Upgrading and understanding multichannel and its related acoustic treatment plan has been long and arduous. But I am confident I am versed well enough to move forward and make a sound decision within my budget.
Because my small apartment is fully treated with acoustic panels(reverberation under .2sec) I thought going multichannel might liven up most of the live albums I listen to.
I will upmix using a preamp processor and most of my music will be stereo but as it is live music I want to recreate the original event. And I have chosen multichannel to help with that.
The thing is my speakers are wide dispersion speakers(have no exact info on them) they are the Troel 3WC. I am aware that a 5.1 system should be medium to narrow dispersion speaker.
I also would love to have a narrow dispersion speakers in general that has a large 12 inch or 15 inch with a compression driver as I love fast attack, immediate, dynamic and transient speakers, The problem is that I already have the Troel 3WC.
If go for a centre 3WC and a matching ScanSpeak rear speakers I am looking at around $1000.
I am considering choosing a controlled directivity speaker with compression mid from about 600hz. This way I can have great stereo system for my studio and techno recordings and use a 5.1 arrangement with the same speakers for my multichannel system.
What options do I have with controlled directivity speakers which would be on par with Troel's design have a compresssion driver with descent crossover taking into consideration most design parameters? What I mean is that most PA type speakers have simple crossovers and are really just plain PA, I would like descent PA speakers for home use, really no point upgrading if the new speakers are nothing special. I am happy to go with speakers for the rear for now if I can find something for about 1k for 3 speakers for the front that match these needs. Can anyone recommend me some proven designs?
Please remember I will DIY everything I need a proven design that has descent drivers. This should bring down the cost and with American drivers I might have a chance.
My second question is does anyone know how wide dispersion speakers will fair in a multichannel set up and perhaps how it will go against a PA version(mentioned above) in a 5.1 system...?
Because my small apartment is fully treated with acoustic panels(reverberation under .2sec) I thought going multichannel might liven up most of the live albums I listen to.
I will upmix using a preamp processor and most of my music will be stereo but as it is live music I want to recreate the original event. And I have chosen multichannel to help with that.
The thing is my speakers are wide dispersion speakers(have no exact info on them) they are the Troel 3WC. I am aware that a 5.1 system should be medium to narrow dispersion speaker.
I also would love to have a narrow dispersion speakers in general that has a large 12 inch or 15 inch with a compression driver as I love fast attack, immediate, dynamic and transient speakers, The problem is that I already have the Troel 3WC.
If go for a centre 3WC and a matching ScanSpeak rear speakers I am looking at around $1000.
I am considering choosing a controlled directivity speaker with compression mid from about 600hz. This way I can have great stereo system for my studio and techno recordings and use a 5.1 arrangement with the same speakers for my multichannel system.
What options do I have with controlled directivity speakers which would be on par with Troel's design have a compresssion driver with descent crossover taking into consideration most design parameters? What I mean is that most PA type speakers have simple crossovers and are really just plain PA, I would like descent PA speakers for home use, really no point upgrading if the new speakers are nothing special. I am happy to go with speakers for the rear for now if I can find something for about 1k for 3 speakers for the front that match these needs. Can anyone recommend me some proven designs?
Please remember I will DIY everything I need a proven design that has descent drivers. This should bring down the cost and with American drivers I might have a chance.
My second question is does anyone know how wide dispersion speakers will fair in a multichannel set up and perhaps how it will go against a PA version(mentioned above) in a 5.1 system...?
How about building a matching center channel and then something like a large bookshelf for the rear channels?
This design uses an off the shelf 18 Sound XT1464 horn, a pair of 8" SB acoustics paper cone woofers and a 2" tweeter that has been modified with a built up bezel mounted to a slightly modified throat XT1464. These have an active crossover, so you will need to use something like a miniDSP or other device in conjunction with 2 channels of amplifier per speaker.
The woofer output is injected into the horn via two IIRC 55 mm diameter holes per woofer at a point where they are within 1/4 wavelength of the tweeter, ala synergy / unity.
Here's a summary of this build: A Bookshelf Multi-Way Point-Source Horn
This design uses an off the shelf 18 Sound XT1464 horn, a pair of 8" SB acoustics paper cone woofers and a 2" tweeter that has been modified with a built up bezel mounted to a slightly modified throat XT1464. These have an active crossover, so you will need to use something like a miniDSP or other device in conjunction with 2 channels of amplifier per speaker.
The woofer output is injected into the horn via two IIRC 55 mm diameter holes per woofer at a point where they are within 1/4 wavelength of the tweeter, ala synergy / unity.
Here's a summary of this build: A Bookshelf Multi-Way Point-Source Horn
Making a matching centre channel is one of my options. I just want to know more about wide dispersion speakers with multichannel. There has been so much on this forum regarding wide vs narrow dispersion speakers that I would love for someone to chime in with some advice.
I have read nearly every page, up to 70 on a handful posts so get a picture but keen to know how it would fair.
I will take a look at your option, thank!
I have read nearly every page, up to 70 on a handful posts so get a picture but keen to know how it would fair.
I will take a look at your option, thank!
There is a lot of research on preference, but the general consensus is that a speaker with a smoothly changing directivity vs frequency or a ( mostly ) constant directivity design is preferred over one that has large discontinuities in the directivity.
Once you get good directivity near the Schroeder frequency in room, there is diminishing returns trying to push lower in frequency. This is in the ~200 hz range for most domestic sized rooms.
If you picture standing in a corner, looking at your main listening position, what is the maximum area you need to illuminate? Corner loaded, 90 degree is the very maximum that you would want for coverage in the horizontal plane, and you ideally want to keep reflections from the floor and ceiling to a minimum, so somewhat less than 90 degrees would be my target.
While we hear a composite of both direct sound an reflections in a room, a larger amount of direct sound will be heard with narrower dispersion devices, given that the room will be treated in some manner.
There are options in limiting the floor reflection, these include a tall line array, a narrow coverage horn device or MTM with spacing to limit side lobes, giving a useful forward radiation lobe.
Once you get good directivity near the Schroeder frequency in room, there is diminishing returns trying to push lower in frequency. This is in the ~200 hz range for most domestic sized rooms.
If you picture standing in a corner, looking at your main listening position, what is the maximum area you need to illuminate? Corner loaded, 90 degree is the very maximum that you would want for coverage in the horizontal plane, and you ideally want to keep reflections from the floor and ceiling to a minimum, so somewhat less than 90 degrees would be my target.
While we hear a composite of both direct sound an reflections in a room, a larger amount of direct sound will be heard with narrower dispersion devices, given that the room will be treated in some manner.
There are options in limiting the floor reflection, these include a tall line array, a narrow coverage horn device or MTM with spacing to limit side lobes, giving a useful forward radiation lobe.
I understand that there is a preference for the narrow dispersion speakers, I also understand the benefits. Hence why I am curious of some affordable DIY options. Perhaps there is an old thread with some options...?
Yes but we still need reflections to recreate live performances at home. And lateral reflections are often touted as important with ceiling and floor preferably the ones to treat. My room is totally treated hence why I would like to go multichannel to create some reverb.