PE you need to start carrying this

[czag]

I'm just curious why PE does not carry the Aurum Cantus AC130/50ck. It has Scan-Speak or better distortion measurements and build quality (see graphs from Zaphaudio below). Despite the weird FR above 2Khz, it is not that hard to work with. Below is the curve I obtained with just a 2.4mh coil and a 14 uF cap with a cheap LCR circuit comprised of a .13mh coil, 9.1uF cap and a 13 ohm resistor.

This Driver was available for special order for $86, but now the minimum qty is 24 pcs. How many of us have thought, why can't someone make a driver to compete with with the likes of Scan-Speak for under $90. Well, this is it, so PE start stocking this already.

Chris

[Zach C.]

+1

[gowa]

I don't see that driver on Zaph's site.

Mmmmm! (http://www.aurumcantus.it/supreme.html)


Oh yea! (http://www.aurumcantus.com/aurumcantus-midwoofer/index_midwoofer_ac130_50ck_pic001.html)

[czag]

I don't see that driver on Zaph's site.

Mmmmm! (http://www.aurumcantus.it/supreme.html)


Oh yea! (http://www.aurumcantus.com/aurumcantus-midwoofer/index_midwoofer_ac130_50ck_pic001.html)

It is in his blog section a little more than half way down.

This driver is built like a tank, it weighs over 5 lbs.

Chris

[Wolf]

What's also really funny- that's a TB frame on the 50CK!

Does AC do their own manufacturing, or is TB doing some of theirs?
Later,
Wolf

[czag]

Although they do have slightly different OD measurements, they probably use the same supplier for the frame. That's my guess anyway. I can't count how many different companies use the same frame as the titanic subs or the ref subs for that matter. It is probably much cheaper for them versus manufacturing their own. I'm sure that's what partly accounts for the relatively low pricing of TB & AC.

Chris

[Wolf]

I'm pretty sure TB makes a majority of their frames. You really don't see them elsewhere.
Later,
Wolf

[johnnyrichards]

I'm pretty sure TB makes a majority of their frames. You really don't see them elsewhere.
Later,
Wolf

Which also drives down pricing because they can outsource their frames to other companies. Everyone is happy, then.

[Zach C.]

Does AC do their own manufacturing, or is TB doing some of theirs?
Wolf

To me, it doesn't really matter. It looks like a really great driver at a very reasonable price, even if PE would need to sell them for more than "case price."

I don't care who makes them.

:D

Z

[Pete Schumacher ®]

I'm just curious why PE does not carry the Aurum Cantus AC130/50ck. It has Scan-Speak or better distortion measurements and build quality (see graphs from Zaphaudio below). Despite the weird FR above 2Khz, it is not that hard to work with. Below is the curve I obtained with just a 2.4mh coil and a 14 uF cap with a cheap LCR circuit comprised of a .13mh coil, 9.1uF cap and a 13 ohm resistor.

This Driver was available for special order for $86, but now the minimum qty is 24 pcs. How many of us have thought, why can't someone make a driver to compete with with the likes of Scan-Speak for under $90. Well, this is it, so PE start stocking this already.

Chris

Those distortion number are really nice, no doubt. Looks like they have a very nice motor design there.

What the Scanspeak has over just about anyone else is the behavior of the slit cone. The Scans have some of the smoothest on-baffle response there is, and the 15W in question is smooth to past 5KHz. The AC just can't compete in that arena.

[czag]

Right on the money Pete. That is why I said it only has scan-speak distortion levels, and the FR is a somewhat wierd over 2K. Although, I do think that adding an extra $12 in an LCR circuit does make it very workable. I think this is a terrific bagain at $86 + $12 in LCR parts to get VERY low distortion and a easily workable FR. That is still less than half the cost of the Scan-Speak.


What is odd is the great FR of the ac130f1 does not translate over when using that cone with this motor design in the ac180/50f1. It is just as wonky as the ac130/50ck.

PE should carry this, it is a great bargain.

Chris

[Zach C.]

What the Scanspeak has over just about anyone else is the behavior of the slit cone.

True enough, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a market for what appears to be a great driver. I think "just about anyone" is key here. Some of us simply can't or won't pay Scan prices for drivers, not that they may not be worth it to many folks.

Zach

[Face]

I wish they would carry SEAS and ScanSpeak, maybe some competition would make their prices a little more affordable.

[Wolf]

I wish they would carry SEAS and ScanSpeak, maybe some competition would make their prices a little more affordable.

Madisound is the only seller in the lower 48 states, they have the nod on that one, and PE used to sell SS. They no longer do.

The manufacturers of those brands sell exclusively through MAD in the states, but I think Meniscus and MAD have a partnership to both sell them.

Zalytron used to sell the Seas stuff, but I don't know if they still do.
Later,
Wolf

[jclin4]

What about SB Acoustics, any idea why PE doesn't carry them? Meniscus and Mad seem to have some overlap in the products they sell, but PE seems to be in a different camp.

[Wolf]

What about SB Acoustics, any idea why PE doesn't carry them?

Rumor mill says PE will be...
Later,
Wolf

[Face]

Madisound is the only seller in the lower 48 states, they have the nod on that one, and PE used to sell SS. They no longer do.

The manufacturers of those brands sell exclusively through MAD in the states, but I think Meniscus and MAD have a partnership to both sell them.

Zalytron used to sell the Seas stuff, but I don't know if they still do.
Later,
WolfThanks for the info.

I believe Zalytron phased out most of their SEAS stock.

[czag]

It would be great if PE carried SB, seas, or Scan-speak, but you can still get those from a few companies. So beyond a little more competition(that would not drive prices down significantly) why does anyone care whether or not PE carries them. I imagine it was PE's decision to not carry Scan-Speak anymore.

The higher end Aurum Cantus is not available anywhere in the US. PE may be under the assumption that they are the only ones that could make these models available to us since they are the US distributor. However, there are other companies willing to bring these drivers to us and there is a way for them to do so.

It would be simpler if PE would start carrying these.

Parts Express, any thoughts on any of this or any interest in the conversation?

Chris

[spasticteapot]

I wish they would carry SEAS and ScanSpeak, maybe some competition would make their prices a little more affordable.

Most of their prices aren't that bad - a little higher than PE, but the service is better and they're a much smaller business.

[Face]

I wasn't knocking Madisound, they're a very friendly and helpful bunch.

[MikeSkiba]

I recently asked a PE rep about carrying higher-end Aurum Cantus drivers (like the 10" AC250/75C2C with 3" voice coil) and I was told they would need to buy container loads to make it happen.

http://www.haihuang-audio.com/english/aurumcantus-midwoofer/index_midwoofer_ac250_75c2c.html

It seems the market just isn't there for such expensive pieces...

Mike Skiba

[Zach C.]

container loads

Nah, that's not right, PE recently gave me quotes on a few of the non-stock items. The minimums were 24, 16, etc. I took these to be case sizes, since the number went down with an increase of the size of the driver. Of course, they'd take a while to get.

I'm not sure what the rep you spoke with might have been talking about.

Zach

[MikeSkiba]

I'm not sure what the rep you spoke with might have been talking about.

Zach

I was looking for only two pieces...
I just took it as his way of saying it wasn't going to happen.

Mike Skiba

[Zach C.]

I was looking for only two pieces...
I just took it as his way of saying it wasn't going to happen.

Mike Skiba

Ahhh. Now, that makes sense. Still, that's an odd way for him to say it.

Zach

[johnnyrichards]

AFAIK, PE is willing to purchase cases of non-stock items. Perhaps a group buy would be in order?

I know many that would be pleased to no end if PE stocked some of the other Tang Band drivers...

Who (http://www.tb-speaker.com/detail/1230_04/w8-1722.htm) wouldn't love this?

This (http://www.tb-speaker.com/detail/1208_03/w8-670q.htm) is a very nice driver used in a few Logitech systems. 8 ohm, too.

This (http://www.tb-speaker.com/detail/1208_03/wq-760c.htm) looks like a monster...

My (http://www.tb-speaker.com/detail/1230_04/w46-1316sm.htm) car uses a 4" x 6" in the front door, something like this would be very nifty to get some "up-front" bass....

[czag]

AFAIK, PE is willing to purchase cases of non-stock items. Perhaps a group buy would be in order?

Good idea, I think the lowest quantities are 16 for larger drivers and 24 for smaller drivers. Although at this point I have found a source that beats PE's prices by a fair bit and with no restrictions on quantities. If anyone wants to piggy back on my buy we could save even more on shipping. The order will be placed at the end of next week, PM me if you are interested.

Chris

[czag]

I spoke with Bob at CSS and he is willing to let us do a group buy of any of the higher end AC drivers that he can order(which is almost any of them). If I order them right now just for myself I can get them for for just a little over what PE was ordering them for. However, I am willing to wait a little longer so that anyone that wants to join in, can, and we can get a better overall price with shipping cost added in. You do not have to order the same drivers that I am and there is no minimum. Contact Bob at CSS for pricing, it usually takes a day or two for him to get a reply from AC.

I figure the fairest way is to divide the shipping cost by weight of their order compared to the weight of the total order. If bob says weight is not a big factor once the order reaches a certain size then we can divide by driver count per order, although I am open to ideas. How about setting a time frame of roughly 3-4 weeks from now to see where we are at. If figure that if 4 or more people join in we can probably get these shipped below PE prices before they had minimum qty requirements.

A few people have already sent me a PM, so if you are interested let both Bob and myself know.

Thanks,
Chris

[Zach C.]

One odd thing I noticed about these that others may have missed is that these are 6" (157mm) drivers, not the 5" the numbering would suggest. At least that's what the AC site says. Could be good or bad depending.

Odd.