Just wondering. Has anyone tried to build an omnidirectional Pi speaker? I was looking at the Dueval line of speakers and noticed that several of their omnidirectional designs are rather simple. How about applying the same principles to say a 2Pi kit. BTW Morrison Audio does something similar, based on Stu Hegeman's work. Considering how we have some really talented wood turners on the forum, it might be a really cool project.
Wayne Parham Messages: 18783 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
I wouldn't build an omnidirectional speaker because I don't want omnidirectional radiation. In fact, I've spent 30 years working on designs that are directional. The key thing for me is being uniformly directional. The goal is a wide pattern that covers the listening area, but limited in directions where we don't want the sound. I prefer a fairly limited vertical pattern to reduce ceiling slap and horizontal at 90° because it fits the traditional rectangular listening room.
An omnidirectional speaker with uniform spectral balance at all angles would sound great outdoors. It would still be wasting sound energy on directions that weren't useful though. If it were in a room, the sound directed towards rear walls would make ugly interference patterns in the room. So I would snug such a speaker tightly into a corner, forcing radiation into a 90° wedge directed into the room. That brings me to the π cornerhorn approach, which provides complete room coverage with uniform spectral balance.
Actually directional losses were a concern of mine too. Those manufacturers who tout omnis either stress room treatments or limit their dispersion (Ohm) so they really fire into three quarter space.
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