Folded TLAH Pro?

[Boyd]

This is getting into real DIY territory, but here's what I'm thinking...

A 6x Alpha 8 loaded TLAH Pro based speaker, with a deeper rectangular box, and an internal slanted panel to create a folded pipe/horn with exits on the sides near the base.

My thinking is this - the deeper rectangular shape (perhaps 1.6x width or so) would be better suited to a free standing application, the pipe tuning would be at least as low, and the fold may even benefit the filtering of the port output.




EDIT: Pro version.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

If you fold TLAH half the drivers will be facing backwards.

[Boyd]

Folded, as in a folded transmission line path. All drivers on front baffle as per usual.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Folded, as in a folded transmission line path. All drivers on front baffle as per usual.

There's no benefit in making the line any longer than it is. If you need to go lower than the standard configuration you need subs.

[Rick Lee]

My understanding of a TL is that you want the port to be tuned at or slightly lower than the Fs of the driver. The Fs of the Alpha 8 is 73hz. The port on the TLAH Pro is centered around 50hz which helps bring usable output down around 60hz. A little bit of boost which is what you get with a TL. My understanding anyway...

Now the idea of having a deeper rectangle so it would "freestand" better is good. Maybe you could put a set of wings on the sides that deploy back to help support it?

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Now the idea of having a deeper rectangle so it would "freestand" better is good. Maybe you could put a set of wings on the sides that deploy back to help support it?

That would place the tweeters far too low, unless the cab was on a relatively high stage. If anyone suggests putting them on top of subs split left/right I will personally hunt them down and slap them silly.

[David Raehn]

Even greater than 56 feet apart?

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Even greater than 56 feet apart?

Even then the subs should be wall loaded, the mains placed out in front of the band, so about the only time you'd do that is if there is no wall, ie., outdoors, in which case TLAH is probably not the best choice for mains with a venue that large.

[Rick Lee]

That would place the tweeters far too low, unless the cab was on a relatively high stage.

And with the price of speaker stands so low (and portable) stand mounting is the obvious best choice. But, maybe for someone that wanted a bare bones loud playback system with a little mixer and two speakers it could work. Certainly a dynamic system that will blow away any of those other "pole" speaker systems.

[Boyd]

The useage would primarily be for seated audience at outdoor wedding ceremonies. Currently using a pair of QSC K12's on the ground. Stands are absolutely not an option for this setup. There is a very fine balance here between coverage & visual intrusiveness.

The goal is something that would be just tall enough to skim over the heads of the audience, and no taller (tweeters mounted at top of cab). Vocal re-enforcement & natural sounding music reproduction.

Possibly I'd even mount some kind of flower arrangement on top, so they look kinda like they're not even speakers, and appear to be there to visually frame the ceremony.

The folded path would only be to maintain the length of a full size TLAH Pro with a 6 driver version, no need to tune lower as such, the full length of the fold would be unnecessary. Perhaps a right angle extension at the base could provide stability and maintain TL length?

Would there be any benefit to a longer TL supporting the higher bass frequencies at 1/2 rather than 1/4 wavelength?

[Rick Lee]

Hmm. So you're wanting a shorter speaker than the 70" TLAH and it sounds like you're wanting deep(er) bass. Outdoors. Putting a fold and using fewer drivers doesn't sound like a better solution outdoors. Easy answer is SLA Pro with a T24 off to the side. Even smaller and you'll have plenty of bass. Sounds like a better solution than a TLAH. Making a base for more stability would be an easy addition.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I can't see the need for anything more than a pair of SLA Pro. If the goal is a basically invisible rig go with that and accept the fact that it's as good as you can get, and let them know in no uncertain terms that if they want something that sounds really good it's not going to be invisible.

[BrentEvans]

I can't see the need for anything more than a pair of SLA Pro. If the goal is a basically invisible rig go with that and accept the fact that it's as good as you can get,

+1. You may even want to look into copying something like this:

and let them know in no uncertain terms that if they want something that sounds really good it's not going to be invisible.

That's all a matter of how much you put into it. Something built like that Renkus array augmented by a small sub would sound just fine at lower volumes. It's not going to do rock and roll, but weddings... pfft. Piece of cake.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

It's not going to do rock and roll, but weddings... pfft. Piece of cake.

That's just it, a wedding isn't a rave. They pretty much want the same levels as at a funeral, which is not the only resemblance between the two ceremonies.

[Boyd]

Hmm. So you're wanting a shorter speaker than the 70" TLAH and it sounds like you're wanting deep(er) bass.

My ideal speaker would feature the following atributes:

* Slim(ish) floorstanding format (with acceptable stability)

* Enough height (just) for decent coverage over a seated audience of 150 (an improvement over a 12 + horn on the ground)

* Good vocal performance

* Passable full(ish) range music production (a sub would likely be overkill, and is not really an option)

* Minimal EQ requirements

* Passive (minimal cabling & fast easy setup)

My understanding is that the SLA Pro is really a top, and drops pretty steeply at 100Hz. There doesn't seem to be an SPL chart for the TLAH Pro, the plans state usable response down to around 60Hz at full size.

Booming bass isn't a requirement, but natural soumding music reproduction is - I don't want it to sound like a top. I don't have any way to directly compare an SLA Pro or 3/4 TLAH Pro to a 12" + horn for this purpose. Perhaps what I'm envisaging is more like an SLA Pro with 8" drivers.