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Merry Christmas from Danley Sound Labs!  We are excited about celebrating the birth of our Savior this month.  We are also excited about sharing news and information with you, our Danley family.  Come on in and get to know the engineering staff.  Learn more about our DNA amplifiers.  And, of course, you'll want to read Doug Jones' final installment of "Why Danley Doesn't Build Line Arrays" in the Tech Corner.

Thank you for your support of Danley throughout 2017.  We look forward to serving you in 2018!
Black OS80's!
A couple of months ago, we mentioned that the OS80 would be available in black: particularly helpful if you have an indoor OS installation where the speaker needs to disappear.  We thought you might like to see one!
Limited Availability
We uncovered a limited supply of the very popular Danley DSLP48 processors. Get yours while they last, at a special price, by giving us a call: 877-419-5805.
Why Danley Won't Build Line Arrays PT3
Prof. Doug Jones
 
Ok, so we have looked at the 3 theoretical kinds of sound sources; the point source, the line source, and the plane source.  If we want to build a PA speaker, which type should we try to build?  Well, to answer that, let's review how we would like an ideal loudspeaker to behave.  I would like to suggest that there are at least four attributes a speaker must have if it is to be considered an ideal loudspeaker.
  1. Accuracy. This means that the electrical signal that goes into the back of the speaker is turned into sound with little or no degradation or change.  Now, not everyone agrees with this goal oddly enough.  Some manufacturers want their speakers to have a certain “sound” or aural coloration.  Such systems are, in my view, “sound production” systems.  Guitar amp/speaker combos are a good example of this.  The speaker is there to create a certain sound.  Contrast this with a “sound reproduction” system which strives for neutrality.  In this article I’m assuming that we are talking about sound reproduction and that accuracy is a good thing.
  2. Directivity.  This means that the sound a speaker creates should go to where there are ears! A speaker that sends sound everywhere, especially indoors will almost always have a negative effect on intelligibility.
  3. Even Coverage.  This means that every seat that a speaker covers gets the same thing.  Speakers should sound the same over their entire coverage area.
  4. Efficiency.  This means that a high percentage of the electrical energy feeding a loudspeaker is transformed into acoustical energy, and not wasted as heat.  Efficient speakers typically run cooler and will last longer and require smaller amplifiers to power them.
So, in our quest for the ideal loudspeaker, which of the 3 mathematical models should we attempt to realize?  In our opinion, the point source is the best candidate, because of the three models, it exhibits the most desirable traits. Remember, to build a practical “line source” we have to make it out of discrete elements, and these discrete elements will always behave as independent sources.  Since the directivity of a line array is dependent on interference, that interference is going to be everywhere.  The line array can’t be accurate.  It can’t have true directivity.  It certainly can't have even coverage.  And line arrays have very low efficiency because most of the energy a line array produces is expended in self-cancellation.
        
Building an effective plane source has the same problems as the line source, only worse!  You now have cancellation in both planes to worry about!
 
I contend that the best way to build a speaker is to emulate a point source.

If we are going to be successful, we have to provide the point source with some mechanism to control the directivity, because that is the one attribute that the point source does not inherently possess. Fortunately, the ancients have discovered the solution for us!  The horn is actually a very good candidate for controlling the directivity of a point source.  If you could couple a broadband point source to a properly designed horn, you would have close to an ideal situation. It would meet all four of our criteria for an ideal speaker.

This may not be so intuitive as “we all know” that horns exhibit harmonic distortion and the classic horn “honk” along with all sorts of subjective evils.  As it turns out, most, if not all of these behaviors are understood and can be engineered out of a horn system.  Take harmonic distortion for example.  The harmonic distortion in typical horns comes from the very high pressures in the throat of the horn.  In very high-pressure situations, the air itself is not linear.  You can keep compressing air, but you can’t go beyond a vacuum. The best way to avoid this nonlinearity is to allow the horn to flair quickly.  Conical horns with rapid flare rates have very low harmonic distortion.  The other big complaint with horns is the “honky” sound, which we have all heard emanating from cheap horns. This is the result of limited bandwidth.  A horn operating over a wide bandwidth will not “honk”. 
 
So how do we build this “ideal” point source?  A number of years ago, Tom Danley found that a horn could actually be used to create a system that behaves remarkably like an ideal broadband point source with directional control.   By using an ingenious placement of drivers, the horn shown below covers from 80 Hz. to upwards of 16kHz in one horn. Danley found that when the drivers are placed in this unconventional orientation, two things happen. First, it allows the lower frequencies to enter the horn where the flare rate is faster avoiding the high-pressure conditions often found in horn throats. Secondly, if the placement of the drivers on the side of the horn is correct, and the crossovers are correct, the apparent source over the entire range will be the apex of the horn!   By carefully designing the horn and the crossover, a true phase coherent source is produced.  We call this the Synergy Horn™.  It then has all the elements needed to be close to an ideal loudspeaker with no need for external processing of any kind.  Simply hook up a power amp channel and you are in business. The cool thing is that the Synergy Horn™ is completely scalable.  We can make them small like our SH mini and we can make them very large like the Caleb with 108 drivers on a single horn, and everything in between.  So the simple answer to “why doesn't Danley build line Arrays?” is we have something better?  The Synergy Horn™!
December 4, 2017
 
How to power the DNA Pro Amplifiers
By: Josh Millward
 
One of the most popular support related questions that is asked is how to power the DNA Pro series amplifiers. 
 
First, a little background on the amplifiers for those who are not aware. The DNA Pro series amplifiers have a power supply that can accept any input voltage from 100VAC to 240VAC (+/-10%) and is optimized to use either 50Hz or 60Hz power. This means that it can be used anywhere in the world with little concern. The amplifier itself features a 32A Neutrik Powercon connector which is rated for operation to 250VAC and 32A
 
The amplifier is supplied with a line cord utilizing a NEMA L6-20P twist lock connector to the Neutrik Powercon. The NEMA L6-20P connector is a three pole, 250VAC 20A connector which normally has two hot legs connected across the X and Y pins respectively to present 240VAC. Meanwhile the third pin is the safety ground pin, which is always connected directly to the equipment chassis. 
 
The easiest solution is to have a qualified electrician install a NEMA L6-20R outlet for the amplifier. This will generally require two slots in a typical electrical panel to provide the 240VAC. This connection is very similar to what is often installed in homes to operate stoves, clothes dryers, and HVAC systems.
 
However, it is not always convenient or possible to do this. Do not fret, the answer is not as difficult as it may initially seem. The DNA Pro amplifiers may also be powered by a more conventional 120VAC 20A outlet. However, when doing so, it is extremely advisable to set the External Breaker Protection control in the amplifier to the 20A setting (assuming the amplifier is connected to a dedicated 20A circuit). This will limit the total long-term output of the amplifier to keep the 20A supply breaker from tripping, but the amplifier’s peak capacity is not diminished. 
 
This sounds extremely useful! How is it done? There are a couple of good methods:
 
1. Procure an adapter with a NEMA L6-20R on one end and a NEMA 5-15P or NEMA 5-20P on the other end. This way it is possible to plug the line cord that comes with the amplifier into a regular wall outlet. 
 
2. Procure a line cord to replace the one that comes with the amplifier. This cord set will have a NEMA 5-15P or 5-20P on one end and the Neutrik NAC3FC-HC connector on the other end. This is a convenient one cable solution that can be used as a backup power cable in the event of failure of the original. 
 
3. It is always possible to cut the L6-20P off of the line cord that comes with the amplifier and replace it with the plug of your choice. Often users will choose a NEMA 5-15P as the replacement as it can be used in either 15A or 20A outlets. 
 
There is a significant difference in the total power capacity between the 240V and 120V options described above. Danley Sound Labs always recommends using 240V whenever it is available to power the amplifiers. A 240V 20A circuit is more than enough for any typical music signal sent through the amplifier. If it is desirable to use a 120V circuit, it is worthwhile to note that the amplifier will require up to 30A of current to reach its maximum output capabilities. 
 
The current version of System Engineer is 7.00.15. This version is available for download from our website:
http://www.danleysoundlabs.com/dna-system-engineer/
The current version of firmware for the DNA 10K4 Pro and DNA 20K4 Pro amplifiers is 1.306.
The current version of firmware for the DNA SC48 is 1.394.
Loudspeaker Master Preset Stack version is 20170424
The firmware and loudspeaker presets are included in the System Engineer download zip file for System Engineer 7.00.15.
DNA product videos can be found on our website:
http://www.danleysoundlabs.com/danley-u/dna-amplifier-and-processor-training-videos/
Meet the Engineering Team at Danley 
Name:   Tom Danley
 
How many years at Danley?  I have been here since the beginning, so about 13, I suppose.
 
How many years in the audio industry? Well, I actually built loudspeakers since 8th grade and after high school went into the sound business building loudspeakers with a friend from high school mechanical drawing class, so I would say on and off for the last 40+ years
 
Job Title:  Director of R&D
 
Primary Duties at Danley:   I try to take the descriptions of “what it should do” from Mike and Ivan and find a solution; ideally with as much sonic advantage possible.
 
Hobbies:  I am fascinated by how we hear, how loudspeakers work, etc. so I have a great job.  But I also like astronomy and telescopes and have a few antique gas engines.  I like mechanical things as well as electronics, but creating the sonic illusion of someone or a performance being right in front of you can give me goose bumps or bring a tear to my eye.
 
Family:  Single, have two wonderful daughters who occasionally help out at trade shows.
Name:  Doug Jones

How many years at Danley? 5 years full time + 2 years part-time

How many years in the audio industry?  40 +

Job Title:  Engineer/Director of Education

Primary duties at Danley:   Manage DIRECT, System Design, Education

Hobbies:  Music – 3 bands.  Watch repair

Family:  Wife; Joy.  Sons; Seth & Nathanael.  Grand kids; Lyman, Adeline & Gladys
Name:  Ivan Beaver

How many years at Danley? Since inception/13yrs

How many years in the audio industry? Approximately 42yrs

Job Title:  Chief Engineer

Primary Duties at Danley:   Chief Bottle washer and answer man for questions about most things technical.  Design crossovers.  An interface between Tom Wilson and Tom Danley turning products into reality.  Develop measurement data for spec sheets.

Hobbies:  Audio and doing things around the house.

Family:  Married 34 years to Abbie Taylor, 2 grown children
Name:  Tom Wilson

How many years at Danley?  I have had the great fortune to supply engineering services to Danley from 2005 to present and have been an official employee for 5.8 years.

How many years in the audio industry? 34

Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer 

Primary duties at Danley:  Assist with the development of Danley inventions and subsequent iteration innovations by supplying Solid Modeling Design and Engineering assistance needed to bring products to market. 

Hobbies:  Audio, Harley Davidson Motorcycles, Recreational Arborist.

Family: Living happily with Theresa Freeman, my first and last girlfriend. We met in college in 1975, the same year I graduated from High School. We are blessed with family and friends.
Name:  Chad Edwardson

How many years at Danley? 7 years

How many years in the audio industry? 23

Job Title:  Director of Engineering

Primary duties at Danley:   Manage Engineering Projects, Application Designs

Hobbies:  Playing Music, Production Work, Wood Working

Family:  My Wife Jill and My Children, Catherine 13 and Collin 12
Name:  Josh Millward

How many years at Danley? 2

How many years in the audio industry? 25

Job Title:  Systems Application Engineer / DNA Product Manager

Primary duties at Danley:  Support our customers use of the DNA series products and further develop the DNA series to make them more useful.

Hobbies:  Professional Audio, Swimming, Going to the beach, Urban and Rural Exploration

Family:  Not married, but live with my long-time gal, Brandi. No two-legged kids, but our four-legged ones keep us pretty busy. Currently we have three dogs, a cat, and two horses.
Name:  Sebastian Rivas

How many years at Danley? 5

How many years in the audio industry? 10

Job Title: Software Developer

Primary duties at Danley:  Create software that shows the world how our products work by doing coding.

Hobbies:  Fishing

Family:  Married to Paulina.  3 children: Sebastian, Agata and the little one, Tom. (For Tom Danley)

Name:  Jason Spencer 

How many years at Danley? 4

How many years in the audio industry? 9

Job Title: Engineering Support

Primary duties at Danley:   Provide knowledge and support for Danley’s unique line of products, and help develop marketing materials. 

Hobbies:  Live sound production, lead guitar player, fly fisherman, motorcycle enthusiast, craftsman.

Family: Wife, Ashley Spencer; daughter, Leah Spencer; dogs: Lucy, Brinkley and Dakota; Cat: Amelia 

Name:  Christopher Hedden

How many years at Danley? I am in my sixth year

How many years in the audio industry? Almost six.

Job Title:  Engineering Support

Primary duties at Danley:   I aid the engineering team in whatever capacity needed.

Hobbies:  I love to hunt, backpack, and play sports.

Family:  Married to Elizabeth with a baby due in April
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