Martin Audio Wavefront W8CT, Application Manual

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Spaced, parallel loudspeakers will comb (add or subtract their outputs) depending on
their distance or time offset from us (see
Section 4.10 ). A 150mm/0.5ms offset at the
listening position will cause nulls at 1KHz, 3KHz, 5KHz, 7KHz, 9KHz, 11KHz etc
but we wouldn't be aware of the combing under casual listening conditions because
we are used to listening to natural sounds in the presence of multiple arrivals (echoes)
and our ear-brain system adapts to them. We don't adapt to
varying comb structures
though, especially in the horizontal plane, as our horizontally spaced ears act as a
sensitive interferometer.
Martin Audio Wavefront Longthrow horns are stacked vertically and adjacent
W8CTs may be flown in mirror image and splayed 30-40º (for coherent arraying) to
minimise high frequency combing in breezy outdoor conditions. Widely spaced,
parallel columns – carrying the same signal - should be avoided.
Where budgets allow, mono centre clusters should be used for lead vocals and
instrumentals. Large ensembles (such as large string sections or large choirs) should
be divided into multiple subgroups which are sent to separate clusters.
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Spaced, parallel columns – Bad in windy conditions
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W8CM W8CT W8CT W8CT
Splayed, tightly packed columns – Better in windy conditions
All material © 2007. Martin Audio Ltd. Subject to change without notice.