Line Array Speaker vs Point Source Speaker


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Is there any inherent advantage to either of these speaker designs?
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mitch4t
Hello,

Actually Dali Megaline uses multiple tweeters in a line array.
IMO and in absolute terms a line source will give better performance than a point source.

regards,
If I am well informed the line source has less problems with two boundarys: ceiling and floor. BTW I wish I owned
Alberts Megaline. The ordinary kind will also do.
The so called 'point source' is an attempt to construct a
microphon in the 'reverse': as a sound source. The only one
that works or that I know of is the Manger midd/high speaker. The Kef and the TAD are actualy a compromise.
There are also those German Ascendo speakers by wich you
need to measure the distance between the tweeter and your
own ears and move the tweeter to the right distance like
a geometre. The version M (?) is realy very impressive but
also very ugly to see. This however is taste dependent.

Regards,
"The so called 'point source' is an attempt to construct a
microphon in the 'reverse': as a sound source. The only one
that works or that I know of is the Manger midd/high speaker. The Kef and the TAD are actualy a compromise."

The CLS Walsh type drivers in OHM Acoustics Walsh line speakers actually approximate a very wide dispersion (pseudo omni) point source extremely well in most setups, especially in but not limited to the horizontal plane.

The key difference between a well executed line source versus point source is mostly in the geometry of the sound dispersion pattern which is a primary determining factor for imaging and soundstage.

Whether point or line source works better in this regard has largely to do with size, shape and perhaps liveliness of your listening room, the location of the speakers within it, and your location as the listener within it as well.
All of the line source speakers I have heard in my life sounded better and played with less distortion to my ears than any point source speaker. Line sources are better but they are much more expensive. The best usually is.
The speakers I use and sell have single drivers...they just happen to be very large and are designed to operate as full range virtual line sources.