MCM 55-2669 build quality review.

[johnnyrichards]

Inspired by chrisn in his thead...

Well, I couldn't pass up the $13 price. Holding them in my hand, and I am impressed at what $13 gets you these days. They are not raw aluminum like their smaller siblings (55-3853) - they appear to have some coating or anodizing. It gives them a nice, matte finish that I prefer to the raw look of the -3853.

The frame is attractive, even if I am shuddering at flush mounting them Plenty of breathing room there.

The motor is relatively large, with a vented back plate.

Gold colored terminal connections are a nice touch, too.

These clock in at 51 ounces - over three pounds.

Little odds and ends belie it's budget price. The dustcap and surround gluing is a little sloppy. The top and bottom plate are die cut rather than machined. The screw mounting the terminals to the frame was a little loose on the sample I am holding. However, these are somewhat minor drawbacks to an otherwise well built driver.

Overall, a very attractive driver with what looks like a lot of potential. If it measures anything like it's little brother, it should be a solid performer. I suspect it is cleaner on the bottom end and I hope it maintains the nice distortion profile through the midrange. Keep in mind the -3853 (at least according to Mr. Krutke) measured about 10db lower in distortion than the DA135. I understand part of the DA pricing is PE's amazing support and the enticing free shipping - but even at regular pricing of this driver at around $20, it makes it difficult to look at the Dayton offering At sale prices, it is a no-brainer. Sorry Dayton.

[ReissM]

Do you have time to post a measurement? I'd love to see how this driver looks from 100 Hz to 2000 Hz.

Are the T/S parms reasonably close to the manf. specs?

Thanks for the heads up on a nice, inexpensive driver.

[johnnyrichards]

Do you have time to post a measurement? I'd love to see how this driver looks from 100 Hz to 2000 Hz.

Are the T/S parms reasonably close to the manf. specs?

Thanks for the heads up on a nice, inexpensive driver.

No measurements yet, and won't be for a little while. FWIW, the other MCM drivers I have used measured reasonably close to factory specs.

[domwilson]

I can't wait until I get mine...

[maynardg]

I'm going to say that is the same frame as the Aurum Cantus AC130/F1.

Hmmmmm.

[Sidi]

Based on my recent aurum cantus purchase (ac250f1) I'd speculate they come out of the same supply chain that MCM drivers do, but with a bit more care with QC, and a tiny bit more engineering at the forefront.

[Whitneyville1]

Sidi, you may have an excellent point there. It should be plain by now there are only "X" number of places making speakers in the world and most of them are China. Take that to a logical conclusion and most "popularly priced" DIY/OEM speakers have to come from just a few places. "Gee, Uncle Johnny, you mean Denso doesn't make alternators and A/C compressors special for every car made?" "No, little Ricky. The guts are all the same. Just the housings are different, sometimes."

[Whitneyville1]

Johnny, could you drop one on a "test box" and give us your quick listening impressions? 10-12 liters ported? I'm not sure of my sims on these.

[johnnyrichards]

Johnny, could you drop one on a "test box" and give us your quick listening impressions? 10-12 liters ported? I'm not sure of my sims on these.

Not for awhile.

[chrisn]

I concur with johnnys opinion on these drivers. There is some glue "squeeze out" around the outside edge of the surround, but that requires a rather close viewing distance. The frame looks very similar to the Aurum Cantus, and appears to be a truncated version of the Tang Band W5-704D's. In fact, they fit in the same cutout, truncated sides not withstanding.

[Whitneyville1]

Looks like they'll F3 around 55Hz in 10L ported, but I can't sim their frequency/output climb accurately. I think I'll grab at least a pair of these to play with. I may get skeerked of those aluminum cones and scream for hep with 'em, but I think they're more docile than the RS125. (I hope!)

[johnnyrichards]

I'm going to say that is the same frame as the Aurum Cantus AC130/F1.

Hmmmmm.

This makes me wonder how much of the cost of a good driver can be attributed to the frame. The AC stuff is very well received, and if they are using cheap off-the-shelf frames, perhaps they are spending proportionately more on the cone and motor, than, say Peerless or Vifa.

As I really sit and think about it though, there are just too many non-physical variables in any drivers price. It is interesting to see how drivers use off-the-shelf parts though, like the cones shared between the Dayton DA and the MCM aluminum series.

[domwilson]

These are on sale now at 4 for $50.00. Use source code DD1291

[johnnyrichards]

I am going to do a small monitor using one of these paired with the Vifa NE19. Should be able to get after it seriously after Iowa.