Wave Guides
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Bronze Member Username: AvalanchePost Number: 27 Registered: Nov-04 | I just wanted to get your thoughts on this Wave Guides http://www.usdaudio.com/products/wg-supera.php |
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Gold Member Username: GlasswolfNorthWest, Michigan USA Post Number: 5878 Registered: Dec-03 | Horn Loaded Compression Drivers Also known as compression horns and wave guides, HLCDs represent what could be the biggest waste of money in car audio. The only benefits of HLCD are good dynamics, high efficiency and better imaging. However, the disadvantages are numerous. HLCD have frequency response from approximately 1kHz to 20kHz. Thus they are essentially large tweeters with very good low frequency extension. However, they cost anywhere from $300 to over $1000 for a pair. So by themselves, the HLCDs already cost as much or significantly more than most competition quality component speaker systems. You will also have to purchase a separate set of mid bass drivers to cover the frequencies below 1kHz. A pair of quality mid bass drivers start at about $150, adding more to the cost. Installation of HLCDs are very costly and time consuming. Labor quotes can exceed $1000 just for the installation and setup of a pair of HLCDs. The installation location of HLCD is usually under the dash. Even though this position allows for a more focused image, the overall sound stage is much narrower than conventional tweeters mounted on the doors. The tradeoff for high efficiency is poor transient response, tonal accuracy and overall frequency response. There are mid-bass drivers that have better transient response than HLCDs. The frequency response and tonal accuracy of HLCD are so bad that it's generally accepted that in order to make a pair of HLCD listenable, one would need 30 band 1/3 octave equalizers, which cost no less than $300. And even then, the sound quality of the HLCD are not even comparable to a pair of good conventional tweeters. In summary, HLCDs are expensive and they exhibit all the characteristics that we do NOT want in a tweeter, especially one that would require the owner to spend thousands just to get mediocre results. does this answer your question?  |
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Bronze Member Username: AvalanchePost Number: 28 Registered: Nov-04 | hahahaha Yes it does thank you. Well you helped save 1400$ so yes it did help thanks. |
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Gold Member Username: GlasswolfNorthWest, Michigan USA Post Number: 5881 Registered: Dec-03 | if ya want to spend around 1200, get a set of DynAudio System 360s, or Rainbow Valadiums, or Morels or Crystals or Focals top end stff go with a good 3 way separate system and you'll get all ya need from 25KHz down to the subs where these will roll off from teh midbass drivers |
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Bronze Member Username: AvalanchePost Number: 32 Registered: Nov-04 | Well I am currently running 3 sets of Diamond Audio M661 2 for the front one for the rear. and 2 sets of Kicker RMB8 1 front 1 rear. In a 4 way configuration. I hope this is good enough in the SQ lanes. |
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Gold Member Username: Jonathan_fGA USA Post Number: 2632 Registered: May-04 | For SQ, usually less is more. The more speakers you install, the more acoustic phase issues you'll have working against you, that's why you see IASCA top competitors using as little equipment as possible, usually 2 ways. |
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Gold Member Username: GlasswolfNorthWest, Michigan USA Post Number: 5902 Registered: Dec-03 | point in case was a guy I know named Richard Clark. He held top place at Nationals in IASCA for quite a while using a Grand national in which he had 6 speakers total. If I recall, it had 2 hand built waveguides, two midbass drivers, and two subs. all of his speakers were hand built to his specs though, and that car had insane sound deadening. At full blast, he could shut the doors with the windows up and you couldn't tell the system was playing, standing outside the car. I always liked that GN. |
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Bronze Member Username: AvalanchePost Number: 37 Registered: Nov-04 | was that not the same GN that SpeakerWorks Built. |
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