Dipping my toes in constant/controlled dispersion land

[EngineerNate]

Hi all,

I’ve been pretty convinced that dispersion characteristics are as important as frequency response and want to try out something with more dispersion control than the typical dome tweeter MTs I’ve always had.

My listening space is 25x18 ft (LxW) and the actual listening position is offset to one side and approximately 10 ft from the speaker position.

I’ve been looking at Genelec 8040as on the used market, along with LSR6332 and LSR32 JBLs. I plan to pair whatever I buy with 2 or 3 subs to squash low end room modes as best I can.

Is there anything else I should be looking at? I’d like to spend something like $800 max.

No strong preference on active or passive, though in theory I think eliminating passive crossovers improves things if done correctly.

We are also moving soon, so I would like something with some flexibility in listening distance/room size.

Cheers,
Nathan

 

[kemmler3D]

Hey, welcome to ASR.

For used 8040 money you might be able to get a pair Ascilab speakers which have very (like SOTA) clean dispersion.

For the size of the room, they might be a little small.

If you are looking for true constant directivity, there aren't actually many cheap / small options on the market. AFAIK that requires a large horn and tends to be either really expensive or a DIY project, or both. Here is a thread where someone is building such speakers. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-in-pureshape-purifi-ptt8.66785/#post-2429863

I think the 8040 is a good option given the size of the room. You could also look at the JBL 308p MKII as a somewhat cheaper option that also has good directivity, can often be found pretty affordably secondhand.

You might also look for some used KEF speakers, as the coaxial design yields good directivity both horizontally and vertically. They are good to pair with subs as the coax design sacrifices some cone area that would otherwise improve bass.

 

[EngineerNate]

I really liked the ascilab speakers but they are 100% out of stock on their website with no indication as to when restocking is expected.

I had looked at some used LS50 Metas, and I’ll admit that my preference towards “bigger” may have biased me against them

I understand directivity of the Genelecs isn’t perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction.

I really enjoy DIY speakers but I’m tight on time and have other projects to wrap up in the DIY realm at the moment.

 

[kemmler3D]

my preference towards “bigger” may have biased me against them

For your size of room bigger is not a terrible idea, you can only go so loud with small drivers. Paired with subs the LS50s should do pretty well, it's probably a matter of taste between those and the 8040s.

 

[Timcognito]

Amir liked the wide dispersion and ability to play loud on these $1000/pr

Elac Carina BS243.4 Review (Bookshelf Speaker)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Elac Carina BS243.4 stand-mount speaker. It is on kind loan from a member and sells for US $999. Even though this is a speaker designed by Andrew Jones, it is a continuation of the line traditionally designed in Germany with much higher sales...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[dualazmak]

My below posts on my project thread for wide-3D dispersion of highly efficient metal-horn super-tweeter sound would be of your reference and interest, I assume.

- A new series of audio experiments on reflective wide-3D dispersion of super-tweeter sound using random-surface hard-heavy material:
Part-1_ Background, experimental settings, initial preliminary listening tests: #912

Part-2_ Comparison of catalogue specifications of metal horn super-tweeter (ST) FOSTEX T925A and YAMAHA Beryllium dome tweeter (TW) JA-0513; start of intensive listening sessions with wide-3D reflective dispersion of ST sound: #921

Part-3_ Listening evaluation of sound stage (sound image) using excellent-recording-quality lute duet tracks: #926

Part-3.1_ Listening evaluation of sound stage (sound image) using excellent-recording-quality jazz trio album: #927

Part-4_Provisional conclusion to use Case-2 reverse reflective dispersion setting in default daily music listening: #929

- The latest system setup of my DSP-based multichannel multi-SP-driver multi-amplifier fully active audio rig, including updated startup/ignition sequences and shutdown sequences: as of June 26, 2024: #931

- The latest Fq-SPL (re-confirmation) of multiple amplifiers SP high-level output signals and that of room air sound at listening position: all measured by “FFT averaging of recorded cumulative DSP-processed flat white noise” (as of June 8, 2025): #1,009

 

[DVDdoug]

There are so many variables in speaker design that you can't attribute the "sound" to any one factor like directivity. If you are comparing speakers, the one with worse directivity may sound better.

No strong preference on active or passive, though in theory I think eliminating passive crossovers improves things if done correctly.

In theory yes. But again all of those variables, compromises, and trade-offs and you never (or almost never) see the same speaker in both active and passive versions.

The elimination of the passive crossover is one "advantage" but more importantly, with an active crossover you can build-in analog or DSP EQ correction to flatten frequency response. And it's easier to make steep filters (if that's an advantage with a particular speaker).

 

[EngineerNate]

I ordered a set of Genelec M030s used for $678 after taxes and shipping. These will give me a good taste of the Genelec sound at a reasonable price, and make good surrounds or desk speakers at some point in the future after my move while limiting the expense and size of stuff I’ll have to move in the short term