FE108EZ as a Midrange

[audioferret]

Greetings,

How well would the FE108EZ work as a midrange driver in a three-way triamped system? Crossover at about 350 and 2800 My calculations show that it would require only a 1.05L enclosure.

Is there a driver out there with a better midrange around $80?

-The Audioferret

[Scottmoose]

It'll work. However, if you're going for a 3 way, and limiting the driver's response like that (that's not a criticism by the way), I'd forget using full-range units entirely, and just go straight to the famous Vifa PW13 5 1/2". That's what it's designed for. Efficiency is high and it's still probably the flattest measuring and best sounding midrange (I suppose it can just about scrape being called a mid-bass, but it doesn't have a lot down low) in the world. You'd only really reap benefits using the FE108ESigma if you took the driver much, much higher. That in itself might not be a bad plan as you could then cross to a tweeter (if you even bothered -the Sigma doesn't really need it) well above the human ear's most sensitive hearing range.
Have a look at Lynn Olson's comments on driver selection for his Ariel 2 way TL: http://www.nutshellhifi.com/Arieltxt1.html#td
His comments on crossover optimisation also make interesting reading: http://www.nutshellhifi.com/Arieltxt2.html#top

Best
Scott

[planet10]

Originally posted by audioferret
FE108EZ ... Crossover at about 350 and 2800 My calculations show that it would require only a 1.05L enclosure.

It would make a great midrange, but take advantage of it... XO below 250 & above 5-7k. A ribbon on the top, and the woofer will need fair extension to keep up.

The P13 Scottmoose mentions (there is a special midrange version) is a good driver, but not close to the FE108 (you do need to let the FE108 stretch to get the best out of it.

dave

[Samuel Jayaraj]

Have a look at the "Leopard" speakers used to test the F1 amp. It used an Eminence Pro driver for the bass, FE168EZ Sigma for the mids in open baffle and Fountek JP3 ribbon as tweeters. There is no reason why the same combination cannot be used with the appropriate crossover with a voltage amplifier.

The advantage of the 168 compared to the 108 is that you could go open baffle and still keep the xover frequency quite low. Also the xmax of the 168 stands in its favour.

If you would like to go boxed, then as Dave has suggested, look to the FE108EZ Sigma.

My FE168EZ Sigmas and Founteks are on their way from Madisound.

[Josephjcole]

Originally posted by audioferret
Greetings,

How well would the FE108EZ work as a midrange driver in a three-way triamped system? Crossover at about 350 and 2800 My calculations show that it would require only a 1.05L enclosure.

Is there a driver out there with a better midrange around $80?

-The Audioferret

You might be able to get away with a 1 liter enclosure, but I would go bigger if I were you. Mine sound quite good in a 2liter enclosure.
Joe

[audioferret]

For a woofer, I am considering the Scan-Speak 18W/8545k in a MLTL enclosure below the mid-tweeter enclosure. Alternatively, the Vifa XT-WHO09-08 wood-fiber driver seems interesting in terms of cone material and works well in Mr. King's Mathcad worksheets (4:1 ratio, .5lb/ft3).

How close should the impedence and sensitivity of the drivers match? I should be able to work out the sensitivity issues well enouch in the active crossover, but what about impedence?

[planet10]

Originally posted by Josephjcole
You might be able to get away with a 1 liter enclosure, but I would go bigger if I were you. Mine sound quite good in a 2liter enclosure.

I was going to comment on enclosure size in my previous post... let the driver breath.

If you can't get away with an open baffle, look at an aperiodic midrange TL.

dave

[planet10]

Originally posted by audioferret
How close should the impedence and sensitivity of the drivers match? I should be able to work out the sensitivity issues well enouch in the active crossover, but what about impedence?

As long as you get drivers that match sonically, and you choose appropriate amps with similar sonic signatures, sensitivity & impedance are a no care as far as driver matching goes. Much more a concern when amplifier matching comes into play.

dave

[ScottG]

Originally posted by audioferret
Greetings,

How well would the FE108EZ work as a midrange driver in a three-way triamped system? Crossover at about 350 and 2800 My calculations show that it would require only a 1.05L enclosure.

Is there a driver out there with a better midrange around $80?

-The Audioferret

With the right amplification its the best midrange I've ever heard (better than the paper version, and considerably better than my fe166ESR's):

http://www.madisound.com/cgi-bin/ind....25268&pid=109

[Jaime]

I think this is not a good idea.

The manufacturer in order to construct a driver full range, he necessary make many commitments.
Lows and high but not very linear.

You do not use the good things but you use the bad ones!!!!!!.

The FE108EZ does not need a tweeter and is very sweet. That is good. I would make only 2 way and the xver very low ( 100~150 Hz)

best regards Jaime