I had purchased a set of large 2" throat PA horns for a pair of DCM50s a while ago. Probably the largest 'off the shelf' horns i could buy for a reasonable sum and has no throat constrictions. Basically what someone by the name of 'djk' would approve.
PAIR COMMUNITY BI-RADIAL Horns 2" Jbl 4Bolt Pattern For 2446H 2445J 2441 375 - $199.00 | PicClick
Then I thought it was a good idea to extend the vertical dimensions of the horns by adding sloping plywood panels (consistent with the flare rate of the straight flare of the horn) on the top and bottom to combat 'pattern flip'. The plywood panels are connected by 90x35mm pine framing. Well that was a fail; they seem to fail the knock test - knocking with a fist with medium force they create a short drone.
Anyone have better ideas to 'augment' these horns?
Go the opposite direction and use flimsy thin plywood but layer them with high density foam?
PAIR COMMUNITY BI-RADIAL Horns 2" Jbl 4Bolt Pattern For 2446H 2445J 2441 375 - $199.00 | PicClick
Then I thought it was a good idea to extend the vertical dimensions of the horns by adding sloping plywood panels (consistent with the flare rate of the straight flare of the horn) on the top and bottom to combat 'pattern flip'. The plywood panels are connected by 90x35mm pine framing. Well that was a fail; they seem to fail the knock test - knocking with a fist with medium force they create a short drone.
Anyone have better ideas to 'augment' these horns?
Go the opposite direction and use flimsy thin plywood but layer them with high density foam?
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Did you put braces across the face of the new panels? That usually helps. I've also used tar on the back of thin horn panels, but it's messy and smelly. Truck bed liner or some specific sound deadener materials will also work.
"Reasonable sum" being the issue.... are you aware of the modified tratrix Klipsch K402? Looking at the picture of those, the K402 is roughly twice as tall (?) 2" throat.
Very nice sounding horn. Might clash with your thoughts of reasonable sum though.
Very nice sounding horn. Might clash with your thoughts of reasonable sum though.
I agree with your desire to prevent pattern flip. The challenge is to find the geometry to make this happen (if there is one). Getting it wrong can produce poor results.
What you have here is a loading style horn which retains its overall expansion, while forcing the horizontal profile to be consistent.
The first question I'd ask is, does the vertical profile have a correct termination? Expanding profiles tend not to like being boxed in, eg the LeCleach horn cannot be correctly terminated in any way other than the profile itself held away from any other walls or surfaces, or the result will be less than satisfactory.
The vertical profile is smooth, but it varies and goes too wide. This is an issue that affects the upper and lower middle of the band of interest. Otherwise the horn loading adds at the low end of the band.
Compare this to a horn that was designed explicitly for waveguiding. The highs and middle should be fit for purpose, and the low end would not be as loaded. Which will be more important for your given application? Consider that for domestic use, the loading and efficiency are not as necessary, you can control the result with your crossover, and a waveguide has less group delay allowing you to cross lower.
What you have here is a loading style horn which retains its overall expansion, while forcing the horizontal profile to be consistent.
The first question I'd ask is, does the vertical profile have a correct termination? Expanding profiles tend not to like being boxed in, eg the LeCleach horn cannot be correctly terminated in any way other than the profile itself held away from any other walls or surfaces, or the result will be less than satisfactory.
The vertical profile is smooth, but it varies and goes too wide. This is an issue that affects the upper and lower middle of the band of interest. Otherwise the horn loading adds at the low end of the band.
Compare this to a horn that was designed explicitly for waveguiding. The highs and middle should be fit for purpose, and the low end would not be as loaded. Which will be more important for your given application? Consider that for domestic use, the loading and efficiency are not as necessary, you can control the result with your crossover, and a waveguide has less group delay allowing you to cross lower.