20 Hz-20 KHz in a 2 way?

[audiothings]

Having just built an Econowave in a 170L cab and finding in it what I've been missing for so long, I want to take it to the next level. Can anyone point me in the direction of 2 way speakers that can reproduce the entire audible frequency range?

[picowallspeaker]

no way !!!

Technology had improved and you can find specialized drivers to cover the 'gaps' ...you know : the blanket is too short either way .
You can have your feet warm and your head cold ,and vice-versa .
170 liters are quite big so if well aligned the bass should be satisfactory , maybe a supertweeter is what you're looking for ,just a little 3/4 inch dome may do the job.

[Zero D]

Yes with a Ted Jordan designed drive unit, and a sub of your choice

The JXR6 HD

is the descendent of the original 50mm Module. Thirty years of continuous development has resulted in the world's widest range 2" driver. This unit is capable of matching the fastest ribbon or electrostatic transducer.

The JXR6 HD is capable of operating singly or in stacked arrays and covers the range from 100Hz to beyond 30kHz. With today's interest in high resolution audio systems, this unit is capable of reaching ultra-sonic frequencies without the need for costly super-tweeters (most of which lack the resolving power of the JXR6 HD).

The JXR6 HD enables system design which places the crossover at 120Hz or below, well outside the sensitive mid to high frequencies.

Namnlst dokument

E.J.Jordan Designs loudspeaker design & consultancy

[Bill poster]

Yes, a JXR6 with their largest bass unit(1st order?) or 2 x JXR6 and this Seas for higher SPL's http://www.seas.no/images/stories/pr..._datasheet.pdf

Also this aluminium 8" fountek has an f3 of 25 hz and its just 75 euros
http://www.fountek.net/uploadfile/1012/24180934.PDF

[Kraniet]

If youre talking about "normal" speakers I think the best alternative is to use the right 8inch driver coupled to a 1inch tweeter. Making sure you use the wall for bass-reinforcement you should be able to build a speaker that gives you full-range at generous spl-lvls.
One such example is the Ino-Audio pi60



It has custom made drivers and is probably one of the best examples of a high quality 2-way speaker. Commercialized as the Guru Audio qm60 The QM60 | Guru Loudspeakers

The new 8inch driver from Transmission Audio Inc. might be a good candidate.

[Dr.EM]

As said, it should be possible by using one of the now many available 2-3" 'full-range' drivers paired with a large bass driver. The full-range driver allows you to use a low crossover, maybe 300-400Hz, which a typical tweeter couldn't handle and hence you can run a large/heavy enough bass driver to play to 20Hz without beaming/breakups before the crossover.

A 24dB or more active crossover will make the task easier too. You probably won't quite get the same dispersion from the 2-3" as you would from a typical tweeter, but on-axis you can get 20kHz from some of them and the treble can actually sound rather sweet.

[pedroskova]

ESL's with a sub or two, or three.

[chris661]

Originally Posted by Kraniet

If youre talking about "normal" speakers I think the best alternative is to use the right 8inch driver coupled to a 1inch tweeter. Making sure you use the wall for bass-reinforcement you should be able to build a speaker that gives you full-range at generous spl-lvls.
One such example is the Ino-Audio pi60

........

An 8" driver in a conventional sealed/ported cabinet won't hit 20Hz with any authority. Plus, that particular cabinet would likely give nasty diffraction effects by achieving time-aligned drivers.

Use a low-throw unit, and IM distortion etc becomes a problem.
Small, wide-band units can have their own problems, including HF beaming (previously mentioned), which gives an uneven power response, and their power handling (when you want serious dynamics) could end up a hinderance.

My current set-up does 25Hz-20kHz using a pair of FE126eNs and a pair of tapped horns, with the TB 6.5" sub. Larger tapped horns would go lower, but I've a small room and these ones are a little too large.
Due to the relatively narrow operating range of the tapped horns (25-80Hz), the Fostexes must cover a large range, so I still lose out on some dynamics, due to cone excursion becoming an issue at >80Hz. Plus, with their relatively small power handling, they'd struggle to reproduce drums at the volume they should be.

A design like the Econowave seems to be the way to do it, but getting sufficient cabinet volume for a 15" driver to hit 20Hz could be problematic.

Chris

[Kraniet]

sure it would all depend on what kind of spl youd like. The speakers above (pi60) is specified as 25Hz-20kHz +/- 1dB. And have a specified spl capability 114dB/pair above 100Hz.*
In a normal living room they should have all the spl most people would need.

But true it places some extraordinary demands on the drivers. The newst version of this particular speaker have some 20 years of development behind them. So it isnt a "normal" speaker in that regard.

A much better approach is a 2-way crossed to a couple of dedicated (sub)woofers for better room interaction.

A fullrange as you talk of have its own problems. Even a 3inch driver have their break-up in the 3-5kHz range with the resulting problems with dispersion, distortion and power handling.

Also for the bass a reflex-box is the most efficient solution in terms of box-size and bass-extention.

edit: * thats in room spl. Theyre meant to be placed right up to the wall so they get quite alot of room-reinforcement for the lower frequencies.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by audiothings

Having just built an Econowave in a 170L cab and finding in it what I've been missing for so long, I want to take it to the next level. Can anyone point me in the direction of 2 way speakers that can reproduce the entire audible frequency range?

It seems that you want to hear the good lows but at the same time also the good things associated with 2-way bookshelf. That's why you mention about 2-way requirement.

I believe, 2-way or 6-way, it doesn't matter as long as it is your "next level". And your next level is a speaker that can go equally low but has better quality than the econowave. You have two options:

(1) Build an expensive multi-way system such as the Statement by Jim Holtz (if it is low enough)

(2) Find similar 2-way design, but with LOWER distortion drivers. Low distortion 15" woofer is I think expensive/rare (otherwise big enclosure with smaller driver)