Goosebump midrange

[swak]

I`m starting to plan a new speakers system and I will start from the midrange up, which should cover the range from 300 to 5k at least (perhaps in a front horn). These are the candidates

Audax
pr17mo

PHL
1120

B&C
6pe13, 6pev13, 6xt13, 8pe21, 8pl21

Beyma
6ml90

Fostex
f85k, 126, 166, 206

my room is about 20m2 and the the speakers should be able to play at realistic levels. Im looking for quality, detail, dynamics, excelent voice reproduction (female!). Below I`ll have dipole subs, and a slot tweeter (probably a beyma) on top.
I appriciate any commets

[Timn8ter]

Why did you skip the 4" Fostex drivers?

[planet10]

Originally posted by Timn8ter
Why did you skip the 4" Fostex drivers?

Yes, why... FE108ES would be very high on my list.

dave

[Timn8ter]

Originally posted by planet10


Yes, why... FE108ES would be very high on my list.

dave

Wow, it's like.....you read my mind or something.

Especially since it's the same price as the 206 and there's no concern with the bass response.

[planet10]

Originally posted by Timn8ter
Wow, it's like.....you read my mind or something.

this were i'm supposed to say "great minds think alike"?

Especially since it's the same price as the 206 and there's no concern with the bass response

Used full-range the 108 is stunning (after 200-300 hrs of break-in), used 200-250, up to 6-10k they would be, well, stunning. Getting a good blend with any tweeter is the biggest challenge, but a horn loaded or waveguide loaded tweeter is going to no doubt give best results.

dave

[dwk123]

Have you guys ever used one of the smaller Fostex in a front horn? I would have thought they would be ideal, but none of them seem to have a mass corner (2*Fs/Qts) that is much better than normal hi-fi drivers (ie 400-500Hz). Now, I guess that doesn't mean they won't work, but it means you'll have to do some work to get them flat, and that you'll be giving away much of the efficiency that horn-loading can provide.

However, front horns don't seem to be an exact science in many cases, so maybe they will work better than it would appear from the numbers.

[GM]

Greets!

Keep in mind that the higher the mass corner, the more loading is required for a given Fc, ergo greater distortion/HF BW attenuation, so for horn loading a really wide BW FR driver a low effective mass corner is your friend.

GM

[dwk123]

Aw, geez GM why'd you go and do that. I'm crusing along just fine and you put a stick in my spokes and confuse me. I think you're getting at the crux of a question that I've been wondering about though - exactly how does the mass corner operate?

My understanding of mass corner is that it represents a first-order pole above which total power output from the driver falls at 6dB/octave. I've always assumed that in free space, this was more or less compensated for by falling directivity, keeping the on-axis response flat up to a much higher freq. However, when constrained by a CD horn, you dont get the same collapsing directivity, so you see the on-axis response fall above the mass corner.

So, are you saying that with a mid-horn it's better to take the low mass corner and use eq to achieve flat response, since it results in lower distortion? Or are you saying that I have no clue what I'm talking about, and have to go read more?

[dmason]

Low Q, designed for BLH's, BUT, has anyone used the 108 in a simple BR, sealed, or aperiodic design?

Abit off topic, but a great driver to be sure.

[swak]

Im fallinng asleep now, but I reply shortly.

Yes I skipped the 108, and it might indeed be a very good candidate. I have not heard a sigma yet.

I listed mostly larger drivers because I am concernd about the not so good dynamics of the smaller ones. I also like the fact that the larger drivers are up to 11dB more efficient.

Two questions:

Do you feel the 108 is (as mid) better that the other fostex drivers I mentioned? From the others the audax really tempts me.

I have been reading that it is really dificullt even to get a DR mid horn from 300 up to 3K. Any comments? I like the controlled directivity of a horn. Would this be the case with a waveguide? Thats something I would have to start reading about.