Woofer choice for small cab

[PeteMcK]

For 2 way nearfield monitor/bookshelf– small(-ish) box), tweeter will be Seas 27TBFC. Aiming for low 40’s response. Drivers readily available (in current order of preference) are:

Peerless 830883, $AUD129, ~20L box, 2nd = distortion, smallest box
http://www.tymphany.com/files/products/pdf/830883.pdf

2x 5” Wavcor WF138WA04, $45ea, ~30-35L, No distortion data available
http://www.soundlabsgroup.com.au/p/W...te+-+WF138WA04

SB17RNXc35-8, $103, ~35L, Best distortion, box a bit big
http://www.sbacoustics.com/index.php...l&nop=1&noc=16

Wavcor WF160WA02, $50, ~30L, No distortion data available, cheapest
http://www.soundlabsgroup.com.au/p/W...te+-+WF160WA02

SEAS ER18RNX, $169 (ouch!), ~25L, 2nd = distortion, lowest response http://www.seas.no/index.php?option=...111&Itemid=133

Any reason to change my preference?

[jerome69]

DAYTON RS180 40$
A design, there is a 27TBFC version
Modula MT

Perhaps

Fountek FW168 45$ ?

[Moondog55]

This may be worth paying postage on

much cheaper than local prices even with postage, buy 4 and make 2.5 with second driver on the back??

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...TOKEN=89898881

[rabbitz]

The Peerless would be a good option IMO as I use a 830875 in a small nearfield and works very well. It's quite inoffensive when used close unlike a lot of other drivers.

The SB Acoustics could be problematic up close as there is the breakup at the higher frequencies as well as their kit recommends off-axis listening which is not want you want for a nearfield. I haven't used the SB17NRX but have used the SB15NRX which is of a high build standard but had a strange hollow quality in the mids even though the distortion numbers are good. I got rid of most with coating the cone to give a bit more damping but not what you want to do to a new driver.

I've heard the SEAS ER18RNX in a speaker Andy G built and I helped with a bit of crossover work. I would not use it nearfield as the driver can be a bit hot on the upper mids and needs a low crossover point. Not a problem though when used at a distance but could bite close up.

Don't know anything about the Wavcor but other options would be the Vifa PL18 and the XG18 (now deleted) which is a real smoothy and suits nearfield.

There are 5" options but they will not give you the bass. I've just used a SEAS W15LY001 that has a lower F3 than than my Peerless 830875 speaker but the bass is whimpy in comparison. There's no substitute for surface area.

Buying overseas can be a problem as one of the W15LY001 that I bought was poorly built and would cost almost the same in shipping to have it replaced than to buy a new one. Besides, there's been no response from SEAS so it stays as is. At least when buying in Australia you can get it sorted quickly with the local supplier.

[PeteMcK]

thanks for all the responses guys - I already have some Peerless 850488s, so I know how good Peerless can be, my gut tells me to go for the 830883s. (& Jay's got a similar project documented)I'm not going for the cheapest here, if I spend a little less at the bottle-o over the next few weeks, I should be able to afford them .
Wish there was distortion info available for the Wavecors though.
I'll probably try something different for the box, to get away from the standard 'monkey coffin'. I'm thinking of trying building up some curves with thin layers of ply - that'll test my limited woodworking skills to the max...

[Moondog55]

Sounds GOOD, don't forget Terrys "Frankenstein trick" if using MDF

[PeteMcK]

maybe something like this...???

(any suggestions on the angle between the tweeter & woofer welcome)

[rabbitz]

Line up the voice coil centres (midpoint of the motor front plate) on the 2 drivers and will give good time alignment.

If you have the Loudspeaker Design Cookbook see Fig 7.10 (c).

[Geek]

http://www.madisound.com/catalog/pro...roducts_id=848

$36.80

Looks promising. It's little brother, the 5-1/2" is nuts in its performance.

Cheers!