Thanks for the feedback. I already own a pair of RAAL Lazy Ribbons, as well as the RAAL dipoles, so I have plenty to experiment with. Plus, four GPA 416 Classic Series Alnico and two GPA 515 Classic Series Alnico drivers are on their way as well.
I've found out that some NC (computer-controlled) woodshops also offer curved woods, which opens some interesting possibilities for enclosure shapes.
I've found out that some NC (computer-controlled) woodshops also offer curved woods, which opens some interesting possibilities for enclosure shapes.
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Interesting and timely post. I have use a vintage Yamaha compression driver and I drops off at 14k, I currently have the RAAL but the sound doesn't blend well with horn. thinking of either fostex T500, Radian 475Be or the cheap Compression tweeter that Pooh uses.
Interested on thoughts of people who have heard a mad use a tweeter from 5k up with horns below.
Interested on thoughts of people who have heard a mad use a tweeter from 5k up with horns below.
I tried a JBL 2470 and it had a unique sound. The alnico magnet made it creamy sunding and yamaha drivers with ceramic magnets did not fit well because they were colder and harsher but to my mind clearer. I am going for most clarity and detail so the yamahas was chosen.
I wonder how low sensitivity hifi ring tweeter would sound. It would need its own amp but crossed high enough it might do the job better than other PA inspired high sensitivity tweeters. Anyone who has tried high sensitivity drivers in horns with good low sensitivity tweeters (without horns).
I wonder how low sensitivity hifi ring tweeter would sound. It would need its own amp but crossed high enough it might do the job better than other PA inspired high sensitivity tweeters. Anyone who has tried high sensitivity drivers in horns with good low sensitivity tweeters (without horns).
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Lynn.Rewind,3GGG & others,
While I am far from an audio expert, I have spent hours talking to Dr. Bruce Edgar trying to gain just a little piece of his audio wisdom. I will quote what he said " Unless you have high efficiency and clarity in the 80hz-400hz power band your speaker system will be deficient " That means a front loaded mid bass horn in his opinion and that has been my experience.
The old Altec folks got it right many years ago. The Altec 515 ( GPA today ) mid woofer is still probably the best choice to cover that critical mid bass / low midrange to date. No other woofer that I know has a flux density of 14,750 gauss with a 4.4lb alnico motor and a very light paper cone ( that spells FAST driver ).
Dr. Bruce says that the Fostex t500amk2 tweeters are the best readily available tweeters made today (I have a pair ). However the best tweeter IMHO is the TAD ET703 ( big$$$$$ ) which is what I use now to match up with my field coil converted jbl 2441 driver with Truextant be phrams in a 250hz wood horn. My dad always said " Buy right and cry once" If that were only true for most of us !!! I am done looking---for now.
While I am far from an audio expert, I have spent hours talking to Dr. Bruce Edgar trying to gain just a little piece of his audio wisdom. I will quote what he said " Unless you have high efficiency and clarity in the 80hz-400hz power band your speaker system will be deficient " That means a front loaded mid bass horn in his opinion and that has been my experience.
The old Altec folks got it right many years ago. The Altec 515 ( GPA today ) mid woofer is still probably the best choice to cover that critical mid bass / low midrange to date. No other woofer that I know has a flux density of 14,750 gauss with a 4.4lb alnico motor and a very light paper cone ( that spells FAST driver ).
Dr. Bruce says that the Fostex t500amk2 tweeters are the best readily available tweeters made today (I have a pair ). However the best tweeter IMHO is the TAD ET703 ( big$$$$$ ) which is what I use now to match up with my field coil converted jbl 2441 driver with Truextant be phrams in a 250hz wood horn. My dad always said " Buy right and cry once" If that were only true for most of us !!! I am done looking---for now.
Hello, I agree with Bruce Edgar - I had that same conversation with him back in the 90's - he set me straight and is correct.
We have discussed this here in this thread many times and most folks participating say they don't have the room for a mid bass horn. I think if they had a chance to listen to a pair of them in their rooms they would find the space.
The 515 is a fine midbass horn driver but there are many other drivers old and new that can do as good or better job.
I wonder how low sensitivity hifi ring tweeter would sound. It would need its own amp but crossed high enough it might do the job better than other PA inspired high sensitivity tweeters. Anyone who has tried high sensitivity drivers in horns with good low sensitivity tweeters (without horns).[/QUOTE said:Domes don't work so well with horns. I did however find a small array of suped up sensitive electrostats sounded really nice.
There are some good 1" compression drivers that sound great, can have better pattern control, easier to drive and are much easier to blend in.
POOH,
There are some other drivers that can work very well in the mid bass. I had a TAD 12" that was excellent for mid bass duty a while back. I also have the Supravox 215-2000 field coil 8" driver which is also excellent down to about 100hz.
The reason Dr. Bruce used 15" drivers ( EV 15b or l ) is to keep the horn as short as possible so It would fit in most listening rooms. I currently use a pair of Altec 515b"s woofers in a front loaded horn and could not be happier. It has power, clarity,snap and dynamics that " box " speakers can only dream of.
Cessaro's Beta and Gamma speakers use a Supravox 11" driver in their front loaded horn along with TAD 2001 & 4001 for upper mid and low mid range, TAD ET703 tweeters and Tad 1601a's for subs.
There are some other drivers that can work very well in the mid bass. I had a TAD 12" that was excellent for mid bass duty a while back. I also have the Supravox 215-2000 field coil 8" driver which is also excellent down to about 100hz.
The reason Dr. Bruce used 15" drivers ( EV 15b or l ) is to keep the horn as short as possible so It would fit in most listening rooms. I currently use a pair of Altec 515b"s woofers in a front loaded horn and could not be happier. It has power, clarity,snap and dynamics that " box " speakers can only dream of.
Cessaro's Beta and Gamma speakers use a Supravox 11" driver in their front loaded horn along with TAD 2001 & 4001 for upper mid and low mid range, TAD ET703 tweeters and Tad 1601a's for subs.
bass enclosure post# 11848 ?
Hi there P: Can you post the details of the bass enclosure shown in the lower section of the picture from Post #11848 (presumably for the Celestion Bx15-4085 king daddy driver mentioned above). ...regards, Michael
Agree 100 percent. 15" midbass horns require less depth and normally go lower with more bass power then smaller driver horns.The EV15L or B are great if you want wide band but I find the Celestion BX15-4085 the to be the king daddy bass horn driver in my system
Hi there P: Can you post the details of the bass enclosure shown in the lower section of the picture from Post #11848 (presumably for the Celestion Bx15-4085 king daddy driver mentioned above). ...regards, Michael
I've been thinking about electrostats: the downside is I can't seem to find anyone that sells new panels to the OEM or DIY markets (no interest in eBay or Audiogon), and another downside is the requirement for a dedicated power amplifier and a low-noise 5 kV DC supply to polarize the elements. Sonically, though, they are a good match for compression drivers.
Any favorite 1" compression drivers? I think you mentioned a small Celestion a while ago.
Although it should still benefit from a nice supertweeter due to some (measured, not yet audibly identified) top-octave hash, I've been listening to the Denovo BA-750 for a few weeks now, and I've been mighty impressed. Very relaxed, neither forward nor laid-back presentation with lots of treble and upper mid resolution, seemingly infinite dynamic range even with me pulling it down to 850hz as an F6. It just never seems to get even mildly harsh or strained even on some of the most high-pitched and high-amplitude Opera vocals where i'm almost ::expecting:: to cringe but don't.
I don't have a clue how well it would mate to an AH-550 though. Could be a beautiful match, could take a lot of EQ - I simply don't know.
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TAD ?
If you could be so kind as to share which model TAD worked so well for you as a mid-bass?
The reason I ask is, I thought their 12" unit was a dedicated mid-range. thanks in advance.
If you could be so kind as to share which model TAD worked so well for you as a mid-bass?
The reason I ask is, I thought their 12" unit was a dedicated mid-range. thanks in advance.
Scott L,
IIRC it was the TAD 1201. The problem was the driver would only go down to about 200hz in a modified hypex horn but was good to about 800hz on the high end. This driver had an excellent midrange but did not go low enough for my needs. This was about 10yrs ago and like many other excellent drivers it is no longer in production. I needed to cover 80hz-450hz ( as per Dr. Bruce ) with a single driver which ruled out that TAD driver. I didn't know better back then.
IIRC it was the TAD 1201. The problem was the driver would only go down to about 200hz in a modified hypex horn but was good to about 800hz on the high end. This driver had an excellent midrange but did not go low enough for my needs. This was about 10yrs ago and like many other excellent drivers it is no longer in production. I needed to cover 80hz-450hz ( as per Dr. Bruce ) with a single driver which ruled out that TAD driver. I didn't know better back then.
That was a system that had RTR electrostatic panels with 3.5K HV supply using HF winding of acoustat medellion trannys for upper teble, TAD 4001 600- 8k ? midrange in 180 Hz flare tractrix horns, TAD 1201 carbon midbass driver in 100 Hz flare tractrix horn, the side firing 15 lelped get it down to around 100 HZ, behind these in the corners were four 15" JBL 2235 a channel (eight total, couldn't keep up with the bass horn and midrange) in infinite baffles for low bass. Around year 2000 I think. It was scary at times to listen to.
An elegant pun, nicely played.
...made me think of Billy Bragg: "The only way to disarm is to disarm".
Cheers,
Mike