unit like a Mark audio or even a Visaton B80 (as they're easily available over here) but then I started thinking would a budget compression driver and horn be a better option? I don't listen at high volume (or in a big room) but have certainly appreciated the dynamic improvement going from tiny little full rangers (transmission line 3" tang bands) to big monkey coffins. I'm interested in running the horn low, like 600hz?
I've got 8 little tangbands I could enter into the fray as an odd little line array but fear for the issues that go with that?
Any and all opinions welcomed
Are you willing to build a horn? What you want is a good thing but there is little available commercially. Can we assume you are talking a waveguide, because a horn that covers this range will have compromises (not that a waveguide doesn't as well).
Hi AllenB,
No building. Skill set not present.
Far more interested in just buying the horn and cd. And yes, given I'm not looking for epic levels we can look at waveguides.
At the low volumes I listen to I'm sure a two way system can be a very nice solution.
No building. Skill set not present.
Far more interested in just buying the horn and cd. And yes, given I'm not looking for epic levels we can look at waveguides.
At the low volumes I listen to I'm sure a two way system can be a very nice solution.
600hz is very hard. JBL 2384 if you can find it (it's used in 4722) with a 2453h-sl is the best affordable solution for 600+ I'm aware of (it's VERY VERY high performing)
I'm wondering if a CD is a waste of time for low level, small room listening? I thought the reduction in distortion and increase in headroom would be worth it?
I hadn't set out to make this a challenging thread. Just looking for input.
I hadn't set out to make this a challenging thread. Just looking for input.
You have also read, it seems, that waveguides are for low level systems. I can get club levels out of a waveguide, and cleaner due to less diffraction/distortion.
To answer your question yes, it is also good for low levels. The difference between high/low is imperceptible, which is also a good thing. The large voice coil seems to do something at all levels, and this is a great way to get response below 1k without a unity. 500Hz if you only go to normal levels and cross thoughtfully.
To answer your question yes, it is also good for low levels. The difference between high/low is imperceptible, which is also a good thing. The large voice coil seems to do something at all levels, and this is a great way to get response below 1k without a unity. 500Hz if you only go to normal levels and cross thoughtfully.
Martin Seldon maker of Azura horns is in your neck of the woods.
You contact him. I know he is doing the volume he used to, but a great guy with tons of knowledge.
You contact him. I know he is doing the volume he used to, but a great guy with tons of knowledge.
I boost my DE250s to operate there, when assessing the low end operation of my waveguides when I modify them. It's only 1/2 an octave on 700Hz.
The Azura horn has been on my radar for some time but cost has been an issue. I do have some cash coming my way but I've had such good/fun results from cheap components the idea of spending that kind of money is a little scary.
I've also dipped into the "Beyond the ariel" thread a bit too.
What's your set up AllenB?
I've also dipped into the "Beyond the ariel" thread a bit too.
What's your set up AllenB?
At the moment CD as low as possible, room up to 200Hz and a gap filler. Mine is a quarter-space designed expanding waveguide. I watch my directivity at all frequencies and directions.
A constant directivity waveguide has a side benefit of high bandwidth. Ie it may have reduced loading down low, but lower still it doesn't have to unload again from being loaded. (I don't like the way that sentence sounds.) You can compare in hornresp.
In the future it would be good to have an extra octave or two from the compression driver.
I also just happen recently to be reconsidering the advantages of constant directivity, but only slightly 😉
A constant directivity waveguide has a side benefit of high bandwidth. Ie it may have reduced loading down low, but lower still it doesn't have to unload again from being loaded. (I don't like the way that sentence sounds.) You can compare in hornresp.
In the future it would be good to have an extra octave or two from the compression driver.
I also just happen recently to be reconsidering the advantages of constant directivity, but only slightly 😉
Hornresp is currently above my pay grade but I am going to purchase the usb mic for my minidsp so I imagine I'll slowly get to grips with all this software.
Group delay takes a hit at the low end of a LeCleach horn. Using a lower cutoff results in very narrow high frequency dispersion.
Buy the horn and stick one of them small widebanders on it and see how you like that. They would easily go down to 600Hz if the horn permits it. Some people here had very good results with 1.4" horns and SB65 for instance.
You could try a dome midrange as per the original Edgar Tractrix horn which used a Dynaudio D54 dome mid.They went down to about 600Hz.You need to add a bullet tweeter for treble above about 6000 Hz but they are easy to integrate.
I have a pair of Dynaudio D76 dome mids spare that also work in a horn .They are specially doped for that purpose.Not quite as good as the D54std but still good.
I have a pair of Dynaudio D76 dome mids spare that also work in a horn .They are specially doped for that purpose.Not quite as good as the D54std but still good.
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4real,
I like your enthusiasm for spending my money😀 but the horns alone are over $500aud, that's not the kind of cash I spend on a whim. I started the thread just to check whether anyone over here in Australia knew of any bargains in this category as sourcing reasonably priced gear can be very difficult (even more so in Perth)
Thanks jtgofish but currently I'm really just playing about with two way options so the dome midrange is a no go. For a smallish room like mine and at the levels I listen to a two way should be fine?
Since starting the thread I've been doing a some more parts hunting and found I can get quite a few decent full range options for not too much money. I think that's the way I'll be going....for now 😉
I like your enthusiasm for spending my money😀 but the horns alone are over $500aud, that's not the kind of cash I spend on a whim. I started the thread just to check whether anyone over here in Australia knew of any bargains in this category as sourcing reasonably priced gear can be very difficult (even more so in Perth)
Thanks jtgofish but currently I'm really just playing about with two way options so the dome midrange is a no go. For a smallish room like mine and at the levels I listen to a two way should be fine?
Since starting the thread I've been doing a some more parts hunting and found I can get quite a few decent full range options for not too much money. I think that's the way I'll be going....for now 😉
I designed this horn. It is correctly sized for its job, no bigger than it has to be. It is radial, and the middle part is 120cm high and 90cm wide. This curve is available nowhere so I had no choice but to build.
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I never said to buy a $500aud horn though 😉 . Why not start of with a cheap one? Not sure if you can get 18sound? They have some quite good an affordable horns (XT1464 for instance)
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