Am I dreaming?

[bigjppop]

Okay, I've been poking around this forum for a while now and I think I've been going at it all wrong. I think I need to outline my "dream speakers" and then have the many experts here tell me if its doable or if I'm just out in the night.

So, first of all, the only full range, single driver speakers I've heard are my little Omega 3's. I love them, but the drop almost totally off under 50 Hz (thus my other thread about matching a good sub). After looking into this, I think when all is said and done it might just be easier to try another speaker design. Besides, you can never have too many speakers!

In a perfect world I would want something that stretches down to 30 Hz. I want something very efficient to use with some SET amps. I'd love to find something that would work with a 2 watt 45 based design, but I can fudge a little on that. I listen to a lot of acoustic music (piano and guitar especially) as well as lots of vocals. I've been getting into classical, but its a secondary interest at the moment. What I listen to mostly is small orchestral works. Large cabinets are okay, but taller/skinner (i.e. Sachiko or something similar) is preferred to the giant cube.

So, am I dreaming? Can I do it all in a single pair of speakers? Am I better off trying for a couple of subs as well? Am I simply asking too much?

Oh yes, budget. Cheaper is always better, but I can stretch fairly far if needs be. I'm not interested in $2000 drivers, but I don't need $15 Radio Shack drivers either.

Thanks in advance.

[DaveCan]

Well these could do it, lots of good reports and builds, but they go against some of your criteria.. http://www.greatplainsaudio.com/down...604_8H_III.pdf

[InclinedPlane]

You can't do it all in a single pair of drivers, IMO. But everyone's definition of 'it all' will vary. I happen to think subwoofers have no place in music, but I like a quality full range driver >200hz with large bass drivers. I shoot for 35hz to 12-14 khz - that's all I want. But others will want more than that or be happy with less. What do you want? That's all that matters.

[rjbond3rd]

DaveCan, good to see you!!! Those 604's look really interesting.

bigjppop, you _might_ be able to have it all, but to have (a) efficiency, and (b) deep bass, your cabinet will be very large. Lately I'm listening to Austins and BiB's, and there is lots of bass there. But they don't do absolutely _everything_ (i.e. orchestral etc.)

Are you familiar with Hoffman's Iron Law? Regarding efficiency, deep bass and small box, you can only have two.

[crappyjones123]

ive heard a pair of BIB cabinets with fostex 206e drivers. they shook my small intestines on organ music. i would quite confidently claim that they easily hit 30hz. thats what i would suggest at the bare minimum as they are annoyingly simple to construct. barring that, if you want to get fancy, pick any suitable design from frugal-horn's website with the appropriate driver and im sure you will be happy with the outcome.

i have, however, been told repeatedly that any of those bi-mouthed horn behemoths require large rooms for the bass to properly develop. very hard to integrate them into smaller rooms. im sure more knowledgeable members will chime in soon.

ps. the bibs were being amped with a pair of heavily modded monoblocks pulled out of an old akai reel to reel. monoblocks were probably putting out 3 watts at the most and we were repeatedly told by the hosts wife upstairs to turn the "noise" down.

[ScottG]

Think active (multi-way), and think Line Array.

[CLS]

Talking about dreaming (low bass with fullrangers), and 'array' was brought up....

I got an idea, maybe kinda crazy, but someone might like it



Just a crude idea, maybe a mega headache in choosing proper driver and scaling the horn (and fitting in the house... ).

Oh, very important, it must be xovered, in this way: Large midrange for OB??? Scott G ?

Anyone?

[planet10]

Originally Posted by DaveCan

greatplainsaudio 604_8H_III.p

Except the critical FR part -- those are 2-ways. And i believe closer to $2k/pr than half that.

dave

[planet10]

Originally Posted by CLS

I got an idea, maybe kinda crazy, but someone might like it

Not crazy at all. This gets touched on over & over.

Think of it as an elaborate 1.5 way. One still ends up having to deal with XOs.

dave

[planet10]

Inclined Planes recommendation of FAST is a very valid approach. Much like what you are attempting with your Omegas, if you choose appropriate woofers.

To do it within your criterion i would suggest Sachiko. For more efficiency find a set of FE206eSR. FE208 would get you similar efficiency but at the expense of adding a tweeter.
(at least the 1st two benefit substantially from treatment)

It hasn't been built yet, and i've yet to get my drivers, but i fully expect the MA Alpair 12 in Avebury (Sachiko would be a forebear of this design) will reach higher & lower with greater neutrality, but at the expense of efficiency (Hoffman again) -- how big is your room?

dave