Pete B

I did not want to divert the thread from cones vs domes and it was tending toward a personal advice column with me seeking answers I am not sure others would care about. 

I am not a speaker builder.  In the simplest form my question is which cone driver size will give max dispersion in the 200 to 4000hz range?

My reason for asking can be found in these threads.

http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/IP.Board/index.php?/topic/9415-using-small-bookshelf-speakers-to-create-a-uniform-spacious%C2%A0soundfield/

http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/IP.Board/index.php?/topic/9588-baar-lst-hybrid-blast-stack/

There is no need to read the whole thing just look at the photos but, you should know that all 8 mid&tweet drivers per side are equalized and have their combined output balanced to the woofer.   This is not a bunch of speakers running wide open to get the biggest, loudest sound.

This started out as a powered subwoofer project and morphed into this hybrid. I have standard setups of AR9s and 3as which I like but I now listen to this system more than anything else.  What I intend to do this week is simplify it. I will eiminate the sound of the AR58 mid and tweeter by using a second Crown DSP amp to turn the 58 into a woofer only system.  The satellite stack configuration will change and be rebalanced and equalized.  If I don’t hear what I expect then I will restore the system to its current klugier config and move the amp to another system.

The satellites are 5.25” Bostons but they are so cheap and easy to find that I have been thinking that perhaps a 6” would be better to crossover even lower and get the woofer completely out of the female voice range but I didn’t want to sacrifice dispersion for a lower crossover and that is really the root of my question to you.

I have never liked the beaminess of satellite speakers but know they can be competent performers above the mid bass level.   My original idea was to do this with powered subs but they are too tricky for my taste and quite by accident I found this approach can be very effective if you have the spare hardware sitting around.

I have done internet searches looking for others trying to accomplish the same thing with no luck otherwise I would be trying to talk to them.  I have found plenty of diy line arrays but that is not what this is.  If I am trying to emulate anything it would be an LST.

Anyway, I think I have explained why I am asking and only had the single question about driver size and dispersion.

Thanks

Frank