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Line array with 40mm Neodymium Headphone Elements...

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Eight 16 ohm in parallel would be 2 ohm for the group.

Four 2 ohm groups in series would be 8 ohm in the end.

You got 32 drivers per cabinet?


Question for the group: When doing Line Arrays like this does it make any difference how the drivers are combined in order to come up with the desired impedance? In other words does it make any difference whether it's a bunch of parallel groups in series or if it's a bunch of series groups in parallel?
 
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Nominally identical drivers in series can interact if there's unit-to-unit differences in resonant characteristics or loading. That's the theory, anyway. I haven't seen any studies on the possible results.
 
Think it is worth it for an experiment? It would be a little expensive. Do you think it would sound good?
 
Could be cheap fun. You'd still need something for the low end. Did I see they were only good down to 2K?? And it looked like even at 32 of these the power handling would be minimal. sensitivity was given at 92 or 96 db at 0.1W @ 0.1M <-- now that's given in a way I don't quite know how would scale up. I think if it were me and I was putting the work in I'd look for some better candidates :dunno:
 
I think you're right about finding a new canidate. I just wanted to try it out as I would like to build one out of 3" HiVi aluminum drivers in the future.

Does anyone know how they sound? Is the sound stage superior to standard speakers?
 
some rough back of the envelope calculations from a hack....

2 paralleled=8ohm nominal
so 2 pairs paralleled = 4 ohm nominal

2 of these sets of 4 in series= 8 ohm nominal.....if you used 8 per speaker, you're in them for ~$16....

well, 96db/.1w/.1m and a .5w max power handling.....

power handling IIRC would be additive, so you're looking at 4w max?

2x power for each 3db increase, so max reliable volume from each driver would be ~102db at .1m

IIRC, loudness drops 3db for every doubling of distance. say your listening distance from the speakers is ~3m, or ~9'..... .1-.2-.4-.8-1.6-3.2
you're down 18db, giving a max loudness of 84db at your listening spot. IIRC, you get +3db gain using each additional driver, so that would give a max loudness at your listening position of about 90db....

@1.90 ea, you're at $15 for each speaker. for $16 or less, you can cover the same frequency range with these with much more power and db capability:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=275-040
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=264-1026

if you wanted to play with cheap full range line arrays, I'd use these:
https://www.madisound.com/store/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=121&products_id=9004

or these

https://www.madisound.com/store/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=121&products_id=8987

with maybe a small tweet crossed high with a simple cap to add sparkle on the top end...maybe something like these:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=279-061

for the low end, maybe mount the line arrays on boxes containing
https://www.madisound.com/store/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=121&products_id=8991

or a pair each of these:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=299-098
 
Just a couple of comments: I once designed an experimental power amp for 1/2 ohm speaker loads. It used a triple darlington current booster circuit that could drive 16 eight-ohm speakers in parallel. This concept might present an interesting option, if you're adept at constructing electronics. Another possibility is to use a step-down transformer or autoformer.
 
This is perhaps not exactly what you had in mind, but it was my attempt to create a lucid, phase correct and time aligned speaker.
BTW: Last summer it took 1st place in the 2-way division at "The Puget Sound! DIY Speaker Contest" as well as many positive compliments at "The Vancouver Island DIY Fest" in Canada, held the previous week. It's wired series/parallel with a series crossover!

IMG_5981.jpg


Best Regards,
TerryO
 
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TerryO said:
This is perhaps not exactly what you had in mind, but it was my attempt to create a lucid, phase correct and time aligned speaker.
BTW: Last summer it took 1st place in the 2-way division at "The Puget Sound! DIY Speaker Contest" as well as many positive compliments at "The Vancouver Island DIY Fest" in Canada, held the previous week. It's wired series/parallel with a series crossover!

IMG_5981.jpg


Best Regards,
TerryO
Click to expand...
Nice work, Terry! :thmbsp::thmbsp:
From my reading about arrays, the curvilinear array seems to be the best choice. I was thinking about a similar project as the OP's or your array, using it for HT application.
Does the array need to be sized or the curve altered to best fit a certain listening distance? I would be using the arrays at a distance of 10-12'. They would be set as front mains for 5.1 HT.
 
westend said:
Nice work, Terry! :thmbsp::thmbsp:
From my reading about arrays, the curvilinear array seems to be the best choice. I was thinking about a similar project as the OP's or your array, using it for HT application.
Does the array need to be sized or the curve altered to best fit a certain listening distance? I would be using the arrays at a distance of 10-12'. They would be set as front mains for 5.1 HT.
Click to expand...

I sized mine for the listening distance I use in my house (8-8.5 feet), so I used a radius of 10.5 feet for the baffle. That creates a "Tone Cone" of about ~6-7 inches for your ears. I think it's the best solution for totally avoiding comb filtering, etc., but I've gone around and around with Dr. Griffin about this for years and he's stated that: "it's a plenty dumb idea." I'll let others listen to his theories, while I just enjoy my "dumb" speakers.

Dan Schmalle (Doc Bottlehead) said a couple of days back that my arrays are one of his all-time favorite speakers. He wants to try them out with his amps, or maybe 3-4 of them in series, as they're not very efficient. I guess we'll get together in (maybe) the next week or so and see how that goes. I normally wouldn't bother, but he said he's buying the beer!:D

Best Regards,
TerryO
 
Rick Vestal said:
^^^ Someone pushed all your domes in :(
Click to expand...

Not all of them, but you're right.
It was my Son, when he was very young (he's 16 now). I built the arrays many years ago, but just added a permanent bass module/crossover last year.

Best Regards,
TerryO
 
michiganpat said:
...

IIRC, you get +3db gain using each additional driver, so that would give a max loudness at your listening position of about 90db....
...
Click to expand...

You do not get 3 dB for each driver. You get 3 dB every time you double the number of drivers with each one being driven at the same power level. So if you have 2 drivers at 0.1 W being driven, to get an additional 3 dB you need 4 being driven at 0.1 W each.

Sorry to be the bearer of sad tidings.

Shelly_D
 
RayW said:
Many. I remember them the first time around. :D
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Ray,

The time sure goes quickly doesn't it?

OTHO, there's a couple of nice things about getting older:

1. You have a lot of great memories.
2. The statutes of limitation have run out. :banana:

"The older we get, the better we were!"

Best Regards,
Terry
 
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