cheap 4" drivers in Australia, how are these?

[tilroh]

At $20/pair can, they be worth building enclosures for? I need speakers for my workshop. I might even sink to a bluetooth amp.

Here's the link.

Here's the specs:
Test Parameter Data (T/S, Thiele/Small):

Rated Impedance: 8
Power Handling: 15WRMS
Program Power (peak): 40W
Nominal Diameter: 4 Inch
Sensitivity (1m/1w/2.38v):86
Frequency Range: 85-10000Hz
Voice Coil Diameter: 25.4mm
Voice Coil Length: 8mm
Air Gap Height: 4mm
Winding Material: Cu
Magnet: 10 Oz
F0, Fs (Resonant Frequency): 88.4
Revc (D.C. Voice Coli Resistance): 8
Qms (Mechanical Quality Factor): 4.13
Qes (Electrical Quality Factor): 1.19
Qts (Total Quality Factor): 0.928
BL (Bl Factor): 4.02
Mms (Moving Mass): 6.243
Cms (Equivalent Air Volume to Cms): 519
Sd (Effective Surface Area): 7.543
Vas (Displacement Volume): 4.19
Levc (Voice Coil Inductance): 205.31
XMAX (Maximum Displacement): ±2
η0 (Efficiency): 0.37%

Any advice greatly appreciated as usual.
Cheers, Mack

 

[tilroh]

My attempts at using online enclosure calculators for this speaker gives strange results like volume of -9.45 lts or 1.5" widths.

 

[rabbitz]

Download WinISD and have a play around. When entering driver data (new button), turn off auto calc.

It looks more like a PA mid driver as that's where they seem to specialise. Won't work in vented but will work as sealed with minimal bass.

Spend a few extra dollars for something like Vifa/Peerless TC9FD, TG9FD series if you want fullrange and there's plenty of comments and designs in this forum on those drivers.

For drivers in Oz look at:
Wagner Online Store | Wide range of products and accessories
Darcher

For a ready to use active speaker with BT for the workshop, this Edifier is good value (What Hi Fi have a review) and they have cheaper units.
R1700BT 2.0 Bluetooth Bookshelf Speaker - Edifier Australia

 

[tilroh]

Thanks Rabbitz. That's what I needed to know.

 

[gfiandy]

You can get these in AU from Newark for not much more they come with frequency response plots. http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/2364875.pdf


However if you can afford a step up I can recommend the TG9WD-10-08 from Peerless / Vifa. It is a 3 inch rather than 4 but it is extremely well designed and has a very smooth frequency response. Would make an ideal small speaker for a workshop. Looks like you might be able to get it here (but you need a login for a price) WES Components Catalogue 2017 NP

 

[hollowboy]

If you want something easy and cheap for background listening, you can just pick up some wee speakers from a computer shop. Even a tiny pair of USB powered speakers will sound better than laptop or phone speakers.

This is an example only - you can probably shop locally for something similar.
Buy Logitech Z120 Stereo Speaker System | Speakers | Scorptec Computers

For drivers:

Wagner and WES are the same shop. WES is for trade, Wagner is for public.

Alternative Imports have a website, they aren't just on ebay - but it is all PA gear.

There are a few others (speakerbits, the loudspeaker kit), but the best value for you is probably Peerless @ Digikey. The TC9FD that rabbitz mentioned is available, $Aus 37 a pair.

1) Note that Digikey only stock a few models. If you search for others, tick the 'in stock' box. Non stocked gear requires a minimum order of X units + 12 weeks lead time.

2) Free delivery to Australia on orders of $60 AUD or more.
A delivery charge of $24 AUD will be billed on all orders less than $60 AUD.

...so it makes sense for you to spend another $24 on stuff, rather than spend $24 on postage.

 

[Tromperie]

Check Gumtree for computer speakers and stereo systems. For less that $50 and sometimes a lot less, there are some quite reasonable speakers/systems you couldn't build at the price.

 

[tilroh]

Thanks for the advice. I've ordered a Dayton SD215A-88-8 DVC woofer, and to avoid digikey shipping, I ordered 4 TC9FD18-08s.

Sources on the web suggest 5.5lt sealed boxes for the TC9FDs. I'd like to cross at 100hz if the TC9FDs will go that low. I don't know what I'll do with the other 2.

Can I simply double the volume of the single driver boxes and mount 2 drivers in each?
Would ported boxes be tolerable with a helper woofer.

I haven't started making sawdust yet so if anyone has an suggestion, let me know.
Cheers, Mack

 

[tilroh]

On second thought, since I've ordered 4TC9FDs, maybe I should use 2 per box.
I found a calculator.

Is there an advantage in having two identical drivers per box?

 

[pandax]

Maybe you should consider a 0.53x karlsonator with the 4 TC9 you just ordered ?

 

[tilroh]

Funny you should say that, I'm searching the thread for drawings.

 

[hollowboy]

Is there an advantage in having two identical drivers per box?

You can run the 2nd driver just for bass support (look up "baffle step compensation" to see what I mean, but the price of the inductor required might a bit high, for a low budget project.

 

[tilroh]

Thanks HB, I’m going to use a Dayton SD215 DVC subwoofer currently crossed at 100hz. I was hoping to find a way to get the TC9s to go that low.

 

[tilroh]

Maybe you should consider a 0.53x karlsonator with the 4 TC9 you just ordered ?

Those Karlsonators have been bothering me for a while so I've decided to do just as you suggest. I'm planing on using 4-5mm ply tho.

 

[tilroh]

I Karlsonated

I went with 4mm ply and hot glue and Tarzan expanding glue. I think 4mm ply is way too thin, you can feel them vibrate with the music. I might glue 12mm ply on the slides to try and stabilize them.

Pics and quick measurement.


I was listening to a pair of Bob Brines MLTLs with MA 7.3 grey cones before hooking up the Karlsonators. I shouldn't have done that.

 

[oohms]

Sounds like you have what's needed to clone a Nola Brio Trio

Need help building open baffle/bass reflex hybrid

 

[tilroh]

Sounds like you have what's needed to clone a Nola Brio Trio

I'll finish the 4, 5.5L sealed boxed I'm building now and later make Brio clone open baffle tops for one pair.

 

[tilroh]

Finished the 5.5L boxes today and gave them a test.
They don't make it to 100Hz but are flat to about 12kHz.
I'm impressed.
Current XO is 100Hz so I'll order an (another) Active Line Level XO from China set to 175Hz.

Link to measurement and quickie boxes.