Pro vs hifi drivers - pros and cons?

[sbe4kdr]

There is also the stage-line SPH-450TC.

http://www.bmm-electronics.com/Produ...roduct_ID=2614

Sort of a mix between hifi and pro.
Also needs a rather large box.

[nickmckinney]

Originally posted by doug20
The measurements on the TD drivers from AE speakers are incredible.

This is a good topic as the TD design was my creation to combine the best of pro and home ultra high end audio. 10 years ago I basically wanted a EV15 that could do 1.5" peak to peak of xmax with little to no power compression and cover 16Hz and up. Hence the TD series was born.

Most pro designs use large diameter voice coils with relatively shallow cones. This is a compromise to fit a smaller box like a scoop and to keep the driver as light weight as possible. It also makes a driver that doesn't sound as good in the midrange.

Most home audio drivers don't seem to be designed to handle the crazy constant high power like pro drivers, and are low sensitivity.

I found a design trick with the copper Faraday that allowed me to not only get lower distortion and incredible power handling from a smaller diameter voice coil, it also allowed the excursion to go as far as the suspension would allow. Tweek in the cone material and deeper curvilinear cone profile, and enjoy.

Really its a dollars worth of copper in that motor that makes all the difference to everything.

[ZilchLab]

The paradigm has shifted to the satellite/sub model, both for HT and music Hi-Fi. "Sub" in pro audio sound reinforcement means 40 Hz, but in studio monitors, it's lower, and more appropriate to home use. In any case, once we conceptualize the task as mid/high boxes plus sub(s), quality pro drivers have a distinct advantage.

In many respects, the objectives are the same, and the pros have done a better job of implementing the fundamental science of loudspeaker design....

[doug20]

Originally posted by panomaniac


Yes. =)


Alas, no. Huge box. But ported it will be. (not finnished)

The Fs in in free air. One measures 18Hz, the other about 21Hz. I expect them to come down a little with break in. Or not.



Not at all. They are Altec 416-8A recently reconed at GPA. So not a common pro driver, but pro none the less.

As Rob points about above, there are some others with Fs this low. But it's not the norm today, which was Tom's point.

I do agree that there isn't much music down this low, so it's just a luxury. But there can be a lot of room tone way down there, and that can be fun to hear/feel.

Thanks!

[doug20]

Originally posted by woofman59
A lot of the comments I've read on this thread sound like it's all about measurements. In my experience however, measurements are of course very important, but certainly not everything.

After all, the end result should be something that is pleasing to listen to since that's the reason for building them in the first place. I've heard more than a few speakers that had great measurements but didn't sound that good. Conversely, I've heard speakers that while not so impressive in measurements, actually sounded terrific.

Numbers and graphs are fine to point the way, but in the end, how do they sound?

But we are talking about drivers here, drivers are put together in a design to make a great sounding speakers.

You need measurements to build a great speakers that you will like the sound of.

I have never met or read about anyone that builds speakers without any measurements. The time it takes to figure it all out is just not worth it when all the tools available helps experts out.

As for your point about liking a specific speaker, more or less you like a specific reponse. Why not build/buy the most accurate speakers then tweak it to your needs? You get the best distortion measurements, you get the best accuracy and you can choose to color it. If not its accurate. Maybe its the distortion part hat you like, many people actually like distortion (ie Tubes, domes vs Ribbons, etc). I like active designs because one 3-way active speaker can have the characteristics of many differnet speakers depending on my settings.

In the end I do not go out and listen for a specific sound, I would rather create the specific sound I want in my house and I start with the best measurements/specs possible within a target price range.

Im really confused on what the purpose of this forum is...is it not to build speakers, talk about measurements, talk about speaker design theory, find out about new drivers, etc.

Some posts have me believe they are here for another reason. Im just confused on the purpose and Im trying to figure that out.

[Magura]

Originally posted by doug20



Im really confused on what the purpose of this forum is...is it not to build speakers, talk about measurements, talk about speaker design theory, find out about new drivers, etc.

Some posts have me believe they are here for another reason. Im just confused on the purpose and Im trying to figure that out.

This sort of attitude, you might as well get used to.

There are two camps here:

1) We accept the relevance of measurements and engineering.

2) We feel that 2+2 is 5, thus 2+2=5

If you want to steer clear of the worst part of it, ignore any thread with the word "cable" in the title


Magura

[max426]

Originally posted by Magura


This sort of attitude, you might as well get used to.
If you want to steer clear of the worst part of it, ignore any thread with the word "cable" in the title
Magura

no doubt

[stinius]

Originally posted by Magura



This sort of attitude, you might as well get used to.

There are two camps here:

1) We accept the relevance of measurements and engineering.

2) We feel that 2+2 is 5, thus 2+2=5

If you want to steer clear of the worst part of it, ignore any thread with the word "cable" in the title


Magura

Magura

I agree, but I think doug20 have some good points in his posts.

Cheers

[Magura]

Originally posted by stinius


Magura

I agree, but I think doug20 have some good points in his posts.

Cheers

Sure, this wasn't directed at Dough20.


Magura

[tinitus]

Its easy to pick a single insignificant statement, and make it into a problem
All the latest posts are really waste of our time