H X S e r i e s : H o m e T h e a t e r R e f e re n c e S p e a k e r S y s t e m s
Yamaha's goal in developing the HX Series speakers was to achieve the three key elements of accuracy, speed and depth, thereby creating a home theater audio experience comparable to a real movie theater or concert hall. This goal has been brilliantly realized on the HX Series, assuring superb reproduction that expresses every nuance of the soundtrack designer or
The Waveguide Horns
When conventional direct radiating speakers are used in a home environment, their broad directional characteristics result in a relatively high proportion of reflected sound. Even at frequencies above 5kHz, a significant portion of the sound reaching the listeners' ears has been
reflected from the room's walls.
Modern movie theaters, however, are designed to offer a highly absorptive acoustic environment in which soundtrack recordings with five or more channels can be used to achieve a rich sense
of spatial expression. To achieve a similar level of spatial expression in the home, it is therefore necessary to use speakers with a direct/reflected sound ratio that is quite different from the speakers used for listening to conventional music recordings.
Yamaha's exclusive Waveguide Horns were specifically developed to address this problem, and have now been refined and improved to offer an even higher level of spatial expression in home
30µm Aluminum Dome
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Top Plate |
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Shielding Yoke |
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listening environments.
Optimal Direct/Reflected Wave Energy Ratio for Home Theater Sound
Yamaha's exclusive Waveguide Horns differ from conventional horns in that their waveguide features a horizontal control angle of 135° and a vertical control angle of 120°. This allows the sound field to be shaped and controlled for optimal spatial expression in home theater environments.
Diecast Aluminum Waveguides
Yamaha tested a wide range of waveguide materials to determine which offered the best home theater sound reproduction quality. Cherry and other hardwoods were considered, but in the end, diecast aluminum was found to make the detailed nuances of dialogue easier to hear, while providing the incisive attack needed for action and horror scenes.
Flat
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Conv
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Wav
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Conventional Radiation
Waveguide Horn Radiation
High frequency directional characteristics of an installed Waveguide Horn speaker (red lines) and ordinary (blue lines). The Waveguide Horn speaker shows excellent balance in the front direction, with the surround effect to the sides and rear is not adversely affected by reflected sounds.
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