Re: SH-50 array eq.
I seem to remember (Ivan?) saying that SH50s working best stacked, as when side x side they suffer from pattern flip below a certain Hz range. ?
You are talkng about 2 entirely different things here. One is pattern flip and the other is coupling/interference.
First-the pattern flip-it doesn't matter how you stack them-vertically or horizontally- at some point (down pretty low) the pattern is not going to be the 100x50 for 2 cabinets. But this would be low enough that it wouldn't matter. This is because the box is square-with a wquare pattern-so that doesn't matter how they are stacked-the end result will be the same size. OK OK-If you array they side by side-tight packed as designed-the size will be a "wee bit" smaller-but not enough as to matter-or even begin to notice.
Whe they are hardpacked side by side-the interference will be less than when stacked verticallly.
HOWEVER we are also talking about different coverage patterns. If the cabinets are stacked vertically and splayed-then the interference will be less. But there will also be less output.
Sometimes you have to choose between quality and quantity.
The whole thing is because the sound starts out as a single source-there is less overall interference when you have 2 boxes covering the same area-than when you have multiple sources out of each box.
I remember years ago ( a couple of decades) there was a local 2500 seat arena I used to do all the time-with all different kinds of acts. I would normally take out 4 stacks per side (all 90° horns) The sound was "fine" and people were happy-interference and all.
Then I got a call for a wedding in the same room-and all they wanted to do was to cover the dance floor and budget was a real issue. So I brought out a single stack per side. Everything else in the system remained the same (console-mics-processing-amps etc).
Both my other engineer and myself exclaimed to each other how much more clear the sound was. VERY obvious. Now it wasn't as loud (didn't need to be) but sure sounded a lot better. It was then that a "light bulb turned on" about possible cabinet-cabinet interference.
There are a lot of things that "sound fine"-until you hear something better. Then it is hard to go back. McDonalds is fine for a lot of people-until they have eaten at a good steak house.