During the last days, I was reading a lot of posts about paraline, combining compression drivers, directional arrays, Unity/Synergy horns and so on.
I wonder if there is a way to integrate for example JBL2445 or similar driver that is lacking in the HF with some sort of device to have point source behavior at a relatively short distance - say 1.5 m and further. If possible, it would be nice not to use digital delay between the two units, but can be used if necessary. I would like to crossover the JBL2445 at around 600 Hz
The best I have tested so far was to use two identical horns for the JBL2445 and HF compression driver with an adapter to match the time of flight to the listening position and to integrate well at least in the horizontal plane. This is as good as I can do. Would it be worth trying to pursue alternative ways?
The tools available include a 3D printer and DSP for delays, crossover and EQ.
I see some potential ways to try out.
1) use two paralines to combine the 2" and HF drivers into a conical horn. One shorter, one longer, maybe trying to steer the wavefronts a bit towards each other. The path lengths could be matched by using phase plugs going into the throat of the 2445 and HF driver to keep the conical expansion as close to the throat as possible, the HF driver would include an adapter for the correct distance.
2) use one paraline with both drivers - matching the pathlengths mechanically should be possible as well.
3) Use Danley throat combiner-like device to use both in one horn. Or any other similar device to make the drivers combine into one horn. The HF driver can be again made to have a 2" exit and same distance from membrane to throat as the 2445
4) "Inverted" Unity - to have the 2" driver in the center and multiple HF feeding into the horn. Most probably a very bad idea.
5) Place a small HF with horn inside the MF horn hidden in a phase plug like device and use delay to match the path lenghts.
6) Similar to 3, but Unity style - the 2445 would be fed to the horn through the side of the HF throat adapter at the correct place.
7) Anything else? Including that to have two identical horns is as good as it can get? And that a conventional unity is better in this regard...I would really like to use the 2445s.
All of above should be possible to at least prototype with a 3D printer, so any guidelines would be appreciated - e.g. rule out the really bad ideas. The 2445 can be equalized up to some 8 kHz without sounding too bad. The desired coverage pattern would be 90Hx60V or smaller, as low as possible. In this case, space occupied by the horn(s) is not a concern.
I wonder if there is a way to integrate for example JBL2445 or similar driver that is lacking in the HF with some sort of device to have point source behavior at a relatively short distance - say 1.5 m and further. If possible, it would be nice not to use digital delay between the two units, but can be used if necessary. I would like to crossover the JBL2445 at around 600 Hz
The best I have tested so far was to use two identical horns for the JBL2445 and HF compression driver with an adapter to match the time of flight to the listening position and to integrate well at least in the horizontal plane. This is as good as I can do. Would it be worth trying to pursue alternative ways?
The tools available include a 3D printer and DSP for delays, crossover and EQ.
I see some potential ways to try out.
1) use two paralines to combine the 2" and HF drivers into a conical horn. One shorter, one longer, maybe trying to steer the wavefronts a bit towards each other. The path lengths could be matched by using phase plugs going into the throat of the 2445 and HF driver to keep the conical expansion as close to the throat as possible, the HF driver would include an adapter for the correct distance.
2) use one paraline with both drivers - matching the pathlengths mechanically should be possible as well.
3) Use Danley throat combiner-like device to use both in one horn. Or any other similar device to make the drivers combine into one horn. The HF driver can be again made to have a 2" exit and same distance from membrane to throat as the 2445
4) "Inverted" Unity - to have the 2" driver in the center and multiple HF feeding into the horn. Most probably a very bad idea.
5) Place a small HF with horn inside the MF horn hidden in a phase plug like device and use delay to match the path lenghts.
6) Similar to 3, but Unity style - the 2445 would be fed to the horn through the side of the HF throat adapter at the correct place.
7) Anything else? Including that to have two identical horns is as good as it can get? And that a conventional unity is better in this regard...I would really like to use the 2445s.
All of above should be possible to at least prototype with a 3D printer, so any guidelines would be appreciated - e.g. rule out the really bad ideas. The 2445 can be equalized up to some 8 kHz without sounding too bad. The desired coverage pattern would be 90Hx60V or smaller, as low as possible. In this case, space occupied by the horn(s) is not a concern.
