Is a 21" driver too big for a 3 way speaker

[erin]

Hi Guys, Just wondering if a 21" bass driver would be too big to use at home when building a 3 way cabinet for full range audio?

Does anyone have any experience building their own 3 way speakers and using a 15" to 21" driver?
Is there just too much air movement for the music to be enjoyable?
Or do you find that this size driver is perfect and what you always wanted?

Another question.
If I have the TS parameters of the driver, and I use an online cabinet calculators (such as on the Madisound website) will I actually get good results if I build a cabinet to the dimensions given, or is trial and error still required to get good sound?

I'm considering using the new eighteen sound 21" drivers. The crossover and other aspects of the design I'm OK with, but cabinets I really don't know much about.

Any suggestions or comments would be welcome.
Thanks...

[s3tup]

it's ok as long as your midrange is 7"-8"
21" driver in front baffle... Your wife would love it!

[howard99]

Search for Hartley Concertmaster, they use a 24" driver.

[otto88]

Depends on at what Hz you intend to the midrange.
With 21" drivers, I'd guess the max would be about 250 Hz

[tinitus]

Originally Posted by howard99

Search for Hartley Concertmaster, they use a 24" driver.

very very different beast

"ordinary" pro 21" only makes sense as a sub

and hardly as a sub for a 2way
maybe with the exception of the "Gedlee style", using big pro mid woofer 2way

[erin]

I was looking at the Eighteen sound 21LW1400.
They recommend the cut off frequency at 250Hz.
But I would guess that is when running at full power.
At home I would only be putting 50W RMS max into it so I would guess? that 400HZ crossover point would be OK?
The frequency response gets a bit rough above 250Hz but I guess that wouldnt be too bad?
I was hoping to cross over at 400Hz

Any comments?

[erin]

So you guys think that a big driver like that would not be overkill?

[erin]

I want a speaker that will move some air so that I can feel it with the bass notes, but I still want an accurate 'high fidelity' speaker with a flat(ish) frequency response.
Whats the biggest driver that i could or should get away with?
Any recommendations that anyone has had experience with?

Has anyone had experience with the cabinet calculator programs?
Are they accurate?

[erin]

check out the JBL 4350's.
I have heard these. they put out some serious bass.
Rare, weird, unusual, amazing and/or interesting... - Home Theater Forum and Systems - HomeTheaterShack.com

[tinitus]

Originally Posted by erin

They recommend the cut off frequency at 250Hz.

that is specs for PA

not quite the same as hifi