What have you guys been doing, reading my thoughts?
Hey Danny, what do you think of this idea?
* Six Neo8s (per side)
* Eight M130s (per side)
Very doable actually.
I have been working on a lot of line arrays lately.
This one is Epiphany Audio's mid sized unit.
It can be heard soon at the San Remo during the CES.
Its about 5'8" tall with base, but the array itself is only 51" long.
If your ear level is within the range of the array it sounds incredible, but if your ear level reaches above or even close to the top of the array then the highs start to fall out of it.
The same holds true for any line source.
6 Neo 8's and 8 M-130's will get you into an area where it will be a sit down to listen to type of speaker, but while seating it can sound very good.
They would be wired for 4 ohms in the woofs and 6 in the ribbons, but I could also rewire for 16/24 ohms if I ever get my OTL amps built !
This would also require a change to all the values in the network.
The box would be sealed so the woofs will have an F3 of 95, or perhaps lower.
You will get more lower end extension than you think. It depends on the length of the array. The longer the array the more low end gain you will get.
With an array of that length you can expect about 6 to 8db more extension that what the numbers show for a single driver.
You could go with a 3.2 cubic foot enclosure that is ported to a tuning of about 48Hz. This gives a nice roll off that is -3db down at 56, but with the gain from the array length you can expect -3db in the 48 to 50Hz range before any room gain.
I find I sit only about 7 ft from my speakers
That will still keep you in the near field.
You will need to use passive components because you will need to use a baffle step compensation type network to get the woofer level down in the range from 80 to 90Hz and up to match the tweeter level that will be a little down from the woofer level. It starts with a large inductor value by-passed with a resistor value.
This might also extend your bottom end to because what was your F6 might be your new F3.
You might also need a small notch filter for the peak in the top of the tweeter response. The comb filter effect of six units will not be enough to kill it all.
I just emailed him about this a few weeks ago. He's apparently got something in the works but it is MUCH smaller with only two Neo panels and two woofers, at least I believe that is what I was told.
That was a custom center channel built for one customer.
I agree that a smaller Alpha is an excellent idea. The Alpha's are just too tall for me too.
I promise that some time later in this year a slightly shorter version of the Alpha and possibly a slightly taller version will be in the works.
Some new woofers may be used as well as the new Neo 10's if they do what is hoped.
Another goal is to make it less expensive, and sound better. We'll see...
I'm eagerly waiting for a line source Kit in the $1400-1600 usd range that is slightly smaller than the Alphas.
Yep, we'll see...
I'm supposed to be getting my hands on the new Neo 10's when I see Robin and Igor at the show. I have already been told that they can play lower than the Neo 8's and I am keeping my fingers crossed for better high end extension. This could be a possibility.