Horns and Applications

[tinnitus]

You can tell I'm new by the number of posts. This site and the members are a wealth of information. I read and read and read. Please bear with me I have a couple of questions. The more I read (and see pics) the more I want to build and try different combinations of drivers and horns.

From reading I've found there are exponential, tractrix, bi-radial and smith (distributed sound) horns. I understand what I think to be the basic concept - use the horn to project the sound to your audience. What are the applications for each type mentioned above? How limited is the Smith horn?

Moving from application to driver(s). Most horns take compression drivers we use for mids (?), HF and UHF. I have this idea in my head of using a LE5-*, 2104/5 or a 104H in a horn running the mids. Can you mix cone type drivers, normally mounted in the speaker cabinet in a horn then add to a system? I don't really see examples of this(?).

Lastly, how much can you "pad" a compression driver (CD) for use with a conventional cone driver compliment? In the larger 434* systems the 2405/077 driver is used for HF/UHF. Obviously the CD sensitivity is higher than the cone drivers and it's "padded" down. I can't really see resistor attenuation in the network accompanied by a L-pad. Is this an L-pad or variable resistor in the network? Can you add, say 15 db of resistor attenuation, then a L-pad to finish up the sensistivity match and use a CD with cone drivers? Try to get system sensitivity down to 93-95db.

Thanks in advance. Sorry for asking so much. As I said earlier, the more I read the questions I have.

Gary

[Ruediger]

Let me suggest two books for You:

Abraham B. Cohen, Hi-Fi Loudspeakers and Enclosures.

I just checked the net. The paperback version is available from amazon.com starting at 28 US$.

The other book is from John Eargle, "Loudspeaker Handbook", a must!

To answer a part of Your question: better than an L-pad is an autotransformer. That does not burn power, and it preserves damping of the loudspeaker by the amplifier.

Ruediger

[Zilch]

JBL mates cone drivers with midrange horns/waveguides, yes. You just haven't found them yet:

http://www.jblproservice.com/pdf/PRX%20Series/PRX535.pdf

http://www.jblpro.com/catalog/support/getfile.aspx?docid=201&doctype=3

In two-way designs using compression drivers and constant directivity horns/waveguides, the SPL headroom is used for high frequency compensation, and the additional attenuation required to balance with woofers, high-efficiency ones, particularly, is minimal. In 4435, for example, there was virtually nothing remaining to attenuate.... :)

[yggdrasil]

Here are some reading for you:

http://fullrangedriver.com/singledriver/

http://www.geocities.jp/arai401204/Horn/A190E/A190E.html

Oh, and for simulations with cone drivers you'll need: http://www.dmcbean.bigblog.com.au/index.do

[Robh3606]

Here's some more reading. There is a lot of good information here and plans for a midrange horn using the Le-5-2. Not sure a 104H will work as well. Have to sim them and see. The don't have as much of a rising high end response. Take a look in the LE-5 Matrix

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=5706


Plans here

http://www.volvotreter.de/dl-section.htm


Rob:)

[tinnitus]

More reading (?)! I guess I asked for it. Many, many thanks. Rob I posted some curved cabinet thoughts for your Array Sub Module. Besides horns I have other shapes in mind. I plan to convert a pair of dinged cabinet L-96s into "the fans". The neighbors seem to name my "creations". The cabinet baffle will be the mask. The back will be a octagonal cabinet 14" deep like I showed in Rob's thread. The ear is the LE5-12, the eye is the 044 and the mounth is the LE10H-1. Stands will be a spin on a cabriole leg. I hope the plan comes out in the pics. Just had a thought. Maybe the grills can be sunglasses over the "eyes" - Ha!

For your review and build if you want. I've got a bunch on my plate but will get to them soon.

Gary

[Mr. Widget]

How limited is the Smith horn?In what way?

If you do some searches of Dr. Bruce Edgar's work, in the past he has built tractrix horns for sale for the LE5 that were very inexpensive... the plans were in Speaker Builder magazine.


Widget

[tinnitus]

My guess is the Smith horn is limited in vertical dispersion. A one inch mouth and throat, no expansion. To me, I see it as throwing a beam of sound to the intended audience. I like the look. I have not tried the application but will sometime. I have much reading given me my the members.

As far as the tractrix, that is exactly my point. A proven horn design has been done for the JBL LE5-2 and is inexpensive. I'm sure someone has tried this with other LE5 series drivers or perhaps the 104 series drivers. Any success?

[jerry_rig]

My guess is the Smith horn is limited in vertical dispersion.

I can assure you that this is not the case. There is no beaming whatsoever. Moreover, to my ear, these are "smoother" than many other horn designs. Just my two cents.

[tinnitus]

Great. Glad to hear it.

[Maron Horonzakz]

The Smith horn is a distributed source horizontally,,,Very smoothsounding,,, and diffraction source vertically,,,,Think EV-T35 rotated 90 degrees..

[Mr. Widget]

I can assure you that this is not the case. There is no beaming whatsoever. Moreover, to my ear, these are "smoother" than many other horn designs. Just my two cents.I'll add two more cents. :)


I find the 2397/Smith horn is at it's best with a classic 2" exit driver. There is positively no beaming issue, but there is the potential opposite problem in smallish and bright rooms. The extremely wide dispersion, can splash on to side walls and cloud the musical sound stage. I don't feel the solution is to change horns, but rather treat the room.


Widget

[Ruediger]

I don't know how to make a link to a certain post, perhaps somebody can tell me.

I posted the original Smith Horn article under the title "Smith Horn Article" in the forum "General Audio Discussion".

Ruediger

[SMKSoundPro]

I am DEFINITELY ready to build a pair of smith horns. I have researched this site before for plans and may already have them.

They can't be tough to build and try.


Scotty.

[hjames]

I don't know how to make a link to a certain post, perhaps somebody can tell me.

I posted the original Smith Horn article under the title "Smith Horn Article" in the forum "General Audio Discussion".

Ruediger

Here ya go - and thanks for the original post!

http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=275438&postcount=1