Ou sont les compression horns?

Frank Grimes · 07-08-2003, 09:11 AM

I've visit this forum moderately often, and I haven't really seen much mention of using HLCD's in DIY projects. They seem fairly prevalent in concert type speakers, and I've been impressed by their applications in car audio, so why not take advantage of their efficiency/SPL capabilities? Do room acoustics play a part that would favor tweeters/ribbons?

TimForman · 07-08-2003, 03:47 PM

I've never seen anybody use them in home audio but I'd be interested in seeing some specs on them. I'm suspecting there might impedence or off-axis issues but without some measurements there's no way to know.

Frank Grimes · 07-08-2003, 04:11 PM

I don't see how impedence would be an issue, and I assure you that they perform very well off axis (from my experiences in car audio, at least).

TimForman · 07-08-2003, 07:32 PM

I see Parts Express sells a variety of compression drivers in their Pro Audio section. Some of them are quite expensive. It's a valid question though, and an interesting one. Probably worth investigating. I've noticed that JBL has created a no-compromise (as they put it) home system using a horn. JBL

Allen Ross · 07-08-2003, 08:31 PM

check out Pi speakers they make some nice kits of a simple 2 way with compression drivers.

one flaw that they have is they can't get the highest octave, usually peatier out around 16Khz.

Also if my knowledge is correct they don't like sealed boxes.

BTW Grimmie i thought you were dead

**HTF Ads**

TimForman · 07-08-2003, 10:29 PM

Quote:

one flaw that they have is they can't get the highest octave, usually peatier out around 16Khz.

Supertweeter?

Allen Ross · 07-08-2003, 11:31 PM

hun?

is it an addition to compression drivers? or just beefier version?

tell me more i am interested and plan on building a set of Pi Theater Series monitors.

Frank Grimes · 07-09-2003, 06:02 AM

I think he's just referring to using an additional tweeter to pick up above 16khz.

Anyone have experience with horns? Can some one at least give me a reason NOT to go with horns in my next install? The only downside that I can think of is the obvious difficulty in matching surround/center channels. Methinks I should have put the thread title in native English so as to attract more views...

And I did die, but I had to come back for my pencils with my name on them (you know, like a pencil company executive).

Brett DiMichele · 07-09-2003, 06:14 AM

I would think that there are 3 key reasons you don't see
horns used more often in the home..

#1 Good Compression Horn Drivers are VERY expensive.....
Especialy TAD, Selenium and JBL

#2 Matching these with a Midrange means finiding a mid that
is extremely sensitive or really padding the tweeter down
in which case defeats the point of having a horn.

#3 Some people just don't like horns.. Some don't like the
way they sound.. Loud, In your face, Bright etc..

Those are my guesses!

Bill Fagal · 07-09-2003, 09:28 AM

Horns are in the hiz-aus!

Horns got untouchable skills in terms of dynamics, compression, AMD, and pattern control.

Here's a fun mental exercise I've been tweaking recently: A budget version of the Westlake Audio SM-1 (something like 50 grand a pair!).

My idea is an all-Selenium 5-way in 4'w/3'd/3.5'h (yes, that's 42 cu. ft!) reflex cabinets. It would be an absolutely astonishing system for 6000+ cu. ft. listening rooms.

Selenium driver/horn compliment (for a pair)(prices ala Parts Express):

4x WPU1805 18" bass drivers = $565.80
2x 10MB1P-SLP 10" mid-bass drivers = $359.00
2x D405 mid compression drivers = $241.90
2x HC79-50 mid horns = $253.90
2x D205TI treble compression drivers = $97.70
2x HM17-25 treble horns = $18.90
2x ST320 super-tweeters = $88.90

Total driver cost: $1626.10 (not bad, eh?)

Crossover points : 200Hz, 600Hz, 2kHz, 8kHz
I'm thinking to avoid crossover design headaches by multi-amping and using a pair of Behringer DCX2496's per channel for crossover/time-alignment/EQ.

So, for around $2000 for a pair (OK, plus Behringers = around $3500 total) you'd have a system with extremely low distortion and 101dB/w efficiency over its entire passband (would hit 121dB with 128W--perhaps 1/4 of its power handling).

I've also got ideas for sand damping the cabinets and horns, but that's for another post.

Ok, who wants 7 for their surround system?

Bill

Frank Grimes · 07-09-2003, 01:09 PM

Wow. That's a bit more complicated a setup than I was looking for (thinking 2 way with 1-4 midbass drivers, whatever is necessary to keep up with the horns), not to mention a bit more expensive.

Any idea how a pair of 12MB's would perform alongside the D405's in a 2 way? The 10's seem to have a fairly high Fs and I have a feeling that they would begin to rolloff a bit before I would like. Still, the 12's don't appear to be able to move much more air than the 10's would with the lesser Xmax. I'm kind of worried that, SPL wise, the horns would keep going quite further as the midbass drivers reach their limits.