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H290C Horn/Waveguide [message #71929]

Tue, 27 March 2012 03:48

santos
Messages: 5
Registered: February 2012
Location: Madrid

Esquire

Wayne, I can't find H290 in Europe. Is there an alternative without having to change any thing in the crossover. I already have your 4 pi crossover at home and I'm not handy enough to change any thing.
Thank you
Santos

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Re: H290C Horn/Waveguide [message #71930 is a reply to message #71929]

Tue, 27 March 2012 07:55

Wayne Parham
Messages: 18786
Registered: January 2001

Illuminati (33rd Degree)

There is no suitable alternative to the H290, now designated H290C. The horn/waveguide properties are very specific, and it cannot be substituted without a complete redesign/test cycle. The biggest issue is the position of the acoustic center, which is affected both by the acoustic load and the depth of the device. The size and shape of the H290C are precisely set to provide the right beamwidth, loading and acoustic center.

The problem many people are facing is that Eminence discontinued the H290 horn. They were getting them from an overseas supplier that has stopped making them. We are now making the H290C horn/waveguide - and in fact, have updated the profile to have an oblate spheroidal flare profile. It is essentially a plastic version of the wood horn we've been making for years, so we could leverage the design work we've already done.

Horn/Waveguide dimensions and beamwidth

So my suggestion is to purchase the horns from us. There are other suppliers that still have the H290 in stock, but it is rapidly dwindling. Besides, our new H290C is an improved device, one that can be considered an upgrade. It uses the same baffle cutout and mounting holes, so it's an easy bolt-on replacement.

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Re: H290C Horn/Waveguide [message #71955 is a reply to message #71930]

Thu, 29 March 2012 13:26

Maxjr
Messages: 57
Registered: August 2011

Baron

Wow! Wayne, that new H290C waveguide looks great! I wish I new about these prior to purchasing the Eminence H290 units. From a layman's standpoint, what are the noticeable audible differences between the H290 and H290C?

Cheers!
Joel

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Re: H290C Horn/Waveguide [message #71956 is a reply to message #71955]

Thu, 29 March 2012 14:22

Wayne Parham
Messages: 18786
Registered: January 2001

Illuminati (33rd Degree)

The original H290 was a pretty good device, so you shouldn't feel like you've been left in the weeds. It's what I've long considered a happy accident, in that it had very good polars and sounded great in spite of the fact that the curve of the profile was not oblate spheroidal. But the throat shape was close, and the extra expansion towards the mouth acted as a hedge against narrowing beamwidth at the bottom end. It could have used a mouth radius, but other than that, it was a pretty darn good horn.

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Re: H290C Horn/Waveguide [message #71959 is a reply to message #71956]

Thu, 29 March 2012 18:28

skywave-rider
Messages: 104
Registered: May 2009

Viscount

Order placed.

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Re: H290C Horn/Waveguide [message #72734 is a reply to message #71959]

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:19

Wayne Parham
Messages: 18786
Registered: January 2001

Illuminati (33rd Degree)

The first couple sample H290C waveguides are ready for me to check. They look good, but they need to be measured (physical dimensions) before we go for the full production run. I may have them verify some measurements at the mold shop before even sending, but from what I can see, they look great. So we're getting close.

http://www.pispeakers.com/H290C_front.jpg

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Re: H290C Horn/Waveguide [message #72738 is a reply to message #72734]

Thu, 17 May 2012 16:37

Maxjr
Messages: 57
Registered: August 2011

Baron

Wayne,

Will these be a bolt in replacement for those of us who have already built our 4Pi cabinets? I already love my 4Pi's so much (thank you, again, for a superb design!) but have an awful habit of always upgrading (cars, speakers, etc.) It must be the perfectionist in me.

I'd like to sell my original H290 cheap and replace them with these. Also, do you know approx when you'll receive the production units that will be ready for consumer purchase? Thanks!

Cheers,
Joel

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Re: H290C Horn/Waveguide [message #72739 is a reply to message #72738]

Thu, 17 May 2012 17:05

Wayne Parham
Messages: 18786
Registered: January 2001

Illuminati (33rd Degree)

Yes, the H290 horns in existing designs can be retrofitted with H290C waveguides. It was designed specifically to be a bolt-on upgrade.

The old H290 was really pretty good, acting much the same as a waveguide providing nearly constant horizontal directivity and low diffraction. The most important feature I had to maintain was the position of the acoustic center, and the new H290C has the exact same acoustic center in the crossover region.

I expect to have inventory in six to eight weeks or so. We already have taken several preorders, and in fact, I may have to up the initial order quantity. No problem though, the molds are good for at least a million units. Smile