Best horn/compression drivers for music?

[Daveis]

Outside of something like TAD, which horn drivers would you recommend for an all-out system?

Something that should make the Scanspeak,Usher,Vifa,Peerless drivers sound like junk!!!

Let's say your budget is less than $1000 per driver to keep it reasonable.

(Been playing with domes for years and still haven't found the magic)

I am aware of the Unity Horn, but am wanting something a little more DIY than that.

[ScottG]

..among loudspeaker drivers in general - its really tough to say what is or is not "best" for any given application, and this applies far more with compression drivers.

For the scant bit of subjective impressions on compression drivers ..I'll leave you with this:

OB Lynn,Paul Scott inspired

Hopefully you'll find it at least marginally helpful.

[Daveis]

I scanned through some threads.
Can anyone add to this list of recommended horns?

B&C DE250
Radian 745/950pb 745P
Beyma CP25 CP380 CP380M
BMS 4540 4592nd neo 4540ND
JBL Alnico 2482
18 sound ?
TAD 2001

==============================

Radian 745 1.4 in. CD'

2NDA520

Radian 950pb with the BMS 4592nd, and the Radian plays in a other league.

jbl 2405

Brient had the TAD 4001 to compare with - he sold the TAD, and kept the Radian,

Instead of the JBL slot - look to the Beyma CP25

BMS 4540 tweeter going down to 1KHz,

used both small and large format BMS drivers and have to say they really aren't my idea of high fidelity.

Beyma CP380 LINK They sound better than the big dollar TAD's to me.

CP385/Nd.

love those 755Nds I got from you Duke.

distortion of the CP380M is practically negligible and predominantly 2nd order.

BMS neo compression drivers, and I think they are excellent. I would go so far as to say that they are all but unbeatable at that price range.

I've used Selenium, B&C, BMS, Radian and JBL. Here are my opinions, FWIW:

B&C: Great value for the money, great quality control. One of my favs.
BMS: IMHO their neo compression drivers are almost unbeatable. I think this is why JBL rebrands BMS drivers. Amazing sound and value.
Radian: After hearing all the positive feedback on Radian, I bought a pair. They don't measure the same. Is this a quality control problem? I don't know, because I bought mine used. But I never bought another pair, and stick to B&C and BMS now.
JBL: Hideously overpriced. If you don't mind buying used, you can get amazing deals on Ebay. I have a set of Alnico JBL compression drivers which are to die for. I had to replace the diaphragms with Radian, but now they work great (and they match!)

only reasonable choices are:
BMS 4540ND
B&C DE250
Beyma CP380M

BMS 4540

Phenolic sounds good. I like JBL 2482 and Eminence APT series.

Other than the B&C I can recommend the TAD 2001 (expensive) or the Emilar EC175 (out of production / business) or any of the Radians. The 18 sound horns are very good! Maybe they have an inexpensive non-metallic diaphragm compression driver for them? The little BMS drivers are probably less collered than the Selenium because they are polyester.. The Beyma CP380 is VERY good

think you will like the DE10 and the 18 sound horn XT120

FWIW, the stuff I have to work with:
Lambda TD15X ( I have 3 due to a shipping accident, may get another soon)
JBL 2123H
BMS 4540ND
DDS ENG 1-90

Radian 745P 16 ohm:
2125hz -6db LR 24

[ttan98]

Daveis

Very useful info, you findings confirm many other findings on this site, particularly

compression drivers from

B&C and BMS and

horns from

18 sound and DDS

thanks, I will buy some of the models you recommend.

[Daveis]

ttan98,

Actually, the stuff below the line of ====='s in my comment was my compiled research from all the forums on diyaudio.

I was hoping someone would add to it.

I was attempting to catalog a list of any compression driver that was mentioned favorably.

I found it interesting that some people liked some drivers much better than the expensive TAD drivers.

The horns I've listened to have a sonic footprint to them. But they are so dynamic and image so well my hope was that there was something out there that was equal to or better than the best cone drivers.

I realize that the horn that you mate your compression driver with is about as important as the driver itself. So if someone has a combination of horn/driver that they think is stellar I'd like to hear about it... provided that its not thousands of dollars.

It occurs to me that since horns are generally made to produce good sound at 120db, that they are in a way over-engineered for reproducing sound at say 80db in a home.

I also like the idea that they are typically so efficient that you can use high quality Class-A amps without worrying about power consumption/heat, etc. It would be nice to use a 20-watt Class-A amp and be able to listen to loud music without a problem.

[ttan98]

Daveis,

I just placed an order for a combo of B&C comp. driver(CD) and horn from PE.

model, DE10 and the compatible horn(cannot remember the model no). This combo is cheap and x-over at 2.5Khz. Costs no more than $60 per set ie horn and CD.

If I find them a good combo I will report back. Magnetar seemed to like the DE10 very much.

[ttan98]

Originally posted by Daveis
ttan98,

I also like the idea that they are typically so efficient that you can use high quality Class-A amps without worrying about power consumption/heat, etc. It would be nice to use a 20-watt Class-A amp and be able to listen to loud music without a problem.

That is the way to go, I have similar thoughts, great mind thinks alike, ha, ha...

with global warming even a high quality class ab amplifier will be good enough.

cheers.

[Daveis]

In my friends Klipsch, the part I like is the 600-4kz horn part. Above 4khz, I think I like my Scanspeak 6600 better.

What are the good 500hz on up horns out there?

[limono]

Hi
One of the best affordable comp. drivers are alnico JBL 2440 JBL 2441 .This is what Dr. Edgar is using in his Titan horns . The prices vary from $250 to $500 each used .
Also Altec 288 series is reportedly good sounding and cheaper than JBL. Used TAD's 2001 and 4003 are well within your price range.
There are quite a few horn makers nowadays and you probably want tractrix round mid-horn . Dr. Edgar salad bowl midrange horns (wood ) will set you back ~$1.2k. Some German company is selling composite horns on E-bay for decent price . Martin Seddon from Australia will make you a custom horn with LeCleach flare (Azura Horn)
IMHO there is no reason to buy any of temporary compression drivers for a DIY project as there are plenty of great vintage drivers to get.
Regards, L

[ScottG]

Originally posted by Daveis


What are the good 500hz on up horns out there?

http://www.azurahorn.com/azurahorn_horns.html

(..the AH-340.)

The problem you will have with such a design is integration with the tweeter - considering center-to-center driver distances.

As a "base" design, figure the Azurahorn will be above your tweeter section - aiming down toward the listener.

From 4-500 to 3 khz, I hear the Selenium D405 phenolic compression driver is excellent (..and a bargain if you can find it). (..do NOT look at their titanium versions.)

Here it is:

http://www.speakercity.com/Merchant2...ode=SeleniumCD

That B&C DE10 with an 18sound XT120 would be an excellent fairly low cost tweeter pairing with the Selenium and Azurahorn (..and likely placed at listener ear height UNDER the Azurahorn).