Wide dispersion CD

For unmatched sensitivity.
Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
Svartrose
Posts: 53
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2016 10:47 am
Location: The Netherlands

Wide dispersion CD

#1 Post by Svartrose »

It has been a while ago, but I've build my T39's and Optop12J's! Still playing with EQ settings, but so far they sound great and can go very loud.
The only thing I'm missing is high tones off axis. The CD's in the Otops have narrow dispersion. Great for long distances, not for small spaces or near stage.

I know that there is the piezo option... they might sound okay, but my biggest concern is reliability.

Is there a way to use CD's or other great sounding reliable units and have a wide dispersion?
There are wide dispersion horns on the market, but they are not high enough to fill the whole cab. But, if it's for only the bottom Otop, would it be okay if I but that horn next to the top of the cabin? Then it still couples to the top above.

Grant Bunter
Posts: 6915
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 11:12 am
Location: Ilfracombe Queensland Australia
Contact:

Re: Wide dispersion CD

#2 Post by Grant Bunter »

The CD's in the custom designed horn should have around 100 degrees of horizontal dispersion, provided you built them as per plans with the diffraction rod.
That's 10 degrees better than most commercial variants, and off axis response should be pretty good at 45 degrees as long as the cab stacks aren't overly separated.

If you do have wide mains stacks, it might be worth thinking of an extra Otop12 as a centre fill.

The melded array has 120 degrees of horizontal dispersion and is only a couple of dB down from on axis response, at 45 degrees.
The main reason piezo's get a bad rep is they are often used alone as single units.
As single units they are often considered harsh and unreliable.
The melded array combines large numbers of them, series/parallel wired to increase power handling.

I have DR250's, and my melded arrays have been solid to date.

The usual recommendation would be to build melded arrays in the lowermost used cab each side, and use flat arrays or CD horn in cabs above that, so that's a thought.
Or use the increased power handling of the NSD equivalent and change the crossover, which may or may not work to your satisfaction.

But a melded array Otop12 as a centre fill will absolutely fill in the middle, it may even be to much, requiring it to be turned way down.
A little toe out on the mains + centre fill will present a wall of highs...
Built:
DR 250: x 2 melded array, 2x CD horn, March 2012 plans.
T39's: 4 x 20" KL3010LF , 2 x 28" 3012LF.
WH8: x 6 with melded array wired series/parallel.
Bunter's Audio and Lighting "like"s would be most appreciated...

User avatar
Seth
Posts: 2731
Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:06 pm
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Contact:

Re: Wide dispersion CD

#3 Post by Seth »

This is the only thread I could find claiming a blown piezo (turns out it wasn't)
piezio sounding blown

Here's a review from someone who switched from CD to piezo array.
DR280's....from 2" comp drivers to cheap piezo's......

The other google search results for "blown piezo" on this site were about being "blown away".
Build in process - 2 WH6, one Alpha 6a loaded, one PRV Audio 6MB250-NDY loaded

Two 2x6 shorty SLA Pro's
One T39, 16", 3012LF loaded
Tall AutoTuba, 20" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421
TruckTuba, 8½" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421

User avatar
Bill Fitzmaurice
Site Admin
Posts: 28619
Joined: Tue May 02, 2006 5:59 pm

Re: Wide dispersion CD

#4 Post by Bill Fitzmaurice »

A note on Dave Perry's post. Back in 2007 the DR280 was the piezo version and the DR290 the compression horn version with the same low frequency horn. With the last revision both versions were put in the same plans.

User avatar
Svartrose
Posts: 53
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2016 10:47 am
Location: The Netherlands

Re: Wide dispersion CD

#5 Post by Svartrose »

Well, I will probably go for a melded array then... Thank you all!

himhimself
Posts: 599
Joined: Fri Nov 13, 2015 9:34 pm
Location: Vancouver BC & Bloomington IN

Re: Wide dispersion CD

#6 Post by himhimself »

Seth, thanks for posting that old review from Dave Perry - very insightful. Never had run across it when perusing the archives.
2xT30 (20", 3012LF)
2xT30 (21", 3012LF)
4xOtop J-array (Beta12, melded/straight piezos)
Truck Tuba (MCM)
Next up: 2xJack12 or family of table tubas

Post Reply