I found very little information about domestic Ambisonic speakers setups. All I know is that it's better to use the same speakers and amplifiers for the whole setup... I adopted the layout proposed by Bo-Erik Sandholm (10 speakers), and now I have to find the right speakers.
Here's some random thoughts (comments are welcome): - Speaker design really is an art form; I can't build very good speakers myself, so eventually I will buy two for my main stereo system (and they will sound much better than they look). - I can build "good enough" speakers based on tutorials and software. I did it and it's worth the effort. Bass-reflex enclosures are easier to design and build than quarter-wave enclosures. - The frequency response of some good full-range drivers is about 70Hz-20Khz. They are perfect for near-field listening, and probably appropriate for a small Ambisonic setup. - For Ambisonic reproduction in a small room, I can't afford to buy or build fancy speakers (like quarter-wave), but I can build many (10+) speakers using full-range drivers in sealed enclosures. - I learned that it's possible to use subwoofers with Ambisonic; but a minimum of four subwoofers are required with a dedicated FOA decoder. That's a reason why I'd like to build small enclosures for small drivers with a limited bass response instead of larger enclosures with bass extension (either bass-reflex or quarter-wave). - Bass reproduction is important for directional cues. It is influenced by the room response (or modes) and the placement of the subwoofers (more than their size and quality). - Digital room correction and EQ are useful tools; we should use them instead of looking for speakers with the "best" frequency response. Is there any web site (article, book) on how to build speakers specifically for Ambisonic reproduction? -- Marc Mon, 09 May 2011 23:24:17 +0100, Gerard Lardner <glard...@iol.ie> : > There's also the Yahoo group Quarter-Wave > (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/quarter-wave/), where there is > discussion of loudspeaker design, and the related website Quarter > Wavelength Loudspeaker Design (http://www.quarter-wave.com/) where > there is Mathcad software for loudspeaker design. Mostly for > transmission-line designs. Seems to be good; but I haven't built any > yet myself. > > Gerard Lardner > > > On 09/05/2011 07:12, Bo-Erik Sandholm wrote: > > > > A bit out of topic but if anyone else is into building their own > > speaker cabinets. Let me point you to a document that is very good > > in explaining the design choices in a cabinet for the bass > > frequencies. > > > > http://www.sonicdesign.se/optimum.html > > > > Regards > > Bo-Erik > > > > -----Original Message----- > >> From: sursound-boun...@music.vt.edu > >> [mailto:sursound-boun...@music.vt.edu] On Behalf Of Bo-Erik > >> Sandholm > > Sent: den 4 maj 2011 13:48 > > To: Surround Sound discussion group > > Subject: Re: [Sursound] Minim AD7 for sale - Speaker configs. > > > > >From > >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_localization#Evaluation_for_low_freq > >> uencies > > Evaluation for low frequencies > > > > For frequencies below 800 Hz, the dimensions of the head (ear > > distance 21.5 cm, corresponding to an interaural time delay of 625 > > µs), are smaller than the half wavelength of the sound waves. So > > the auditory system can determine phase delays between both ears > > without confusion. Interaural level differences are very low in > > this frequency range, especially below about 200 Hz, so a precise > > evaluation of the input direction is nearly impossible on the basis > > of level differences alone. As the frequency drops below 80 Hz it > > becomes difficult or impossible to use either time difference or > > level difference to determine a sound's lateral source, because the > > phase difference between the ears becomes too small for a > > directional evaluation. > > > _______________________________________________ > Sursound mailing list > Sursound@music.vt.edu > https://mail.music.vt.edu/mailman/listinfo/sursound > _______________________________________________ Sursound mailing list Sursound@music.vt.edu https://mail.music.vt.edu/mailman/listinfo/sursound
