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Line array speakers

I obtained about 20 midrange speakers from ebay for $1.98 for all! Yes, they had some blemishes, yes I had to pay shiping, but still, these were the cheapest speakers ever. They are Foster midranges, 25 watts continuous, 45 watts music. I arranged them 8 per side, with power tapering in the middle, so that total impedance of midranges is 6 ohm. Tweeters are LineSource made by Aura, 6 ohm each, 6 per side, no power tapering used. Placed as close to each other as possible.

Some construction and testing pictures. Baffles are open back, just the short side baffle is used. Testing was done with temporary subwoofers. Sound is very promising. Line array speakers have few distinctive characteristic. First, due to large amount of drivers, distortion is very low. Each speaker receives only the fraction of power, membrane barely moves even at hight spl. This means clarity. They sound clean as whistle. Second, soundstage is nice and wide, you can feel the space. Third, sound preasure level does not diminishes with distance from speakers as dramaticaly as with normal speakers. They sound pleasant close by, for the sound is undistorted, yet, you can hear well if you start walking away. I hear very little of comb effect if any. They certainly sound different than single point fullrange speakers. They are big and for any big speakers you need to be little further for sound to be completely coherent. Later I plan to use one supertweeter in the middle of tweeter array. More experimentation is comming.

Recently finished and greatly enjoyed line array speakers

I had to make woofer boxes for the line arrays to match they sensitivity. The woofers used for testing were not enough. They ended up in smaller open baffle project. The woofers for line arrays are two 15" Goldwoods per side in closed boxes. They do not go as deep as I would like to, but they match the sensitivity of line arrays. One day I might do line array of woofers.

What can I say. These speakers are more than I expected. They are very dynamic, just like live music, they like power, never run out of pace. Sound is crystal clear, you can hear low distortion by exceptional clarity ar high volume levels. What they say about line arrays is true. I can stand close or far, I hear exceptionaly well the soundstage. Sound is relaxed close by, yet dissipates slower if you are far. I can listen to them anywhere in the room, yet I hear great sound. I like them. I can hardly imagina what line arrays sound like when done properly from great drivers. I used almost trashy drivers, yet result is stunning.

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