Re: HyperboLine ™ new Player in the Old Game
Anthony,
Thanks for the interest!
1) The Hyperboline does work on the same principle as the parabolic trough.
2) The extensions are not curved, the hyperbola becomes nearly straight at the point the extension is added. While not perfectly following the hyperbolic arc, they are "close enough for rock and roll".
3) If an annular ring of drivers were used, it would be a copy of Curt Graber's Hyperspike, and would have a circular dispersion pattern.
The Hyperboline drivers face sideways, as they do in the Hyperspike, but since they are in a line the pattern is also a line, more useful than a circular pattern.
4) The dispersion pattern is basically 10 degrees horizontal, widening below 1000 Hz. The drivers used in the prototypes have dispersion problems which are reflected in the polars. The polar chart below was affected by wind, I do not think it is a true representation of the actual polar response.
5) The Hyperbolines would typically be arrayed in an arc, each covering approximately 10 degrees horizontal. Vertical pattern has not been tested, though by ear seems quite defined.
6) The Hyperboline is not immune to wind but is a bit less affected than a very narrow dispersion horn, and less affected than typical line arrays.
The Hyperboline prototypes were built as a proof of concept, using the cheapest drivers available. The drivers used are not optimal in any respect.
The hyperbola should have been deeper to avoid side spill, reduce cabinet depth and width, and reduce acoustic center to center horizontal driver distance.
Having problems bending the tempered hard board the prototype hyperbola were made of, a compromised design was made with a more shallow easy to bend hyperbola, which also compromised the off-axis response. The extenders are still a bit short, but because of the hyperbola chosen, it would take a huge increase in depth to make only a small improvement in response.
The Hyperboline prototypes are useful as built, but great improvements could be made in driver choice, design specifics and execution.
Taking the design further would require some parties interested in the advantages the Hyperboline affords over any other designs.
Art
