Compression Driver/Waveguide Speakers the Future?

[dallasjustice]

Some may say they are the past but over the last five years new speaker designs have come to market which show a big advance in horn/waveguide design.(eg. JBL M2 and JBL 4367 and Earl Geddes speakers) The state of the art waveguides can now exhibit pattern control as well or better than the best direct radiator/dome driver speakers.

But dome drivers are dynamically restricted. IOW, dome tweeters don't play very loud before they distort. Compression drivers can play much louder and have much greater efficiency. Efficiency reveals its in two ways: the speakers can play louder with less power and low level details are much better preserved during quiet passages. This is very evident listening to classical music.

Anthony Grimani and Manny LaCarruba teamed up to start a new company called Grimani Systems. Manny's speaker design appears to be a new fine example of a compression driver/waveguide speaker design. This video gets technical but still very fun. Enjoy.

 

[Mivera]

I think the main issue with this type of design is the WAF. For hardcore audiophiles, it's not a big deal. Me for example, I love massive speakers. With the grills off even better. I was very impressed with the last speaker I heard of this type. It was the Unison research MAX 1:

http://www.unisonresearch.com/en/products/loudspeakers/max-1.html

Probably not in the league of your JBL's, but it did inspire me to want to build a speaker of this type. Hypex just released a new SOTA DSP unit similar to what's used in the KII three to OEM's. A speaker of this type might be a great candidate for experimenting with it.

 

[amirm]

Here is the video on Youtube:

Like to use Youtube because I can speed it up . I am watching it now. THanks Michael.

 

[dallasjustice]

That's right. Almost all of them are UGLY. If you watch hat video, Manny is also working on a WAF friendly version. The only waveguide/horn speaker I've seen that looked really good is the B&O Beolab. Btw, Manny licensed his waveguide to B&O and they have used it in many designs.

I think the main issue with this type of design is the WAF. For hardcore audiophiles, it's not a big deal. Me for example, I love massive speakers. With the grills off even better. I was very impressed with the last speaker I heard of this type. It was the Unison research MAX 1:

http://www.unisonresearch.com/en/products/loudspeakers/max-1.html

Probably not in the league of your JBL's, but it did aspire me to want to build a speaker of this type. Hypex just released a new SOTA DSP unit similar to what's used in the KII three to OEM's. A speaker of this type might be a great candidate for experimenting with it.

View attachment 176

 

[amirm]

Finished watching it. Very worthwhile video even if you are not interested in their speakers.

 

[amirm]

Back to Michael's question, if you are after dynamic music (or movie) reproduction this new generation of waveguides that take the latest research in loudspeakers into account is the way to go. Traditionally these systems could get loud and stand punishment but lost to the traditional speakers in overall smoothness and presentation (making up subjective terms ). That line is now blurred.

 

[Mivera]

Here is the video on Youtube:

Like to use Youtube because I can speed it up . I am watching it now. THanks Michael.

That's pretty cool!

 

[Purité Audio]

Just watched that video, really fascinating and the speakers look really interesting, has anyone actually heard them?
Keith.

 

[amirm]

I was at CEDIA but didn't know they were showing it there. I will be teaching a class at this year's CEDIA again so I will be there and go and listen if they have a demo system.

 

[Purité Audio]

A is credit always held in Dallas, what will you be teaching, can you film it ?
BW Keith.

 

[dallasjustice]

Amir,
Is CEDIA back in Dallas again this year?

 

[amirm]

Amir,
Is CEDIA back in Dallas again this year?

It is. We need to throw a bigger party this year and have Scotty pay for it.

 

[dallasjustice]

Yeah!!

Amir,
Will you be teaching the "how to install entreq" class at CEDIA this year? I'll have to sign up for that one. I heard I get a free bag of kitty litter if I sign up early.

 

[Purité Audio]

Those boxes are the ultimate FOO expression, $50 k for a box of nothing that takes chutzpah.
Keith

 

[Thomas savage]

Yeah!!

Amir,
Will you be teaching the "how to install entreq" class at CEDIA this year? I'll have to sign up for that one. I heard I get a free bag of kitty litter if I sign up early.

no michael, you get a free kitten.. else whats the point.

 

[Mivera]

Those boxes are the ultimate FOO expression, $50 k for a box of nothing that takes chutzpah.
Keith

But if you get the right guys to endorse them, it changes everything.

 

[Thomas savage]

its all about the listening position, you got to get it right to hear these things..,

this guy says HF smearing is no longer a issue but he is now suffering from a different type of smear..

 

[Mivera]

its all about the listening position, you got to get it right to hear these things..,
View attachment 239

this guy says HF smearing is no longer a issue but he is now suffering from a different type of smear..

I wonder how the timbral richness is from that position?

 

[Thomas savage]

I wonder how the timbral richness is from that position?

depends on what he ate the day before... its a whole new way to alter the listening experience

 

[Purité Audio]

There is another 'segment' of the market which I don't ever recollect existing before ,is the 'luxury' audio product,
leather covered amplifiers, valve amplifiers of course.
The $5k record clamp, made of course from Mpingo,brass, gold etc, so heavy that it would actually damage the turntables bearing!
No pretence of any improvement in SQ just sold as a luxury product, much as a diamond studded dog collar .
Keith.