Constant directivity THROUGH 5,000hz
The frequency response of the H1 remains constant from 0 degrees through to 45 degrees off axis for the entire 'critical range' from 200hz to 5,000hz where most music information resides.
This behavior is called BROADBAND CONSTANT DIRECTIVITY and has been the unattainable goal of speaker designers for 50 years. Constant Directivity gives you clear and coherent vocals, drums, and strings across your entire listening area.
Broadband Constant Directivity also means that reflected sound has the same normalized curve as direct sound, resulting in reflections that are non-destructive when they sum at the listening position, for a crisp and coherent listening experience despite the presence of reflective surfaces.
Smooth, Linear Phase Response
Unlike conventional speakers, the H1 has no inductors or capacitors in its wiring harness, and doesn't have to try to combine multiple drivers with different behaviors.
As seen at left, the result is a smooth phase and impedance response that makes it a very easy load to drive for almost any amplifier, including tubes.
12 driver tall line array with a human for scale.
Line arrays are speakers that combine many drivers to share the work of producing sound. With no single driver having to exert much effort, distortion is minimized and the speed with which each speaker can produce (and recover from) sound is minimized, resulting in very fast dynamics.
The downside to traditional line arrays are comb filtering and large size as shown.
12 driver H1 with a beverage for scale.
Hook Audio has addressed both with the use of a extraordinary driver with dual neodymium motors and a height of only 1".
·Comb filtering refers to the acoustic aberrations that result from the summing of speaker outputs. The frequency of the combing is defined by the center-to-center distance between each driver.
Most line arrays have comb filtering right in their critical range and then require DSP to remove it.
By contrast, the H1 has a tiny center to center distance of only 1.25 inches, resulting in a very compact speaker and placing the effect of comb filtering all the way out at 12,000hz where our driver would otherwise have a natural dip in response.
As a result, the H1's natural frequency response is smooth, without any need for DSP.
