I'm looking to play around with some DSP algorithms to try to replicate a Yamaha Digital Sound Projector. If you haven't looked into these yet, it's the only real soundbar on the market that gets close to replicating surround. Uses line array beaming to shoot rear channels around the room. A few people I know have been considering soundbars and I'm thinking of building a proper one for them.
So I'm looking to create an array of about 48 mini (2" or less) full range speakers for a reasonable budget.
By budget I'm hoping each driver will cost $5 or so, hopefully less. But I'd really like it to not sound like a clock radio. Is this doable?
Currently Parts Express has a few options I'm considering:
Dayton CE series speakers ($3-5 each)
Visation FRS5 ($8 each)
HiWave BMR12 ($5 each)
Will any of these create a nice sound? Which should I put my chips on? Is there a source around for good bulk buyout for mini drivers? Any suggestions?
So I'm looking to create an array of about 48 mini (2" or less) full range speakers for a reasonable budget.
By budget I'm hoping each driver will cost $5 or so, hopefully less. But I'd really like it to not sound like a clock radio. Is this doable?
Currently Parts Express has a few options I'm considering:
Dayton CE series speakers ($3-5 each)
Visation FRS5 ($8 each)
HiWave BMR12 ($5 each)
Will any of these create a nice sound? Which should I put my chips on? Is there a source around for good bulk buyout for mini drivers? Any suggestions?
If you can vary on the size, these might be interesting. I bought 50 of them and have played with them a little. No measurements, just playing in an array open baffle.
Mike
The Madisound Speaker Store
Mike
The Madisound Speaker Store
I can highly recommend the Vifa TC9FD for a nice sounding cheap full range. $12 ea at PE. Very flat response and nice highs. Square frame lets you array with tight ctc spacing.
They're decent little speakers, considering the price. I can send you a pair if you'd like. Maybe you could do some measurements on them for me. I have the TS parameters, but I haven't yet mastered using ARTA or other similar measuring apps.
Mike
How many are you looking to buy to do your array? There is a huge performance difference between the $2 Aurasounds specials and the $12 Vifa's (which really sound like $30 drivers). When I hear the term soundbar, I am guessing no more than 6 to 8 drivers? The Madisound specials have a huge Qts making them really only suitable for open baffle designs. A sealed or ported sound bar will not work well with them.
I was worried about that performance gap.
I'm looking to at least have 24 speakers in the array, probably more (I'd like 48). Hence $12 speakers make it a bit expensive.
Really, I think another limiting factor may become shipping costs. Looks like that'll be about the same as driver costs in many cases.
PE has free shipping for orders greater than $100. I have gone through a similar though process. $27 shipping for 50 of the Madisound drivers.
That really doesn't apply to orders being shipped to Canada. Those 50 drivers from madisound cost $100-$150 in shipping depending on the method. That doesn't include customs or duties.
I never knew that stuff from PE and Madisound costs so much to ship. No one has ever mentioned that before and lots of folks from BC buy stuff from Madisound. Are you sure?
ive got a few Visaton FRS 5X, which are a touch more expensive than the straight 5s.
I was actually working on a small array of them in Boxsim last night. 48 would be great, with their Qts you could get some good bass, if u give them enough volume. 100hz could be possible and more feasible using 48 drivers than smaller arrays
I was planning to use just 7, Boxsim with sim a max of 8 drivers.
I was actually working on a small array of them in Boxsim last night. 48 would be great, with their Qts you could get some good bass, if u give them enough volume. 100hz could be possible and more feasible using 48 drivers than smaller arrays
I was planning to use just 7, Boxsim with sim a max of 8 drivers.
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What I'd really love is for someone to tell me the Dayton CE line sounds good. Then I'd be able to manage the costs on this project without sacrificing the number of drivers used (and thus the precision of the beamforming).
the dayton looks comparable to the FRS5X. High Q etc. If the response is as good as the Visaton, then i would go for it. I couldnt find a response plot.
The spec sheets at parts-express are always on the right-hand side of the page. Look at the price and scroll down (under Manuals/Resources).
Here's the full Dayton CE lineup: dayton_audio_ce_series - Parts Express Ships Fast and Ships Free
It looks like
Dayton Audio CE40P-8 1-1/2" Mini Speaker 285-117
or
Dayton Audio CE32A-4 1-1/4" Mini Speaker 4 Ohm 285-103
have the smoothest frequency responses.
Here's the full Dayton CE lineup: dayton_audio_ce_series - Parts Express Ships Fast and Ships Free
It looks like
Dayton Audio CE40P-8 1-1/2" Mini Speaker 285-117
or
Dayton Audio CE32A-4 1-1/4" Mini Speaker 4 Ohm 285-103
have the smoothest frequency responses.
my opinion is the smaller daytons have too high Fs for easy use with a sub. The larger dayton i reckon you stand a chance. Freqency response is a bit rougher than the visaton, but its better value. Hard choice.
I find matrix arrays very fascinating 🙂
It would be interesting to compare full DSP driven array with my simple passive implementation as here:
Elias Pekonen Home Page - Stereophonic Sound from a Single Speaker
- Elias
If you have patience, i can add extra drivers to my Madisound orders and decrease shipping. But last i checked they probably don't have 50 of the little Auras left.
Anything from PE is best sourced thru Bob at CSS in Abbotsford.
dave
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