Re: how to design spreakers (continued)

[unknownuser]

The bottom line is: good high quality home speakers can sound exellent at a reasonable cost. Pro studio monitors aim at the same thing with a modest increase of sensitivity, which matters little at near field listening. The main power limitations are below 300Hz.

Professional sound systems often use horn tweeters with a sensitivity about 10dB more than the woofer. This has to be compensated by the crossover if passive or the amplifier volume if active.

The best sounding live amplified concert I have ever heard had a tall stack of 3 way speakers in a medium size concert hall. The midrange was the key to superior sound. 10" to 18" woofers have a hard time making accurate midrange sounds, especially close to the speakers.

These three way speakers required a significant distance from them to sound good. This is a very different situation from home use.

I believe the optimum speaker will be a 3 way speaker with a midrange to cover the range about 300Hz to 3000Hz. It is best (theoretically) to avoid a crossover outside this range.

I would prefer to use an active crossover betweem the woofer and midrange. The midrange should be the Vifa XG18, or similar (Scan Speak). The XG18 driver can sound superb if used with a subwoofer, or low frequency driver used below it.

Just so you know, I have Eminence woofers and Fostex FE127 midranges in my car. So you see, I appreciate the impact and dynamic range of higher sensitivity drivers when needed. But I still prefer the sound of direct radiating drivers over horns. I can almost always hear the sound of a horn compared to a direct driver from the other room by its sound. This indicates a distortion from the original sound.

My Fostex midrange (wide range) sounded harsh (or shouty) until I modified it with a coating of Elmers Glue. I love it now.


(Originally posted by: SteveF)

[unknownuser]

What midrange could you possibly find that handles 300-3000 with any kind of clarity?


(Originally posted by: planBitisthen)

[unknownuser]

> What midrange could you possibly find that
> handles 300-3000 with any kind of clarity?

That is a good question, and I don't know of a perfect driver. It seems to me that several small drivers could work, but probably not better than a good 5" to 7" driver. 3000Hz is a high crossover, but a good goal if possible. And, it could be adjusted to a lower crossover if needed.

Here are a few suggestions in no particular order: Vifa XG18, Scan-Speak 15W8530K00, Peerless 830882, HiVi B3S, Vifa PL11WH09-04, Scan Speak 12M4631G, Usher 8945P.


(Originally posted by: SteveF)

[daneasterling]

JBL 2482 horn driver. Uses 4" diaphram with edgewound copper ribbon suspended in 22lb magnet with 2" exit. I use mine 400 to 4000 with 24db/octave cross. On the horn I use its 117db/watt efficient also.

Dan

> What midrange could you possibly find that
> handles 300-3000 with any kind of clarity?

[deromax]

I use an EV PA that is comprising a 10 inches mid in a horn. Its range is 250 Hz to 2500 Hz. The efficiency is 105 dB/1W and the thing will go to deafening levels with only 600 watts. I find the midrange produced by this driver to be great.

For a home setup, a Dynaudio 15W75 (5.5 inches) will do 100 Hz to 2500 Hz with a midrange to die for!

[davidellis]

http://www.ellisaudio.com/nathanpiano4.jpg

Provided Link: my (http://www.ellisaudio.com/hiquphon.htm)


> What midrange could you possibly find that
> handles 300-3000 with any kind of clarity?

SEAS W15 or Accuton C79 would do dandy IMO.

[billfitzmaurice]

> What midrange could you possibly find that
> handles 300-3000 with any kind of clarity?

Not very tall order that one. There are many that will go from 100 to 3kHz and more. The only limitation is that for adequate dispersion at 3kHz they're too small to provide a lot at 100 Hz, but that's easily solved by using two. MTM ring a bell?

[Andy_G]

> Not very tall order that one. There are many
> that will go from 100 to 3kHz and more. The
> only limitation is that for adequate
> dispersion at 3kHz they're too small to
> provide a lot at 100 Hz, but that's easily
> solved by using two. MTM ring a bell?

Bill, would you stop giving away secrets !! ;-)

[unknownuser]

> What midrange could you possibly find that
> handles 300-3000 with any kind of clarity?

Most line arrays will do it without a problem. If you had one that used the new RS100's, they would only cover about 6% of the total 300-3000 range, and would easily handle that without issue.



(Originally posted by: Reuben5)

[nick29498141]