GoodSoundClub - Romy the Cat's Audio Site

In the Forum: Horn-Loaded Speakers
In the Thread: JBL Project Array

Post Subject: Technology vs. Sound – do they actually meet in realityPosted by haralanov on: 7/10/2012

Dominik, in terms of technology advancement, it seems their new driver is better than their other models. But despite this, I’m not sure their transducer engineer knows how to make the drivers to be valuable in terms of sound/tone. I’m saying that not because I want to disparage their solid know-how, but because sometimes their less advanced drivers (in terms of technology) sound better than their more advanced drivers. For example, the compression driver of Project Array 1400 loudspeaker (it is called 435Al, if I remember correctly) sounds more interesting (in many areas), compared to their much more expensive 435Be, incorporated in their K2 models. Why is that – I don’t know. Maybe the guy who design all those drivers don’t know how to use his ears (if he uses them at all!)…

Some years ago I was asked to improve the sound of these Array 1400 (discussed in this thread) speakers and I had the opportunity to play with their midrange/uppermidrage compression driver. There were two 24 Ohms resistors (wired in parallel to each other) wired in series with the driver in order to reduce its sensitivity to match with the poor 14” LF driver. I was curious to hear the sound of the driver alone, with no resistor in series – it sounded much better with the resistors being bypassed. It just sounded more correctly compared to the “improved” and much more expensive CD with beryllium diaphragm, and I’m saying that because I also had the opportunity to listen 435Be very carefully. But despite was “better”, generally it is not my type of sound, because it is too “empty” sounding with minimal tonal qualities, and despite the owner of the speakers likes its “openness”, I have to say it is kind of “closed within itself” type of openness…

BTW, I know one of the reasons why Romy liked some aspects of Array 1400’s sound – it is because the rectangular MF horns are oriented vertically (and there are many reasons why this arrangement provides better result in terms of perceived sound, because of some psychoacoustic reasons).

Best,
Peter

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