Wayne Parham Messages: 18758 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
So the response curve with the spiked dip was in the magazine? You guys will have to forgive me, I can't check this out for myself right now. I don't have any of my copies of AudioXpress here with me, I'm actually working in Austin.
Wayne Parham Messages: 18758 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
OK, that's what I thought I remembered. That's a huge difference, John. If I saw that kind of spiked dip in loudspeaker sent to me, I'd conclude that the crossover was flawed because summing caused cancellation. So it is an unfortunate mistake to have sent the loudspeaker in this condition, but accurate reporting nonetheless.
Don't you think after 30 yrs of doing this kind of testing you would recognise the existance of a problem and mention that to the manufacturer before reviewing the speaker and giving it a negative review?
Wayne Parham Messages: 18758 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
Actually, after 30 years experience with loudspeakers, I know to expect many of them to be flawed in exactly this way. As an example, one fairly well known audio manufacturer produced a speaker with a tell-tale spiked 15dB dip in the crossover region. I noticed it and mentioned that it had an obvious crossover summing problem, but instead of acknowledging it, the manufacturer made excuses and tried to cover it up. Ironically, the main marketing feature of this particular loudspeaker was its "time aligned" crossover.
colinhester Messages: 1349 Registered: May 2009 Location: NE Arkansas
Illuminati (3rd Degree)
The point of the negative review was that the AVERAGE builder would not have been able to measure the response curve; this was stated in a rather terse tone by the reviewer.
The excuse that as Colin puts it the "Average Reader" could not be expected to determine the problem is disengenous to me. Why have reviews if the expertise of the reviewer is not involved or considered?
I see upon re-reading this mught look like I disagree with Colin when in fact he only stated what Mr D'Appollito said in the magazine. My comments were directed to Mr D's statements.
Wayne Parham Messages: 18758 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
I'll have to re-read the article to be sure of what was said. I remember all the controversy, but that's been years ago. As I recall, the article had a response curve showing a spiked dip and it was pretty bad. Adire later explained that the crossover was mislabeled, and this would cause builders to connect the tweeter 180° out of phase. That's what made the system have the spiked dip. The fix was simple as long as you knew to do it.
colinhester Messages: 1349 Registered: May 2009 Location: NE Arkansas
Illuminati (3rd Degree)
The reviewer found a problem with the kit. In my opinion the reviewer called it like he saw it: there was as mistake in the instructions (or possibly in the speaker's manufacturing process.) Should he have contacted Adire before the review was published? The reviewer was building the kit and made comments from the amateur builder's perspective.