Next Project: Arc 40 CBT Array

[dynamo]

Looking great! Cool project!

[Sydney]

... From what I've read, it looks like there may be some advantages to the curved arrays...

Curving eliminates the need for applying delay.

[Kevin K.]

Considering, the main porpoise of the forum is the learning and information share, I don't find this approach too awfully beneficial. But to each, his own, I guess.
Curious tho, have you listened to many other large format arrays and if so, what tilted the decision towards curved arrays?

Have yet to speak with Rick about how much of the details could be shared, just assuming some of what he tells me wont be. Perhaps all of the details for this build will be shared, just not how it was arrived at, that's my hopes anyway. Don's papers are public and can be downloaded from his website. If you can understand the formulas involved, they are available. As stated, I don't understand them and this is where Rick will be helping. Think there are also some patents involved so manufacturing these for sale would be out of the question. Mine will be strictly for personal use. I believe Don and Rick both to be great guys and anyone interested in building one of these types of arrays for personal use could get assistance if they asked.

I haven't had an opportunity to listen to any other types of arrays Roman. Will hopefully get a chance some day. From what I've read, it looks like there may be some advantages to the curved arrays and what impressed me the most is how distance from the speaker (whether you were 10 feet away or directly in front of it) did not change the apparent volume level.

Take care,
Kevin

[r-carpenter]

Sydney, out of respect for Rick, I will post as much as Rick allows me to. He makes his living selling audio and without his help on the technical details of this build, have no chance of pulling it off. Hope you understand.[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE]

Considering, the main porpoise of the forum is the learning and information share, I don't find this approach too awfully beneficial. But to each, his own, I guess.
Curious tho, have you listened to many other large format arrays and if so, what tilted the decision towards curved arrays?

[Sydney]

... Hope you understand

Sure...( I've conversed with Rick before )

[Kevin K.]

Tom, I'll have Kole (yea, we spelled it strange) shoot the video and do my best to watch the language. The tweeter alignment to the baffle really isn't that bad, the photo this evening will help clarify. It has a cast face plate, not plastic, so not much chance of bending it. Yea, I am jumping off in the deep end. Rick's gonna have to play the role of lifeguard and throw in the buoy or else I drown. Don's papers are definitely technical, and since I made the wise decision at 18 years of age that I didn't need a college education, way above my math skills. Yes, Kole will be going to college (speakers and equipment can be sold) and he currently wants to be an Air Force Engineer/Mechanic.

Sydney, out of respect for Rick, I will post as much as Rick allows me to. He makes his living selling audio and without his help on the technical details of this build, have no chance of pulling it off. Hope you understand.

[Kevin K.]

Looking good Kevin, gotta love that CNC work! So you gonna do a subwoofer off that 5th channel? ;)

Guess if you built a bass bin you could get the 5th channel to match up to the arrays. For now, I'm planning on separate amps for the subs.

[Kevin K.]

Very interesting project, I hope to learn something from this thread.

Me too!

[Sydney]

Looked at the specs and FR graphs for those drivers...Will you be posting details of the signal treatment settings used with the DSP?

[tomzarbo]

Wow, that looks really cool. I don't think I would have ever thought about mitering the corners on something like that with all that curving going on, but it seems to line up pretty much perfectly. That's a nice touch.
I wonder how it will act when there's some slippery glue between the joints though... Could I request you take a video as you glue the cabinet up? Maybe set up a Pay-Per-View? You can get Cole to 'bleep' out the bad words.... I'm just kidding, I bet it goes fine.

Thinking about the tweeters... I guess you could always drill three additional holes like some folks used to do on the "silkie" to get it to 'pull in' and lay flatter... or rather, curvier in your case. The plastic frame probably wouldn't mind the 'tweak' too much. Of course, that is like 7,492 extra holes you'd have to drill.
Where would you say the curviest part of the front is? It looks to be the middle section... like three woofers in from the top and bottom, but it's hard to tell.

Man, you sure like to jump right in the deep end of the pool... But being this far ahead for next year's MWAF I know you'll have it dialed in to perfection by then. Most arrays use 'decent' drivers, but not high end stuff because of the cost of multiples... but it looks like you're using some super-quality stuff. Just a two-way with those drivers would be impressive sound-quality wise.
I'm really looking forward to hearing these. I may have to get to Ohio a day early so I can actually stay for the Friday night 'Open Unlimited' class.

Just try not to spend ALL of your sons college fund, okay?

TomZ

[donradick]

re: What they said.

Here I was thinking that you'd spent dozens of hours of router work when in fact you were prob kicking back w a tall frosty while the CNC did the work. <grin>
Still, pretty monumental. Love those SB13 drivers. Gonna be awesome.

[philthien]

Very interesting project, I hope to learn something from this thread.

[JavadS]

Looking good Kevin, gotta love that CNC work! So you gonna do a subwoofer off that 5th channel? ;)

[Kevin K.]

I looked at it both ways Ben. Decided to cut the test baffle as if it was for a flat enclosure. After bending the baffle to the sidewalls, I proceeded to mount a couple of the drivers. There was a slight mismatch on the tweeters where the baffle was just a smidge taller in the middle but I don't feel like it's enough to sweat. Surprisingly, there didn't appear to be any sign of it on the woofer. Maybe the strange shape of the top of SB driver has something to do with that?

I'll try to post a close up pic of the tweeter mounted tomorrow night so I can get feedback on whether you think this will be enough to be an issue.

Have a good one,
Kevin

[Wolf]

Did you account for the curvature in the driver recesses when the panel is bent over the sides? The thickness of the rebate will change from driver edge to driver edge.

Later,
Wolf