Cleanest 12" high efficiency mids for the money?

[BHTX]

http://prodance.cz/protokoly/PDN_12MH25.pdf

..Doesn't look so great from here.

[tinitus]

Thats probably what you can expect in most cases with such high SPL, hence my position not to do that

So what do you think of the GreatPlains 12" ?

AE also makes a TD12M, but they say that TD15M sound better, something to do with better cone design

[BHTX]

Here's the discontinued Fane M4-12LF I mentioned at the start of this thread:
http://prodance.cz/protokoly/FANE_M4-12LF.pdf

..SPL "only" in the 95-97dB range, but much cleaner CSD, aside from the breakup, which is really a lot less severe than most of its type.

There are other drivers like this out there as well, it's just a matter of finding them. Aside from the rising response and nasty breakup, even the Eminence Deltalite-II 2512 isn't so bad. With this driver, even a nice 2-way with a 50Hz 2nd order highpass could be done (with a lot less headroom of course). But it's the response between 1.5 and 2 KHz and nasty breakup that I find bothersome, and the rising response would have to be dealt with. Other than that, it seems like a good driver for the money. I wouldn't use it in a 3-way though. For a two-way, definitely. Only problem other than that is a big one.. no waveguides quite large enough out there. http://www.prodance.cz/protokoly/Emi...te-II_2512.pdf

Haven't heard any of the Great Plains drivers, unfortunately. Price is probably out of my price range. Same goes for the TD12M, but it's still under consideration.

[vegges]

Originally posted by BHTX
Aside from the rising response and nasty breakup, even the Eminence Deltalite-II 2512 isn't so bad. With this driver, even a nice 2-way with a 50Hz 2nd order highpass could be done (with a lot less headroom of course). But it's the response between 1.5 and 2 KHz and nasty breakup that I find bothersome, and the rising response would have to be dealt with. Other than that, it seems like a good driver for the money. I wouldn't use it in a 3-way though.

If you don't mind my asking, why wouldn't the Deltalite-II be suitable for a 3-way setup?

(Sorry if the answer is obvious, I'm a novice at audio. But am building my first chipamp now.)

Karl

[BHTX]

It'd work. It's just that with a 3-way, there's better out there for not much more IMO, like the B&C 12HPL76, for example. Only slight issue with that one is that even a 4th order at 250Hz is pushing it a bit IMO, as it'd be over 30dB down an octave under the xo point. If I wasn't going the active route, this kind of stuff wouldn't be an issue since I could use a different slope and cross much lower. As for the 2512, it's not quite as usable up high, that break up sucks, as well as the rising response. However, you can actually get enough low freq response out of it to crossover to a subwoofer. With subs, I've always crossed low, like 40-50Hz. About 40-45 Hz usually sounds best to me, and most 12" pro drivers can't do that.

[Eva]

Consider a 8" driver loaded with a horn, it will perform far better than any 12" direct radiator. Another advantage is that you can design the midbass horn to match the directivity of the tweeter horn achieving improved imaging indoors.

[tinitus]

New BMS triaxial, but probably expencive

[jamikl]

Several weeks ago I asked whether anyone had experience of some of the Celestion Pro, not guitar drivers, but got no response. Two of the 10" ones look reasonably smooth both in the frequency response and impedance curves. Like you I have been looking for a bigger upper bass and mid speaker that was fairly efficient. I think one was the TF1020 and the other was the Neo version. The ferrite version looked a bit smoother but I have never heard either and have no idea as to pricing. Nobody seems to have experienced them.
jamikl

[BHTX]

jamikl,

Yeah, that seems to happen pretty regularly around here, and anywhere else as well. I have all the Celestion Pro PDF's, and have seen those drivers you mention. Like you, I haven't found much regarding Celestion Pro drivers at all. Several of them appear good enough to be used in various designs, and the price is right too. Might be really good for the money, but I guess we'll never know. I haven't even seen 3rd party measurements of any of these drivers, at least not that I remember.

Anyway, I've been looking into the Eighteen Sound XT1464 for a few weeks or so now. Recently started another thread on it, with no useful replies as of yet. Maybe I'll just go it alone like I used to.

Although I'll admit that I've done very little in comparison to so many others around here, as far as construction of projects goes, I don't think I've ever bothered to post a finished project. Posting on forums often seems to be more of a waste of time than anything. And with all the ridiculous web-ego being thrown about from pathetic no-lifes, as well some of the most knowledgeable people, it really just seems like a bunch of BS to me. Sad thing is, I come to this forum and only this forum, as everywhere else seems to be much worse. Seems to me like.. due to forums like this, this hobby has transformed from something that was once interesting and enjoyable to more of a childish ******** competition between adults with psychological problems.

Good luck with your search.

[jamikl]

Thanks BHTX, like you I used to only take part in this forum but conflicting egos are making it quite hard to absorb anything now or to have any confidence in anything that is said. This has been mentioned in other posts. I saw a bit about Smiths horns on another forum so I'm trying to find out more about them now. I like the way Lynn Olsen has largely managed to stay clear of most of it but the way that one is going is likely to be well above what I can afford. Its not just the purchase of the units - its the freight charges. I know a lot of us have to face that one too.
jamikl