Why so few high end line arrays?

After hearing some outstanding line arrays, I totally understand why people like them. I am about to get a just released line array from a manufacturer for an audition. I was worried about combing as well, but the drivers are small and quite close together, so I suspect at normal (not nearfield) listening distances this should not be a problem.

I'll post back in a few weeks with some initial thoughts, but at 16 ohms, (perfect for my OTL's) and no crossover, I'm thinking this might be an ideal speaker, (for me anyway).

Emailists,

I use Atma MA-1s with mine and the arrays are custom wired to yield 13 ohms nominal, 10 ohms minimum. I wasn't prepared for the difference that proper impedance matching makes with OTLs. You are likely in for a treat.

As for comb filtering, diffraction effects manifest in all manner of speakers - even single driver/baffle interactions occur. Not unlike our listening rooms themselves.

It is what we perceive that matters. I hear the bass nodes/nulls in my room quite well, ameliorated as best as possible with traps and PARC. Comb filtering in the "line array physics" sense is imperceptible in my setup. FWIW, I sit 10-11 feet back.

There is another approach that is worth considering - The Genesis Horn from Danley Sound Labs. In essence Danley's interpretation of a line array http://www.danleysoundlabs.com/pdf/GenesisHorn-anewbeginning.pdf
As for all line arrays, you are going to need a large room. It is pro audio so it needs a face lift if in the home environment and on display.

Comb filtering is a problem

JB

Thanks for the response regarding higher impedance speakers. I currently use a Zero autoformer to raise my current 4 ohm speakers to 8 (anything higher than that and it didn't sound right)

Your system looks great as well.