Re: Stair Cardioid Subwoofer Array
In an end-fire configuration, for example the two tapped horn boxes Art used to demonstrate the difference a passive radiator can have on measurements, if that arrangement was used with both boxes powered (and the forward box appropriately delayed) does the actual box-type of the front box have an effect that can be either measured or heard?
What I was thinking is that in the case of horn loaded sub boxes arranged and delayed to make an end-fire array, whilst the driver in the front box is not passive (as in Art's example) - surely the sound propagated forwards from the rear box through the front one will travel a second time through the horn loading already used to create the original sound, but the second time it also combines with the output of the front box, achieving a degree of directivity but also potentially having an unwanted effect on the sound originating from the rear box.
My query is whether in a case where the box loading is a significant contributing factor to the sound produced (such as a horn path of some type), is there an effect that would influence the resulting sound of both boxes due to the sound from the rear box having to travel through the horn path of the forwards box? If there is such an effect, how would it change the sound heard and any measurements taken? Finally would this only be an issue in more complex box designs (eg horn loaded subs, 4th order bandpass) and not a concern when using front-loaded bass reflex designs, such as those used in Sebastian's experiment?
