Thu Jan 26, 2017 9:23 am
So, I spent several hours this week playing around in the sanctuary with various speaker setups utilizing some of the speakers that I have built on this thread.
I can reiterate that the TubaHT is awesome. I also have the Trio12 BIB on site as well, but I have not tried it.
I used the TLAHPro line arrays for my mids and highs since they were the most capable to handle all of the mass output from the Hauptwerk recordings I played from Contrebombarde, YouTube, etc.
What I must say, though, and this has already been eluded to earlier in the thread, but line arrays really aren't the way to go, but I do think there is merit there, for certain applications.
What we discussed early on in the thread, about maybe splitting each line array in half and making each one essentially two channels, still seems like a reasonable idea and very worthy of a test. The TLAH Pros cost me roughly $120 each since I used a budget $9 driver instead of the recommended Eminence driver at $45 each. And, as you can imagine with 16 drivers and 16 piezos per pair, they had NO TROUBLE filling that giant sanctuary on their own. These things are very, VERY efficient and as a result, difficult to listen to up close. You really have to get away from them. (Like any line array for that matter.) Sitting in the back of the sanctuary, and turning the line arrays so that they weren't aimed directly at the listener, but instead aimed slightly in or out (creating reflections off the walls, etc.) proved the best results - as expected. I do think a pair of them would possibly to VERY well for use in a solo division, though. Chamades, Tubas, solo reeds, etc. would likely be very nice on these.
However, when taking into account price, time to build, cost of sufficient power amplifiers, etc. the TLAH pro's just aren't an ideal solution throughout the entire organ in this case since the Behringer 2031's are $200/ea with amps included, and are capable of a much clearer and accurate reproduction of sound. The budget $9 driver could likely be the culprit in the TLAH Pros, because they do lack clarity, especially in the mid-range. This is NOT a poor review of the TLAH Pros, because I do think they are great, but I did deviate heavily from the original plan by changing the drivers. Even as built, they would do a FANTASTIC job in certain applications, and I am very happy to have built them.
The real champion, though, is the TubaHT. I just can't help but grin from ear to ear when those 32' Bombardes kick in. If you look at some of the pictures that I posted before, you can look in the far corners on each side of the sanctuary and see where I positioned this thing down the hallway on the side of the altar. I faced it backward, since the space above the hall is open up to the ceiling behind the altar. This allowed me to use, as I had planned, the hallway and vaulted ceiling as an extension of the horn throat from the TubaHT. I was debating using TWO TubaHT's but I now realize that one is quite sufficient.
I am wondering, though, if having two sub mixdowns, one for C, D, E, F#, G#, A# and one for C#, D#, F, G, A, B would be worthwhile since the TubaHT isn't the most articulate sub out there. Getting it to change quickly isn't easy.
I am also thinking about building the HouseWrecker just for grins. 15" subs are notoriously difficult to get moving quickly.
Also, the process has begun to get the instrument funded. I was given the "green light" by the trustees to start funding the project.