DotD Usher 8945A vs Dayton RS180

[Tony G]

I've been keeping an eye on DotD ever since I got the wild itch to build a new big system.

I already have Dennis's TM's with the usher 7" and it does a fantastic job. I was also eyeballing the 7" dayton reference woofer and then BAM!, the DotD hits.

Any opinions on how the two drivers compare (I've only heard one)? Up front, these will be the bottom of a 3-way and in the less critical surrounds, TMs. The Usher prices are nice but still not as nice as the Daytons. I just don't want the DotD to slip on by if it is the right option, especially since I'd need 7 of them.

[DoubleTap]

Re: DotD Usher 8945A vs Dayton RS180

IMO there's really no competition, the Usher beats it top to bottom. In most cases they're worth the extra money, but for surround use I'm not so sure. If they're speakers that will ever be used for 2 channel music reproduction, go for the Ushers ... if they'll be tasked forever to surround duty, I'd say save the extra and get the RS180's.

[PWR RYD]

Re: DotD Usher 8945A vs Dayton RS180

I used a pair of the Usher 8945A in my RUsher project. After a few crossover changes they sound amazing! I can sit and listen to them for hours and never find anything I don't like. They are very well built. They measured extremely close to the manufacture's published specs. They measured almost identically to each other (+/-0.5%). The only thing I don't like is how narrow the mounting flange is. It is good because they squeeze the maximum cone/surround diameter (Sd) from a given "frame size", but it makes it a tiny bit challenging to mount them. Overall I would never steer anyone away from such a nice sounding midbass unit, especially at $88 each! The RUshers are a vented monitor design, but right now a ML-TL floor stander is in the works for them! DIY Chicago will hear their debut ;)

[foxfire3]

Re: DotD Usher 8945A vs Dayton RS180

I used a pair of the Usher 8945A in my RUsher project. After a few crossover changes they sound amazing! I can sit and listen to them for hours and never find anything I don't like. They are very well built. They measured extremely close to the manufacture's published specs. They measured almost identically to each other (+/-0.5%). The only thing I don't like is how narrow the mounting flange is. It is good because they squeeze the maximum cone/surround diameter (Sd) from a given "frame size", but it makes it a tiny bit challenging to mount them. Overall I would never steer anyone away from such a nice sounding midbass unit, especially at $88 each! The RUshers are a vented monitor design, but right now a ML-TL floor stander is in the works for them! DIY Chicago will hear their debut ;)

What tweeter did you pair them with?

Is it difficult to tame their rising response?

Thanks...

[PWR RYD]

Re: DotD Usher 8945A vs Dayton RS180

Tweeters are Dayton RS28-F. No problems with their response. I now have them crossed over at 1700 Hz 4th order L-R accoustic, no zobel, no contours.

[r-carpenter]

Re: DotD Usher 8945A vs Dayton RS180

For HT I would say, save a few $ and get Daytons. But for music, Usher all the way. Very nice driver. I've used them with Hiquphon OW1 in TM and OW4 in MTM configuration. Personally I prefer 8945P. Just sounds nicer to me.

[Paul K.]

Re: DotD Usher 8945A vs Dayton RS180

Yep, the mounting flange is narrow but it's also thicker than on many other drivers. Compared to the RS180, the Usher has a lower Fs and because of that narrow flange, as you noted, the Usher has a 20% greater Sd than the RS180, so with both drivers having the same Xmax spec, the Usher will move a 20% greater volume of air than the RS180 for the same deflection.
Paul

I used a pair of the Usher 8945A in my RUsher project. After a few crossover changes they sound amazing! I can sit and listen to them for hours and never find anything I don't like. They are very well built. They measured extremely close to the manufacture's published specs. They measured almost identically to each other (+/-0.5%). The only thing I don't like is how narrow the mounting flange is. It is good because they squeeze the maximum cone/surround diameter (Sd) from a given "frame size", but it makes it a tiny bit challenging to mount them. Overall I would never steer anyone away from such a nice sounding midbass unit, especially at $88 each! The RUshers are a vented monitor design, but right now a ML-TL floor stander is in the works for them! DIY Chicago will hear their debut ;)

[martyh]

Re: DotD Usher 8945A vs Dayton RS180

I used a pair of the Usher 8945A in my RUsher project. After a few crossover changes they sound amazing! I can sit and listen to them for hours and never find anything I don't like. They are very well built. They measured extremely close to the manufacture's published specs. They measured almost identically to each other (+/-0.5%). The only thing I don't like is how narrow the mounting flange is. It is good because they squeeze the maximum cone/surround diameter (Sd) from a given "frame size", but it makes it a tiny bit challenging to mount them. Overall I would never steer anyone away from such a nice sounding midbass unit, especially at $88 each! The RUshers are a vented monitor design, but right now a ML-TL floor stander is in the works for them! DIY Chicago will hear their debut ;)

DIY Chicago?

[PWR RYD]

Re: DotD Usher 8945A vs Dayton RS180

If I say it enough, maybe it will happen!

[Paul Carmody]

Re: DotD Usher 8945A vs Dayton RS180

The RUshers are a vented monitor design, but right now a ML-TL floor stander is in the works for them! DIY Chicago will hear their debut ;)

Hehe, I see what you did there.

[Tony G]

Re: DotD Usher 8945A vs Dayton RS180

Pulled the trigger and got 8 of them on the way (and sound easy). We'll if I get lucky on a good mid or tweeter on the DotD before summer :-D