SEAS 2-way

[coolkhoa]

I understand that SEAS has some great-sounding and inexpensive tweeters (and very popular, too), but how do they compare to Vifa's? Also, there are many to choose from, and I have some questions if I do buy some:

-should I choose 25mm or 27mm? The 27 seems to be more popular but response drops off a little in the upper upper frequencies.
-soft dome or aluminum dome? Softies, as far as I know, are more popular.
-should I choose FF (ferrofluid) or non-FF? FF gives higher power handling but doesn't sound as great...
-do the shielded versions sound just as good?

I want to try some SEAS woofers (non-Excel) but haven't heard much about them. For the sake of a simple crossover, should I try the new aluminum cones?

P.S. I know Zaph is about to embark on a similar journey...how about a discussion?


Thanks guys.

[5th element]

Well regarding the tweeter non ferro units, the theory behind non ferro definately says better sounding and the 97 deffo sounds better to the 95 (scan speak). So I would say the same for the SEAS drivers, they wouldnt make the non ferro unit unless it sounded better as everything else about the tweet is worse. Less sense, response less smooth.

If the non ferro unit has the power handling you require then go for it. If you are paranoid about destroying things then dont.

25 or 27? well that again depends on your design, yes the 25's go higher, but 27's go lower, if you really want those last top frequencies then the 25 is what you want. But if you need to cross lower a 27 would be a better bet.

Fabric vs metal - your choice really, id personally go with fabric as im yet to be dissapointed by a fabric dome so i suppose I prefer them. Having said that ive had no experience with a metal dome so they could be equaly as good.

The mid/bass drivers? The new alu cones will require a notch filter to tame the res peaks, but appart from that Id say go for it. They are very similar to the Excel series of which Im a big fan. Ive been wanting to try a L15 cone for a while to compare it to the W15 but other things have to be done first.

Other then that you say you dont want to use the excel drivers, is this a matter of price? Because if you wanted to take the tweet up a notch and use noferro then the T25c003 may be a good option, it maintains good efficiency and power handling.

I jst looked at the SEAS site now, and the 27's dont really miss out on anything high up that the 25's produce, even if the 25's do reach a little higher I doubt youd hear it at all.

[michael]

You are in the exact same position i was a month or 2 ago, so i have a whole heap of ideas and opinions that ive gathered on this subject, though i was comparing to vifa.
Ill start off by answering some of your questions.

-should I choose 25mm or 27mm? The 27 seems to be more popular but response drops off a little in the upper upper frequencies.

The 27TFFC is very very popular and may many people love it.

-soft dome or aluminum dome? Softies, as far as I know, are more popular.

The soft domes are more popular as the tend to be less likely to be harsh on some recording or at high volume, this is not concrete though as some soft domes are more harsh that metal. But if you are not sure its probebly safer to go soft dome.

-should I choose FF (ferrofluid) or non-FF? FF gives higher power handling but doesn't sound as great...

The non-ferro tweeters aree said to be more detailed and crisp, though far less forgiving, if the recording contains any harshness then they will expose this and it may sound intolerable, whilst a ferro tweeter whilst "slightly" less detail will be far more forgiving and smoother. Id say go ferro as the non ferros often get harsh on many recordings.

-do the shielded versions sound just as good?

Yup they probably will.

There are many seas speakers prjects out there, especially go to here as he has some very nice projects that would be easy to copy, also there is a good seas project here that you amy wat to look at.
Also i have designed a seas 2.5way that im not actually going to build due to choice of another. If you would like i can send you all the plans etc from it. it uses a p17coax with a p17rex.

[angel]

With the appropriate crossover, you could build a 2-way mass loaded transmission line with the Seas MP14RCY/P and the Vifa XT25 (or, if you wish to use drivers from the same supplier, one of the Seas domes). You could cross over pretty high, with a rather low slope, but you would need to do a fair bit of work with the XO to get ideal behaviour.

Incidentally, if you use the 6.5" auxillary bass radiators (also from Seas) instead of a port, you should get cleaner sound, and simpler tuning.

[coolkhoa]

Thanks guys.

I have decided on the SEAS aluminum cone woofers with phase plugs (standard line) but don't know which one is best for 2-way use...I think either the L15 or the L17. Note that SEAS woofers don't go very high, and crossing over may be a problem with the bigger ones. To that end, I've decided on the 27TFFC. The big dome allows me to cross over low, and the fact that it's soft won't add harshness to the system with already a metal woofer.

[michael]

There are a number of XOs online for free using those 2 drivers.
Keep in mind though that they will be VERY revealing and make much of your existing music sound cr*p.