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6pi Mains, 3pi Center [message #81670]

Fri, 20 November 2015 18:41

rvsixer
Messages: 58
Registered: February 2011

Baron

I have been studying the 6pi plans, and noted the tweeter/midrange are located significantly higher than the normal "tweeter near ear height" rule.

With curiosity I searched, and found a message that indicated this is intentional, something to do with wall boundary effect(s) bringing the sound down to normal ear level height at the listening position.

Interestingly, I also found mrwhippy's 7pi build thread, where he indicated he thought the speakers sound seemed to come from above a little, as if one was sitting near the front row of a raised stage (to me indicating the mid/horn might be a little high after all).

I am also curious as to what height a 3pi center channel should be placed if used with 6pi mains, I assume the more normal horn near ear level (or aimed there) applies.

Appreciate any comments/explanations regarding the 6pi mid/horn height, and 3pi horn height in an LCR build.

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Re: 6pi Mains, 3pi Center [message #81671 is a reply to message #81670]

Sat, 21 November 2015 14:31

Wayne Parham
Messages: 18675
Registered: January 2001

Illuminati (33rd Degree)

I like to place the mains at the lower edge of the screen when used for home theater. And I like that to be somewhere close to ear level seated. But since the forward lobe is clean 20° above and 20° below, there's plenty of wiggle room. I prefer not to have the speakers so high or so low they seem unnatural, but I've found there's two to three feet of range that sounds right, provided, of course the listeners are several feet back.

As a result, I generally like having the mains on stands that are 12" to 15" high. They could be as much as a foot higher, but I think aesthetically, that looks odd. Constant directivity cornerhorns have their height built-in by virtue of design.

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Re: 6pi Mains, 3pi Center [message #81672 is a reply to message #81671]

Sat, 21 November 2015 16:19

rvsixer
Messages: 58
Registered: February 2011

Baron

Thanks Wayne!

The house we are currently looking at has a ~11' wide room with two nice corners, so ears could be 6 1/2 - 8' from the front wall (6pi axes crossing in front of ears).

So just to confirm on the corner horns, the mids being at 43" high, and the tweeter at 54" high (well above the normal 35"-40" seated ear height), shouldn't sound like output is coming from above? Or maybe my seating distance too close to consider 6pi's?

I've already thought of creative ways to shorten the 6pi height a few inches (without changing the woofer relationship to the other drivers or the corner, or the width of the box as not to impede the horn effect) so that might be an option.

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Re: 6pi Mains, 3pi Center [message #81674 is a reply to message #81672]

Sun, 22 November 2015 08:38

Wayne Parham
Messages: 18675
Registered: January 2001

Illuminati (33rd Degree)

That room will be perfect for constant directivity cornerhorns.

Sound does appear to source from seated ear height. The midhorn is right about the same height as three π or four π mains on stands. The tower two π midwoofer and tweeter are in the same location too.

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