Line Array Speaker vs Point Source Speaker

To me a point source if well executed should sound more coherent with much more focus. I have no idea why anyone (except Al Porter) would go down this road. Instead of ten tweeters why not use just one?

Let me know if you disagree and tell me what speaker you love and I will take a listen at the next RMAF.

To me a point source if well executed should sound more coherent with much more focus. I have no idea why anyone (except Al Porter) would go down this road. Instead of ten tweeters why not use just one?

Actually Dali Megaline have only one tweeter per channel, it just happens to be 7 feet tall, so yes it's a line source :^).

I like them a lot but also like point source speakers with Dynaudio, Kharma and Avalon immediately coming to mind.

Each design has advantages and there's probably white papers on the web explaining why each is superior to the other.

The obvious answer, there's no substitute for listening to every speaker that interest you and then considering room size and budget try to pick a winner.

Line arrays have dynamics across the band. A dozen bass/mid drivers that go down to 40Hz each still only go down to 40Hz but they can do it really well. Might seem silly to add subs to such large speakers but haven't seen an Incredarray in a while.

Impedance can be tailored with some brands.

They say that distortion is lower because the load is spread but that, like most things audio, means less than the perception.

Coming from an Infinity/Genesis background, like yourself Mitch4t, line arrays are naturally attractive. You might want to set them up lengthwise in your room to sit far enough back.

http://audioroundtable.com/misc/nflawp.pdf

Line array loses less SPL with distance point source should image a bit better but this all depends on total design. Line arrays are large, point source designs usually not so large.

This really IS an interesting question--one that very few people will probalbly agree on an answer to.
Having been closely associated with the Nearfield Acoustics Pipedreams, I'm hesitant to say that focus is 'better' with a single tweeter/line array/panel/omnipolar and so on.
These guys (certain model 21's) had 42 tweeters, one inch domes...with 21 4"+ inch mid's crossing over to a sub, or subs that were 18" cylinders. If all this sounds unusual, I thought so too. Then spent a couple of years 'setting them up' the right way (after many hours of listening).
One might think that (and some may even claim) there would be 'confusion' from the multiplicity of tweeters in a vertical array--AND one may point out, rightfully that 'comb-filter effects' are created by such--however, to my silly little ears, they sounded really remarkable and did not seem to have problems with this effect.
In fairness, there were 'supposed' technologies in place to ameliorate such issues, but I've never been able to gleen what those technologies might have been.
I only knew the Pipedreams to have been very dynamic and impressive, and to have had wonderful presence.
(Read Johnathan Valin's raves for a reference point).
There are many ways to achieve Nirvana, I suppose...so I'm, at this late stage of my existance, unable to say emperically which method of loudspeaker tech is 'better'.

Great question...and fodder for lots of interesting responses.

Best,
Larry