DIY speakers vertical array a la "pipedreams" syst


Have any of you worked on a multi drivers vertical array type of speakers ...something that would look like a diminutive version of the http://www.nearfieldacoustics.com/The%20System.htm systems ?

What were the results?

i have a suddent interest in knowing why so many people
prefer this kind of setup to systems of equivalent quality drivers/enclosures with less in number ...

Anyone has a good ressource for buying excellent drivers
( only the drviers ) and or reviews of such ?

i will need a 15-18" driver for my sub neway , even
if i still go with ESLs ..

But the vertical array systems attract me for a single reason, build is easy and it should cost equivalent to electrostatics ( since no need for $$$$ step up transformer
but multi drivers need to be purchased ..

I would be considering a desing of a few feet tall with a
front face of 12" to 18" maybe with an opened rear for dipole action since they can't reach the front in their resonnat frequency ...mmmm

could be something in the 3 feet tall in total
wonder how many driver i could place on that :p

what do you guys think?

then also, about the need to drive all the drivers,
will it ask for a really powerfull amplification ?
or since all the drivers are working less powerfull to
attain the equivalent sound pressure, they thus require less power ?

what do you think of nerafield acoustic theory that
having more drivers permits the drivers to be worked at lower power and drivers are more accurate at lower power?

thanks for your time,

anything will help :)
jinmtvt
Bill Fitzmaurice has designed a "mega low-budget" line array using "throw-away" drivers from Parts Express. The total cost for drivers is phenomenally low ( under $100 ) and according to what he's "leaked" about the design, it is appr 99 dB's sensitive. Probably not the finest in sound, but for someone that wants to experiment with this type of project, i doubt if you could beat the "fun factor" and education achieved through the building of such an inexpensive project. Sean
>

Drop an email to Roger Russell, I am sure he would love to discuss tweeter tower designs and theory behind them with anyone.
I'm wondering if you ever found any plans for a line source dipole. Or if you found it was a bad idea, I've been thinking of doing something similar.
I attended the Great Plains Audio Fest in Tulsa back in April. A guy from the Houston Audio Society had a DIY vertical array that could be built quite cheaply. He used a low cost mid/woof and an inexpensive tweeter. I'm not sure of a website address, but type Fredarray into google and you should come up with it. It was quite impressive for it's low cost. He drove it with a DK design amp. I saw a post of his on Audiogon a few days ago, so maybe he will chime in here.
Here ya go, Fred is a great guy! Maybe he can
help ya out.

http://FredT300B.smugmug.com/Hobbies