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**unknownuser** · 03-23-2008, 07:14 PM

Re: Anyone use the Aurum Cantus 6 inches mid-bass?

Provided Link: http://zaphaudio.com/5.5test/

Zaph has measured the Aurum Cantus AC-130F1 and he has the results up on his 5.5 inch driver test. Performance is good, but 3rd order distortion is a little high just before 2kHz. If you could push the crossover down to 1.8kHz you would lower the distortion a few dB's. I would expect the AC-120mk2 to perform very similarly. Checks out the measurements at <A HREF="http://zaphaudio.com/5.5test/">http://zaphaudio.com/5.5test/</A>. At the very least you can compare the Aurum Cantus driver to many others.

> The AC-130F1 and the AC-130MK2.

> Both are relatively affordable and have
> great specs :

> Sensitive for such a small cone, 89 dB/1w
> Great 5mm xmax
> Nice power handling, 60 watts nominal
> Extremely flat FR within +- 1dB most of the
> range

> I need something that will do 100 Hz sealed
> or better, both fit this criteria (F3 of 92
> Hz and 85 Hz respectively). I plan to use my
> mid-bass from about 100 Hz to 2 kHz,
> actively crossed, so bass quality, power and
> extension below 100 Hz is irrelevant.

> The AC-130F1 is poly/carbon fiber, the
> AC-130MK2 is Kevlar/Fiber carbon.

> There is also the AC-130/50CK that produce a
> higher F3 but have more power handling and
> more xmax, so EQ could be dialed-in.

> Any comments? Wich one would you use and for
> what reasons?

(Originally posted by: Soltan Gris)

**neildavis** · 03-23-2008, 08:10 PM

Re: Anyone use the Aurum Cantus 6 inches mid-bass? *PIC*

I made these for a neighbor and gave them away before spending a lot of time with them. However, it was pretty obvious that the AC-130MK2 is a very high quality driver. Voices were very clear and natural sounding. They are a bit more expensive than other quality drivers of this size, but they have excellent build and I think the quality of the sound easily justifies the price.

I know that Jeff B. has used the AC-130F1 and he was very impressed with the high quality of the midrange and was able to get good bass from his design.

It would be interesting to know if anyone has compared the two drivers with a suitable crossover. Looks like the same frame and motor, just different cone materials.

**deromax** · 03-23-2008, 08:11 PM

Re: Anyone use the Aurum Cantus 6 inches mid-bass?

I just noticed the AC-130/50CK have a 2 inches voice coil up from a 1 inch in the two other, and features a "special magnet system of Faraday ring and demodulation coil" according to the AC website, so it's a different animal, possibly their higher end line. I begin to like them much!

**deromax** · 03-23-2008, 08:20 PM

Re: Anyone use the Aurum Cantus 6 inches mid-bass?

OMG! What a great site with lots of useful infos! I didn't knew it! Thanks!

**deromax** · 03-23-2008, 09:17 PM

Re: Anyone use the Aurum Cantus 6 inches mid-bass?

> They are a bit more expensive than other
> quality drivers of this size, but they have
> excellent build and I think the quality of
> the sound easily justifies the price.

I paid about 250$ Cdn for each of my curent Dynaudios back in the mid 90s, so I can take the 65$ of the AC!

From my reading here, the entry level for quality is 30$ for the Dayton reference 6 inches. At the other end of the price spectrum, you have the likes of Eton, SEAS Excel, ScanSpeak and Accuton, peaking at 368$ (at Mad.)

For some reasons, I can't make up my mind that a 30$ driver can be the best available. Best quality/price, sure! It's not a prestigious Europeen brand, it helps too, but...

Anyway, thanks for the comment!

**johnpastuck** · 03-23-2008, 09:24 PM

Re: Anyone use the Aurum Cantus 6 inches mid-bass?

> Zaph has measured the Aurum Cantus AC-130F1
> and he has the results up on his 5.5 inch
> driver test. Performance is good, but 3rd
> order distortion is a little high just
> before 2kHz. If you could push the crossover
> down to 1.8kHz you would lower the
> distortion a few dB's. I would expect the
> AC-120mk2 to perform very similarly. Checks
> out the measurements at
> <A HREF="http://zaphaudio.com/5.5test/">http://zaphaudio.com/5.5test/</A> . At the very
> least you can compare the Aurum Cantus
> driver to many others.

I read that book. You're a rather unsavory character.

**zachc** · 03-23-2008, 09:31 PM

Re: Anyone use the Aurum Cantus 6 inches mid-bass?

Deromax,

As far as I know, the AC-130/50CK etc. are not available to DIY. If you find out otherwise, please let us know.

Zach

**gowa** · 03-23-2008, 10:00 PM

Re: Anyone use the Aurum Cantus 6 inches mid-bass?

Lou has designed an MTM which uses the AC-130F1 & a Ribbon. He calls it the KanToo.
<A HREF="http://www.lonesaguaro.com/speakers/ac/KanToo.htm">http://www.lonesaguaro.com/speakers/ac/KanToo.htm</A>

**gowa** · 03-23-2008, 10:14 PM

Re: Anyone use the Aurum Cantus 6 inches mid-bass?

I forgot to mention that I had a pair of AC-130F1 drivers in my posession a while ago. I let them go because of the truncated frame. I regret that. I hooked them up for testing and I was blown away by the mids. Incredibly clear. So I just had to put on some good old Blue Grass. Yahoo!!
But seriously; even though these are a little pricey, the build quality is second to none and the sound is certainly worth exploring. I'm sure I will venture down this road again.
By the way, this driver is available with a round frame but I can't find it. Yet!

**Jeff B.** · 03-24-2008, 09:28 PM

Re: I am *PIC*

> The AC-130F1 and the AC-130MK2.

> Both are relatively affordable and have
> great specs :

> Sensitive for such a small cone, 89 dB/1w
> Great 5mm xmax
> Nice power handling, 60 watts nominal
> Extremely flat FR within +- 1dB most of the
> range

> I need something that will do 100 Hz sealed
> or better, both fit this criteria (F3 of 92
> Hz and 85 Hz respectively). I plan to use my
> mid-bass from about 100 Hz to 2 kHz,
> actively crossed, so bass quality, power and
> extension below 100 Hz is irrelevant.

> The AC-130F1 is poly/carbon fiber, the
> AC-130MK2 is Kevlar/Fiber carbon.

> There is also the AC-130/50CK that produce a
> higher F3 but have more power handling and
> more xmax, so EQ could be dialed-in.

> Any comments? Wich one would you use and for
> what reasons?

I am using the AC130F-1. It is an excellent driver with a fabulous midrange.

It is not poly/Carbon though, it is mica filled poly. And ignore the T/S specs as published. Here are the specs that I measured. They match pretty closely with Zaph's and a couple others out there, so it looks like these are pretty consistent measuremnts for the drivers:

Fs: 51.1
Qes: .586
Qms: 3.97
Qts: .510
Vas: 15.6 L
Re: 7.47
Le: .492
Sens: 87.5 dB/2.83V

I am getting about 72Hz F3 with mine in a small sealed box.

**deromax** · 03-25-2008, 01:29 AM

Re: Anyone use the Aurum Cantus 6 inches mid-bass?

> As far as I know, the AC-130/50CK etc. are
> not available to DIY. If you find out
> otherwise, please let us know.

> Zach

Ooops, that's correct! I landed on the AC website and they were displaying all their drivers with no obvious mention of some being exclusive to their own complete speakers. I had made the wrong assumption that someone somewhere carried them, but it looks like it's not the case!

**deromax** · 03-25-2008, 01:39 AM

Re: I am

Thanks Jeff for those informations and the opinion! I'm considering those more and more! I have yet to find bad comments against them, appart from the odd shapped flange (which I happen to find cool!).

The research is continuing!

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Anyone use the Aurum Cantus 6 inches mid-bass?

Anyone use the Aurum Cantus 6 inches mid-bass?

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