The Dipole PA

Based on Siegfried's "Phoenix" this is an open baffle pro-audio system using Eminence drivers.  The main panels consist of two 10" drivers and a horn.  The open baffle sub-woofers use two 18" drivers in each baffle.   We used this system at the Free Fall Convention in 2001 and they sounded amazing!  The room I have them in at home is way too small but outdoors under a tent these really rocked!  The Dayton drivers in the photo ended up not being used.   The Eminence Kappa Pro-10 (PE# 290-426) proved to be a much better driver.   The SST1 horn (PE# 290-556) is coupled with the PSD2002 compression driver (PE# 290-442) for above 1.4khz.

The Main panel:

The original woofers used are a no longer available Dayton 18" pro driver.   In the future I will be using the Eminence Sigma Pro-18 (PE# 290-427). 

The Woofer system:

Currently the system is using an unmodified "Phoenix" cross-over.   This was due to time constraints before the Free Fall Convention while I was building it.  I've been intending to go back and optimize it but it sounds so good like it is that I'm not sure it's worth it.  

For amplification I'm using QSC  RMX series amplifiers.  The RMX1450 drives the woofers while the midrange and horn each use the RMX850.    A Mackie 1402-VLZ-Pro sits on top of the rack connected through a Behringer Ultra-Curve Pro 8024.

At the Convention, we used the system for Tammy's Free Style Skydiving seminar as a PA system.  Feedback didn't seem to be an issue since she was standing between the speakers in the dipole null.   In fact, you can really hear the effect of the dipole in an outdoor environment.  Standing between the speakers there was almost no bass at all!  As soon as you move forward or backwards out of the null all the bass comes in.

We played various selections of music before and after the seminar.   Dipoles just have a clarity other systems can't match.  I've never heard any other pro-audio speaker sound anything close to the way these do.   We played a track from, The Digital Domain of a jet fly by and had a number of people running out from under the tent to look for the jet:-)   You see, the jet is a big deal at the WFFC.  Since 1992 we've had a B727 to jump out of but for the last three conventions now one thing or another has prevented us from having it.   Insurance problems, FAA (Fed's Against Avaition) or other issues have prevented it...so, it was a cruel joke but we all got a laugh out of it;-)  We want to try it again when I get the larger version going.   We'll have all the newbies thinking they're finally going to get their DB Cooper #.

The new larger version coming eventually...

I have a system planned that will use the same woofer system but more of them depending on the application.   The new main panels will use the Kappa Pro-15LF (PE# 290-420) along with the JBL 2382A horn (PE# 294-425) driven by the Eminence PSD3003 compression driver. (PE# 290-520) which I have just at this moment discovered is no longer available from Parts Express.  Fortunately I already have mine:-)

The cross-over will be more similar to the Orion cross-over.   The cross-over slope on the 15" drivers will be 4th order at 90 hz.  The horns will take over at 1000 hz and will include compensation for the Constant Directive horn roll off.    Using these main panels with two or four sets of the woofer system should be able to work well.