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Hi all, Do different horns change the combined SPL of a compression driver horn combo? More specifically, does a narrower horn, say a 60 degree horizontal horn versus a 90 degree horizontal horn change the 1 watt at 1 meter SPL? Same compression driver. Since the narrower horn is concentrating the output energy, would it have a higher SPL measurement at 1 watt? If so, how much higher on average? Thanks, Tom
That's exactly right. Horns with narrower patterns deliver higher SPL, and for exactly the reason you describe: Directivity. And horns that have non-uniform directivity change the response too. That's how horns with collapsing directivity increase on-axis SPL as frequency rises, partially or fully compensating for mass-rolloff. It's also why constant-directivity horns do not compensate for mass rolloff and need "CD equalization."