chunnybh wrote:Is it on display and accessible to the public?.......how does it compare....?
Hello Chunny. I am afraid it is not on display in any public way but the owner, although very private, is a keen enthusiast who, I am sure, would be happy to see a kindred spirit by appointment. Let me know next time you are over and I shall try to arrange things.
You ask how this horn compares with the EMG Oversize ? The comparison mentioned earlier between a re-entrant and a directional horn is really the closest I can come to explain the difference. The Fitzpatrick trapezoidal horn is larger than the circular Oversize which does not make any difference to the volume, of course, as available energy is identical in both cases. The audio experience, however, is quite different in that the DF horn allows the available soundwaves to be dispersed over a wider area and the smallish room it occupies (perhaps 18' x 15'---guess) is indeed filled with good quality sound. More listeners are thus enabled to have an identical experience. With the Oversize horn, things are much more directional as you will know well from your own instruments. In my opinion, the
concentration of sound in the latter case offers the listener a more
magical experience. The detail and quality of the more
focused sound is unsurpassed, not forgetting the "holographic" effect where the artist or instrument appears to be in the room with the listener. Also in my opinion, and in simple terms, the non-circular design of the DF horn does not seem to be helpful---corners surely militate against a smooth progression of the exponentially expanding spherical soundwaves ? Lowest bass resonances in both cases may be around 80Hz but they are heard to far greater effect in the case of the Oversize.
By way of further comparison, it is also interesting to note that, when playing the Decca frequency gliding tone records, the Oversize has no vices at all throughout the entire range. By contrast, the smaller Nimbus horn (which I am lucky enough to have here) demonstrates uncomfortable resonances at several frequencies due, I think, to a different exponential curve.
The intention is to carry out more detailed experiments and analyse the sound in a similar contemporary way and then also to do the same thing with modern "state of the art" electronic equipment to see exactly what is happening at various frequency ranges emanating from the DF horn.
The ongoing study is eternally fascinating............