Discussion:
Horn speaker harshness
(too old to reply)
amdx
2010-03-30 13:43:47 UTC
Permalink
I just put a small horn speaker on my boat. I listen mostly to
talk radio (voice) not music. I don't like the quality, it seems harsh.
This is outside but protected from water (salt water environment)
Is there anything I can do to the speaker or with equalization to
improve the sound quality. I'm generally not more than 8 ft
from the speaker. I would entertain purchasing another speaker
if someone had a inexpensive recomendation that will hold up
to the environment. But looking for hints to improve what I have.
Mike
GregS
2010-03-30 16:12:51 UTC
Permalink
Post by amdx
I just put a small horn speaker on my boat. I listen mostly to
talk radio (voice) not music. I don't like the quality, it seems harsh.
This is outside but protected from water (salt water environment)
Is there anything I can do to the speaker or with equalization to
improve the sound quality. I'm generally not more than 8 ft
from the speaker. I would entertain purchasing another speaker
if someone had a inexpensive recomendation that will hold up
to the environment. But looking for hints to improve what I have.
Mike
I think the easiest solution would be to install a regular weather resistance cone
speaker. I don't think a midrange hump would come out by turning down the trebel.
You could try pointing it it off center. Try stuffing it with some foam.


http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/1/1/11325-marine-vhf-radios-communications-standard-horizon-mls-intercom-speakers.html
GregS
2010-03-30 16:20:04 UTC
Permalink
Post by GregS
Post by amdx
I just put a small horn speaker on my boat. I listen mostly to
talk radio (voice) not music. I don't like the quality, it seems harsh.
This is outside but protected from water (salt water environment)
Is there anything I can do to the speaker or with equalization to
improve the sound quality. I'm generally not more than 8 ft
from the speaker. I would entertain purchasing another speaker
if someone had a inexpensive recomendation that will hold up
to the environment. But looking for hints to improve what I have.
Mike
I think the easiest solution would be to install a regular weather resistance cone
speaker. I don't think a midrange hump would come out by turning down the trebel.
You could try pointing it it off center. Try stuffing it with some foam.
http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/1/1/11325-marine-vhf-radios-communications
-standard-horizon-mls-intercom-speakers.html
You can find it cheaper, and I don't think you want the amplifier model.

http://www.lakepowelldiscountmarineelectronics.com/32327.html
Salmon Egg
2010-03-30 16:39:19 UTC
Permalink
Post by amdx
I just put a small horn speaker on my boat. I listen mostly to
talk radio (voice) not music. I don't like the quality, it seems harsh.
This is outside but protected from water (salt water environment)
Is there anything I can do to the speaker or with equalization to
improve the sound quality. I'm generally not more than 8 ft
from the speaker. I would entertain purchasing another speaker
if someone had a inexpensive recomendation that will hold up
to the environment. But looking for hints to improve what I have.
Mike
To me, "harshness" is a rather vague term. Depending on how much effort
you are willing to expend, more definitive information is needed.It
strikes me that you need to carry out rather EXTENSIVE laboratory tests
to pin down the problem. Do you even know if your original signal is not
harsh to begin with?

Bill
--
An old man would be better off never having been born.
GregS
2010-03-30 18:12:31 UTC
Permalink
Post by Salmon Egg
Post by amdx
I just put a small horn speaker on my boat. I listen mostly to
talk radio (voice) not music. I don't like the quality, it seems harsh.
This is outside but protected from water (salt water environment)
Is there anything I can do to the speaker or with equalization to
improve the sound quality. I'm generally not more than 8 ft
from the speaker. I would entertain purchasing another speaker
if someone had a inexpensive recomendation that will hold up
to the environment. But looking for hints to improve what I have.
Mike
To me, "harshness" is a rather vague term. Depending on how much effort
you are willing to expend, more definitive information is needed.It
strikes me that you need to carry out rather EXTENSIVE laboratory tests
to pin down the problem. Do you even know if your original signal is not
harsh to begin with?
Bill
Harsh to me, in loudspeakers, is a peak in the 1-2.5 kHz range.
No quality HiFI speaker will do this.

greg
Salmon Egg
2010-03-30 18:37:01 UTC
Permalink
<snip>
Post by GregS
Post by Salmon Egg
To me, "harshness" is a rather vague term. Depending on how much effort
you are willing to expend, more definitive information is needed.It
strikes me that you need to carry out rather EXTENSIVE laboratory tests
to pin down the problem. Do you even know if your original signal is not
harsh to begin with?
Bill
Harsh to me, in loudspeakers, is a peak in the 1-2.5 kHz range.
No quality HiFI speaker will do this.
greg
To check this out, you would need something like a sine wave audio
generator you could sweep through the frequency range of interest. You
do not need to have a high quality microphone. A duplicate speaker used
as a microphone can be used. An oscilloscope to measure the speaker
respons will also be required.

Alternatively, a square wave signal could also be useful.

Bill
--
An old man would be better off never having been born.
GregS
2010-03-30 21:08:17 UTC
Permalink
Post by Salmon Egg
<snip>
Post by GregS
Post by Salmon Egg
To me, "harshness" is a rather vague term. Depending on how much effort
you are willing to expend, more definitive information is needed.It
strikes me that you need to carry out rather EXTENSIVE laboratory tests
to pin down the problem. Do you even know if your original signal is not
harsh to begin with?
Bill
Harsh to me, in loudspeakers, is a peak in the 1-2.5 kHz range.
No quality HiFI speaker will do this.
greg
To check this out, you would need something like a sine wave audio
generator you could sweep through the frequency range of interest. You
do not need to have a high quality microphone. A duplicate speaker used
as a microphone can be used. An oscilloscope to measure the speaker
respons will also be required.
Alternatively, a square wave signal could also be useful.
Or pink noise and listen !!

greg
amdx
2010-03-30 17:30:22 UTC
Permalink
Post by Salmon Egg
Post by amdx
I just put a small horn speaker on my boat. I listen mostly to
talk radio (voice) not music. I don't like the quality, it seems harsh.
This is outside but protected from water (salt water environment)
Is there anything I can do to the speaker or with equalization to
improve the sound quality. I'm generally not more than 8 ft
from the speaker. I would entertain purchasing another speaker
if someone had a inexpensive recomendation that will hold up
to the environment. But looking for hints to improve what I have.
Mike
To me, "harshness" is a rather vague term. Depending on how much effort
you are willing to expend, more definitive information is needed.It
strikes me that you need to carry out rather EXTENSIVE laboratory tests
to pin down the problem. Do you even know if your original signal is not
harsh to begin with?
Bill
Harshness = typical horn speaker sound

Any EXTENSIVE laboratory tests would consist of buying a better speaker.
The am/fm/cd sounds fine* on the built in speakers.

Mike
GregS
2010-03-30 19:04:00 UTC
Permalink
Post by amdx
Post by Salmon Egg
Post by amdx
I just put a small horn speaker on my boat. I listen mostly to
talk radio (voice) not music. I don't like the quality, it seems harsh.
This is outside but protected from water (salt water environment)
Is there anything I can do to the speaker or with equalization to
improve the sound quality. I'm generally not more than 8 ft
from the speaker. I would entertain purchasing another speaker
if someone had a inexpensive recomendation that will hold up
to the environment. But looking for hints to improve what I have.
Mike
To me, "harshness" is a rather vague term. Depending on how much effort
you are willing to expend, more definitive information is needed.It
strikes me that you need to carry out rather EXTENSIVE laboratory tests
to pin down the problem. Do you even know if your original signal is not
harsh to begin with?
Bill
Harshness = typical horn speaker sound
Any EXTENSIVE laboratory tests would consist of buying a better speaker.
The am/fm/cd sounds fine* on the built in speakers.
The typical PA horn is harsh, but any narrowband audio signal
will tend to sound harsh. Typical PA horns are desighned to have
high intelligability in the audio, 300 to 3 kHz range. But they leave off
the intelligent high piched ssss and the lower comforting range at
the bottom.

The cone speakers I showed are also for high inteligability
communications, and maybe also peaky. They are also somewhat efficient.
A HiFi speaker will tend to sound better but have less sensitivity, as in stereo
boat speakers.

Another way to avoid harshness is turn down the volume.
Any speaker will sound harsh with enough volume.

greg
a***@home
2010-03-31 01:02:20 UTC
Permalink
Post by amdx
I just put a small horn speaker on my boat. I listen mostly to
talk radio (voice) not music. I don't like the quality, it seems harsh.
This is outside but protected from water (salt water environment)
Is there anything I can do to the speaker or with equalization to
improve the sound quality. I'm generally not more than 8 ft
from the speaker. I would entertain purchasing another speaker
if someone had a inexpensive recomendation that will hold up
to the environment. But looking for hints to improve what I have.
Mike
Manufacturer and model number of the speaker? Also, did you buy it new or
used?

Loading...