Anyone used Aurasound 3" NS3 widerange?

[morbo]

Has anyone tried the Aurasound 1", 2", or 3" wideband drivers? The specs on the 3" (NS3) look really nice;

http://www.aurasound.com/pdf/NS3-193-8A.pdf

And they are only ~ $25 CDN at Solen. I wonder how they sound, and if they are comparable to the TB 871?

[Luke (Uof Iowa)]

My friend has some of the NS3's. I haven't heard them but he said they didn't like to play too high. Maybe couple it with the 1"?

[morbo]

thanks for the feedback, the little tweeter they have doesnt look too flat above 10k either, so I don't know if its really worthwhile. Too bad, because these could be a really nice alternative to the TB 871 with the high xmax and advanced motor. Maybe I'll still try them down the road.

[Luke (Uof Iowa)]

I did see him put it on a rack amp with a freq generator and it did have some crazy throw. I had the idea of using them in the CSS spires instead of that other TB driver. So 4 Aura's and one TB W3-871 at the top. Probably would have better low-end, though I wonder where the Spires are crossed over at.

[morbo]

I like that idea, the aura drivers have better low end performance than the TB used in the spires, and they look better to boot! Only thing is they are much less efficient. You might need more of them.

From the manual:

http://www.creativesound.ca/pdf/Spires.pdf

They are crossed over at 2k?! don't really understand the rationale for this, as I always thought the benefit of using the 871 would is having 1 driver cover the midrange. My guess would have been cross them over @ ~ 300hz or maybe a bit higher, but then again I am a novice with this stuff and the Spires get good feedback so... I just wonder why not use a normal tweeter if you're already crossing that high? Or maybe its 1st order @ 2k. Then there is the center channel which IIRC is crossed at 1k.. Maybe someone more experience d in XO design can comment on this design...

[dwk123]

I hope it isn't too much of a hijack, but has anyone used the 2" aurasound driver? I'm eyeing them for a project but first-hand experience is hard to come by.

[Stocker]

With prices like $20 at madisound, first hand knowledge is not that cheap. Why not be the first one you know to try these things? I think they have a LOT of potential for a nearfield monitor. They are trying to burn a very small hole in my wallet.

/edit: madisound (US distributor) has a discussion forum. Did you try asking there?

[Luke (Uof Iowa)]

Originally posted by morbo
I like that idea, the aura drivers have better low end performance than the TB used in the spires, and they look better to boot! Only thing is they are much less efficient. You might need more of them.

From the manual:

http://www.creativesound.ca/pdf/Spires.pdf

They are crossed over at 2k?! don't really understand the rationale for this, as I always thought the benefit of using the 871 would is having 1 driver cover the midrange. My guess would have been cross them over @ ~ 300hz or maybe a bit higher, but then again I am a novice with this stuff and the Spires get good feedback so... I just wonder why not use a normal tweeter if you're already crossing that high? Or maybe its 1st order @ 2k. Then there is the center channel which IIRC is crossed at 1k.. Maybe someone more experience d in XO design can comment on this design...

You're right, I think that also seems high. I have a pair that I've used full range and now they're in my car crossed at 250Hz 3rd order. My friend has an RTA and they did great from like 800 up, but I think the dip I noticed from 250-800 was just because the enclosure they are in is really very small. But they can definately hold their own.

[morbo]

I get your point Stocker, no substitute for experience. I searched at madisound, but have not asked yet. I will do so soon. I was just wondering if anyone had used them, since there seems to be just about no information about them on the net, and my total annual DIY budget is very skimpy, thus I'm strongly pulled towards proven performers (ie 871) than unknown quantities (ie NS3).

[Stocker]

Tell you what: If you get a pair of the NS3s and ~don't~ like them, and then get the TangBand and DO like them, I might be willing to pay the difference in price if the TBs are cheaper, plus shipping, to have you send the NS3s to me. Hmmmmm. I'd have to sneak that under the wife's radar...