Audax HM170C0 - any opinions?

[esl]

Hello!

I would like to ask if anyone here is using this driver?

How does it sounds?
I also noticed that some use it with HD-3P tweeter.
Can HM170C0 do high enough to go with HD-3P ?

How does it compare with, say, SS18W8535 ?

Thanks,

esl

 

[Ian J]

The HM170C was used with the HD3P in a kit speaker (KLS10) from World Audio Design here in the UK. The x-o was at 4.5kHz with a 2nd order on the low pass. I built a pair in 98 and was impressed with the clean treble and good sensitivity (about 89dB) from a small (~8 litre) box. Measurements by WAD showed there was no dip at the x-o so the carbon fibre can get that high (sounded good too).
Ian

 

[esl]

Thanks Ian.

Btw what is your opinion on HD-3P tweeter?

Greetz,

esl

 

[Ian J]

The HD3P sounds very clean and detailed, I think Audax had great hopes for it, but for whatever reason it never really caught on and has been discontinued. I thought it looked great too but I was constantly afraid that those delicate gold domes would get broken which would require a total replacement (no disassembling this unit!) and they weren't cheap. I haven't had the chance to compare it against other good tweeters - my KLS10s were stolen 4 years ago and now I'm using more modest SEAS tweeters. The HD3P is the favourite tweeter of one of our moderators (Pinkmouse) who has it in another WAD design (though a 3-way).
Cheeers
Ian

 

[capslock]

diy burglars?

who would steal tweeters???

 

[Ian J]

it was the whole speaker that got stolen - the tweeters were attached. I still hope to see them one day...
Ian

 

[critofur]

re: Audax HM170C0

I just picked up a few of these drivers to test as I no longer have the means to easily design & build my own custom drivers. Soon as I finish setting my my new lab & workshop I'll build some prototype designs to see how they sound. The only problem I see so far is I can't find a shielded version?!?

 

[critofur]

There are other problems with crossing over that high, with a speaker that size the dispersion will be extremely narrow, like a flashlight. Also, the "center to center" distance will be high relative to the wavelength so the waves could only be in phase/time aligned in a small sweet spot, if you move up or down you'll move out of that spot.