Stevecham,
I agree with you. A phase irregularity or sharp slope on the phase vs frequency plot is very likely to end up with something that is very wrong; but all I am saying is that even if wrong, it may sound pleasant.
Nothing could create sharper phase irregularities than having two cones side by side producing the same output (since the cones will never match perfectly...just like a singer can never sound exactly the same every time they are asked to repeat something)
The case of the Dunlavy's dual mid ranges having a preferred timbral response, by audio professionals, over what in theory should be a superior design (ATC) demonstrates that some phase misalignment may be preferred by some listeners!!! (see my previous post in this thread with a link)
How can this be? How can worse or wrong sound better?
I suspect that having two mid ranges is akin to the often used "voice-over" in the recording studio => the result is that the voice sounds thicker and more resonant due to very slight but sharp phase misalignments (it is a bit like having more vocal chords). This effect will also tend to give an orchestra a bigger and richer sound by "virtualy" doubling the number of instruments playing, hence classical listeners liked the Dunlavy's more.
Bose used this same technique of multiple drivers in 901's and other designs to produce a sound that many liked and was called "spacious" ( phase misalignments from many multiple cones ouputing the same frequencies might indeed be expected to sound spacious )
All of which suggests that there are two extremes to making speakers;
1) making accurate speakers
2) speakers that sound pleasant,
and this is why I liked Opalchip's comments. Of course, manufacturers will most often position themselves somewhere in between the two extremes. ATC is closer to 1) than Dunlavy but not by much. Wilson I believe is slightly closer to 2) than 1). Bose 901 might be very close to the extreme of 2).
This is not to say that 1) is better than 2) or 2) is better than 1). There are advantages and disadvantages to speakers that give a rich pleasant sound. There are advantages and disadvantages to speakers that are highly accurate. It is nice that we have a choice!
I agree with you. A phase irregularity or sharp slope on the phase vs frequency plot is very likely to end up with something that is very wrong; but all I am saying is that even if wrong, it may sound pleasant.
Nothing could create sharper phase irregularities than having two cones side by side producing the same output (since the cones will never match perfectly...just like a singer can never sound exactly the same every time they are asked to repeat something)
The case of the Dunlavy's dual mid ranges having a preferred timbral response, by audio professionals, over what in theory should be a superior design (ATC) demonstrates that some phase misalignment may be preferred by some listeners!!! (see my previous post in this thread with a link)
How can this be? How can worse or wrong sound better?
I suspect that having two mid ranges is akin to the often used "voice-over" in the recording studio => the result is that the voice sounds thicker and more resonant due to very slight but sharp phase misalignments (it is a bit like having more vocal chords). This effect will also tend to give an orchestra a bigger and richer sound by "virtualy" doubling the number of instruments playing, hence classical listeners liked the Dunlavy's more.
Bose used this same technique of multiple drivers in 901's and other designs to produce a sound that many liked and was called "spacious" ( phase misalignments from many multiple cones ouputing the same frequencies might indeed be expected to sound spacious )
All of which suggests that there are two extremes to making speakers;
1) making accurate speakers
2) speakers that sound pleasant,
and this is why I liked Opalchip's comments. Of course, manufacturers will most often position themselves somewhere in between the two extremes. ATC is closer to 1) than Dunlavy but not by much. Wilson I believe is slightly closer to 2) than 1). Bose 901 might be very close to the extreme of 2).
This is not to say that 1) is better than 2) or 2) is better than 1). There are advantages and disadvantages to speakers that give a rich pleasant sound. There are advantages and disadvantages to speakers that are highly accurate. It is nice that we have a choice!