Cask05
Active Member
We just got back from our travels. Looks like I'm not going to relocate to the PNW (as I've discussed earlier). That opens up some alternatives that I had put aside for a couple of years now. Spending time and effort on DIY horn loudspeakers is now back on the table, and funds might be there to do it the right way (more discussion on what this means below).
I know this subforum is centered on Klipsch designs, mostly Heritage and 1990s models (KG, Chorus, original Forte designs, etc.). But after cobbling together the K-402-MEH almost 11 years ago, I've found that there are real advantages to MEHs, including those from Danley Sound Labs (i.e., their Synergy series and the newer "Tom Danley Signature" HRE-1 and ILE2, as well as their Studio models--despite their high price tags). There isn't a Danley Synergy forum, however. The MEH designs over at diyAudio all seem to suffer from "smallness in spite of the consequences of being small".
Anyone interested in exploring these types of designs? Modding existing Klipsch designs or even starting from scratch with existing Klipsch boxes or drivers, these designs are in some ways even easier to build than Fitzmaurice subwoofers. They essentially make "the perfect loudspeaker", with combined capabilities of higher efficiency, lower cost, full-range controlled directivity, and very low distortion--all inherent in this design approach. The resulting loudspeakers can also be up to 2/3's smaller than the existing Khorn, Jubilee, Belle, or La Scala...if that is of any interest. It turns out that there are several different approaches to doing this that give the listener automatic time alignment and consistent directivity response of the most important midrange and higher frequencies--without having to resort to larger format dual diaphragm compression drivers (like BMS and B&C).
So here's an offer: if new horn designs could be made that are variations on the performance of the K-402 or even the JBL 2360 horn used on the JBL 4722 model (1.5" throat), these designs are very easy to dial in using a simple miniDSP 2x4 HD or similar products. No 3D printing is needed...just acquire the horns, bolt on drivers, then dial in everything using REW and a UMIK-1, etc. No separate bass bin is needed for the larger horns. The acoustic performance far exceeds that of traditional multiple-horn loudspeakers, and the visual presence is much more compact--even perhaps to the point of WAF friendly if suitable finishing and grills are provided.
The smaller horns like the JBL 2360 give up the distinct advantage of directivity control in-room, but still there might be some applications where smaller horns could be used in smaller spaces, or in full room corners, where the walls of the room can truly be used for room gain without the problems of earl reflections trampling on the imaging.
After creating the K-402-MEH, it became obvious that it (a single K-402 horn) could suffice for home hi-fi duty without need for e separate bass bin.
Chris
I know this subforum is centered on Klipsch designs, mostly Heritage and 1990s models (KG, Chorus, original Forte designs, etc.). But after cobbling together the K-402-MEH almost 11 years ago, I've found that there are real advantages to MEHs, including those from Danley Sound Labs (i.e., their Synergy series and the newer "Tom Danley Signature" HRE-1 and ILE2, as well as their Studio models--despite their high price tags). There isn't a Danley Synergy forum, however. The MEH designs over at diyAudio all seem to suffer from "smallness in spite of the consequences of being small".
Anyone interested in exploring these types of designs? Modding existing Klipsch designs or even starting from scratch with existing Klipsch boxes or drivers, these designs are in some ways even easier to build than Fitzmaurice subwoofers. They essentially make "the perfect loudspeaker", with combined capabilities of higher efficiency, lower cost, full-range controlled directivity, and very low distortion--all inherent in this design approach. The resulting loudspeakers can also be up to 2/3's smaller than the existing Khorn, Jubilee, Belle, or La Scala...if that is of any interest. It turns out that there are several different approaches to doing this that give the listener automatic time alignment and consistent directivity response of the most important midrange and higher frequencies--without having to resort to larger format dual diaphragm compression drivers (like BMS and B&C).
So here's an offer: if new horn designs could be made that are variations on the performance of the K-402 or even the JBL 2360 horn used on the JBL 4722 model (1.5" throat), these designs are very easy to dial in using a simple miniDSP 2x4 HD or similar products. No 3D printing is needed...just acquire the horns, bolt on drivers, then dial in everything using REW and a UMIK-1, etc. No separate bass bin is needed for the larger horns. The acoustic performance far exceeds that of traditional multiple-horn loudspeakers, and the visual presence is much more compact--even perhaps to the point of WAF friendly if suitable finishing and grills are provided.
The smaller horns like the JBL 2360 give up the distinct advantage of directivity control in-room, but still there might be some applications where smaller horns could be used in smaller spaces, or in full room corners, where the walls of the room can truly be used for room gain without the problems of earl reflections trampling on the imaging.
After creating the K-402-MEH, it became obvious that it (a single K-402 horn) could suffice for home hi-fi duty without need for e separate bass bin.
Chris