Giant Custom Horn Systems - How they sound and issues with sonics

I definitely dream of one day building the ultimate system and room. I see what some of these crazy guys do with truly giant custom horn installations and they make me drool, but (like most of us) I've never had an opportunity to hear one of these crazy systems (see pics).

But I'm guessing at least a few of you have and others probably possess some theoretical engineering knowledge around the issues these giant horn systems might create, but I've never seen a thread that discusses the sonic pro's and con's of these systems.

Would love to hear some thoughts (even if it is just some pontificating on theory) regarding these types of installations. Let's discuss.

 

Yes, but not in any of the postet measurements except the first one where I already said that I used a PEQ at 70 Hz. And the slopes also done by an active X-over. All other measurements are without DSP.

 

But the arta can be workable i dont know

 

What is a peq and what is a active x over
I only know of active speaker s and passive x overs.
An active x over it has different Amps per unit?

 

I'm pretty sure you know it
In my system I use an active X-over. Means, each driver has it's own amp. My Horns are up to 480cm and a concentrical Arrangement of the Speakers isn't possible without a delay. And imo a perfect phase is very important to generate a perfect stage. I know that Carol spend many years in doing it passiv with his WE66A. I'm having a lot of respect for his work, but I prefer a different way. He knows that from discussions we had at the AAA

 

Active speaker then , anyway same thing .
Are you sure no correction besides at x over points?

 

Active speaker then , anyway same thing .
Are you sure no correction besides at x over points?____ I can't see any sense in repeating my words.

 

What Amps you use to drive the different units?
And how you control soundlevel per unit?
You can also adjust slopes ?

 

Modified Kaneda Circuits from 3-10 Watt. Each Amp has the perfect power for it's driver unit. 3 Watt Midrange, 10 Watt Tweeterhorn and 2x 250 to 2,6 Ohm for the Basshorn.
I have 4 digital Volume controls in the dsp and one analog also in the dsp.
Slopes from 6-48dB from Bessel, LR and BW. Also I have FIR and IIR filters to design own slopes.

 

Well that explains the flat fr then.
Not every unit has a matching efficiency i pressume

 

To have different Amps doesn't affect the frequency response. The different Amps are just to get all Horns on one Level. Basshorn 110dB, Midrangehorn 122dB and Tweeterhorn 116dB. But it never makes the response flat

 

..... Did you build/turn/cnc all the horns yourself ?

Hi,
Sorry for late respons.

FYI
My full horn (pre-) project started in the eve of the wedding day '68 (May).
Concept 3-way (EV Patrician IV ... Oversized Klipschorn 18 ").
All wood-horn constructions (in DIM) made with ordinary (hobby) hand tools, and even before the "WWW" (!?!?) ....
Control (& redrawing) of all drawings (scale 1/1) full horn concept ....... build centimeter per centimeter. EV Patrician IV, WE66A, Iwata (-s) ....
For the musical pleasure I built 2 complete stereo units.
Setup (and arrangement & tuning) with the advice of (old school) field sound engineers & musical artists & Smaart V6 & Adobe Audition....
No chi-chi-ni-tra-la-la ...
(see traveller music friend Kedar ..... Bonzo75)
It's music ... I like it
WAF ... 10/10 (major issue)

Allez, salukes.
Karel

Two musical notes:
All electronics and X-over ... actif concept & in DIM
With 4 watts (SE300B or one "monster") ... enough house acoustical power .... 110dB (before clipping)

 

Hi Karel, I'm pretty sure you are talking about Kedar from London? He will visit me the next month I hope.

Best Regards Swen

 

I'm pretty sure you know it
In my system I use an active X-over. Means, each driver has it's own amp. My Horns are up to 480cm and a concentrical Arrangement of the Speakers isn't possible without a delay. And imo a perfect phase is very important to generate a perfect stage. I know that Carol spend many years in doing it passiv with his WE66A. I'm having a lot of respect for his work, but I prefer a different way. He knows that from discussions we had at the AAA

Hi Sven.
I agree (with you):
Active X-over (is a must) for (near) perfect musical scene.
(sorry for the notion "near")
Perfect "phase" is "musical heaven on earth" ..... very tricky with "horns" & start with the multi-amps ....
(identical).

My experiences; passif (X-over) concept ... is a never ending musical tuning (It's like Paul Ducas his "the sorcer")

Let's play music ....

Allez, salukes.

Karel

 

Hi Karel, I'm pretty sure you are talking about Kedar from London? He will visit me the next month I hope.

Best Regards Swen

Yes, it's him ....
Terrible traveler friend .... amazing ... good fine ear (& vinyl lover).
Have a good day together ....
The best.
Karel

 

Hi Swen, yes, I will, looking forward to it.

 

Hi Swen, yes, I will, looking forward to it.

A bottle of Kavalan Solist Vinho is waiting

 

Actually, more of a foodie than a drinker.

 

Actually, more of a foodie than a drinker.

Ok, i Order Fish and Chips

 

Ok, i Order Fish and Chips

Lol. Visit cancelled.

 

Hi,
Sorry for late respons.

FYI
My full horn (pre-) project started in the eve of the wedding day '68 (May).
Concept 3-way (EV Patrician IV ... Oversized Klipschorn 18 ").
All wood-horn constructions (in DIM) made with ordinary (hobby) hand tools, and even before the "WWW" (!?!?) ....
Control (& redrawing) of all drawings (scale 1/1) full horn concept ....... build centimeter per centimeter. EV Patrician IV, WE66A, Iwata (-s) ....
For the musical pleasure I built 2 complete stereo units.
Setup (and arrangement & tuning) with the advice of (old school) field sound engineers & musical artists & Smaart V6 & Adobe Audition....
No chi-chi-ni-tra-la-la ...
(see traveller music friend Kedar ..... Bonzo75)
It's music ... I like it
WAF ... 10/10 (major issue)

Allez, salukes.
Karel

Two musical notes:
All electronics and X-over ... actif concept & in DIM
With 4 watts (SE300B or one "monster") ... enough house acoustical power .... 110dB (before clipping)
View attachment 39836

Wow Karel, that looks like many hours of sawing and glueing. I guess, you started by laminating the overall horn profile and later added the small pieces of thicker ply for structural integrity (against resonances)?
Do you also have images from the construction of the smaller horns?