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Theater series Four Pi [message #36067] Mon, 22 April 2002 13:06 Go to next message
wasteh202 is currently offline  wasteh202
Messages: 137
Registered: May 2009
Master
In the Theater series, what is different (from the rest of the series) about the "Four Pi" that makes it tube friendly?
Re: Theater series Four Pi [message #36068 is a reply to message #36067] Mon, 22 April 2002 14:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18787
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

One thing that is very important for good sound on low-power SET amp is how the woofer acts at resonance. All speakers have an impedance peak when driven at their resonant frequency. This condition is also associated with back-EMF and amplifiers with lower damping factor are less able to control the motor; Particularly troublesome are those with greater impedance peaks, which are then creating more back-EMF.

When you put a speaker in a cabinet, it changes this peak and makes the speaker have a different impedance curve. Sealed cabinets tend to shift the peak up in frequency. Reflex cabinets create two peaks, both having less impedance than the single free-air peak. Horns and transmission lines create multiple peaks, generally lower in amplitude than the free-air peak, depending on flare shape and rear chamber.

Impedance fluxuations cause problems for tube amps, altering their response curve. The speaker impedance forms a voltage divider with the amp's output impedance, and if the ratio of impedances fluxuates, then the power transfer does too. So to make a long story short, if you have a small signal tube amp, you'll want to find a speaker with a low impedance peak at resonance, somtimes referred to as "Zmax."

Re: Theater series Four Pi [message #36069 is a reply to message #36068] Mon, 22 April 2002 14:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
wasteh202 is currently offline  wasteh202
Messages: 137
Registered: May 2009
Master
Thanks Wayne; Low impedance being what?
Re: Theater series Four Pi [message #36070 is a reply to message #36069] Mon, 22 April 2002 16:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18787
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

For a reflex box, I'd choose a driver with free-air impedance at Fts under 100 ohms, better if under 50.

Re: Theater series Four Pi [message #36075 is a reply to message #36070] Mon, 22 April 2002 20:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
wasteh202 is currently offline  wasteh202
Messages: 137
Registered: May 2009
Master
Wayne --- thanks for trying but I still don't get it... But that's O.K. What I really need to know is that the Four pi (theater) will work for a low-powered tube amp -- Thanks.

one more question; I don't suppose there would be much point in bi-amping such a sensitive speaker would there? (for home use)

Re: Theater series Four Pi [message #36076 is a reply to message #36075] Mon, 22 April 2002 21:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18787
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

Theater four π speakers work great with SET amps. And about biamping, it's a good idea. But I am always concerned that the crossover be implemented properly - You need an appropriate filter in front of the amps and you need to make sure and remove reactive components after the amps. To find an "appropriate filter" for a preamp-level crossover is not a trivial task because the response curve of the tweeter circuit is somewhat complex. It's not like rocket science or anything, but we do want a response curve that looks exactly like what is shown here:


Response curve required for compression horn tweeters

Re: Theater series Four Pi [message #36081 is a reply to message #36076] Tue, 23 April 2002 11:33 Go to previous message
wasteh202 is currently offline  wasteh202
Messages: 137
Registered: May 2009
Master
Thanks Wayne, I'll be watching for the XO's your working on to come out. I know that you will be able to recomend the right one for the right speaker.
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