Posted by MaRLBORO [ 216.37.202.133 ] on October 28, 2006 at 12:30:10:

In Reply to: Re: Rocky Mountain Show posted by slinco on October 27, 2006 at 18:40:30:

Slinco,

Unfortunately, this is a very slow forum. Its unlikely that anyone else will "weigh in". Would that this weren't true.

I don't find it intriguing because of the very nature of ANY array with a large number of speakers. Any array with more than 10 speakers, and with increasing tendency will provide three wonderful characteristics that can be exploited.

1. Frequency response dips and bumps tend to smooth out. And because there are some many of the speakers, each speaker may have limited output in the upper treble or the lower bass, but all speakers put out something in those areas. If you put enough of them together you can actually get some decent response in the areas even if the individual speakers don't have much to give.

2. All arrays whether with really cheap speakers(49 cent for example) or expensive($49 for example) have decreased distortion. Decreased distortion increases airiness, openness etc. 50 of them will really do that.

3. All arrays have vastly increased dynamic range and increase sensitivity. One of the things that lends to a speaker sounding so much like Russell's are described is the ability of the speaker to play quietly with a flat response, and very low distortion. Almost all point source speakers, except horns, suffer from some disability in regards to being able to play very quietly and still have beautiful music.

For these reasons, everyone who owns an array, and especially those of us who own ones that have a lot of speakers(each channel for mine has 17 wide range speakers, 30 dome tweeters, and one 12 inch DVC woofer) hears a level of dynamic range which blows away any competition.

This is why I agree with you, but at the same time am not at all intrigued by Russell's speakers.

Finally, with all these speakers he can do things with equalization that others can only drool at. In my opinion, a boost of 6 db in a spot source single speaker will be about all you can get in equalization before the speaker starts experiencing distress. After all, its handling 100% of the frequency range and amplitude. But when I go to equalize mine, each speaker handles only 3.3 % of the total amplitude, and frequency range. I have way way way more latitude to boost or otherwise modify the frequency response of an individual speaker, and way way more db's to work with. He can probably boost his mid ranges easily 10 to 12 db at 13000hz - 20Khz without any stress at all. So now the speaker handles 6% or 9% of the total by the equivalent of equalization: big deal. The speakers is still way way way understressed.

Marlboro

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