[Chris Hornbeck]

On 22 Apr 2009 13:29:10 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

EV actually pioneered the whole plastic case thing, and a lot of their
early models used piezo tweeters with the horn and waveguide molded into
the case. THOSE sounded awful. The newer designs are a lot better.

It's really a great way to make a speaker box, if you're planning
to make a whole shirt-load of 'em. Imagine how *you'd* make a
speaker box with that kind of design freedom - it's a whole
nother critter.

But then you have to think about reaction mass. I recently saw
the promo papers of an "in-wall subwoofer" (anybody still laughing
gets points for engineering honesty, but loses points for hipness)
that uses four pairs of tiny (they sit at right angles to the stud
wall, so have a diameter less than 3 1/2 inches) all operating
BMW-style, push-push. Hey, it doesn't shake the wall.


But yes, sometimes it's hard to tell where a horn begins and a funny
shaped cabinet with a little diffraction ends. A lot of manufacturers
are using the word "waveguide" to describe nontraditional horns. If it
matches acoustical impedance, it's a horn no matter what you call it, to
my mind...

Sometimes just getting the axis' of the radiating surfaces back
pret' near equally about as far away from the listener is worth some
fudge factor; the delay is otherwise something that can't be fixed in
a "passive" crossover. And, if you decide to line up the radiating
surfaces in the "depth" dimension, you're gonna have to tap-dance the
space in between. Arf. But, it's all good.


Horns, as you say, have their own requirements - some, like dimensions
relative to wavelength, unforgiving and un-fudgable. (Although
everyone tries... Real horns are very, very difficult).

Hell, Paul Klipsch cheated as much as anybody. That's engineering.(!)


Much thanks, as always,
Chris Hornbeck