15" (38cm) Drivers you like?

[Pano]

I'm shopping around for a 15" driver for a new speaker project.

Looking for low distortion, good extension and high sensitivity. The driver will be used in a bass reflex box of anywhere from 3 to 9 cubic feet. (85 - 255L) Low pass should be around 700Hz~1KHz.

New or vintage, doesn't matter to me, as long as it's a musical sounding driver and can be found without too much trouble. Subterranean bass is less important than overall sound quality.

I've looked at the usual suspects. Eminence, Selenium WPU, JBL, Altec. Some good choices there. Any other suggestions or favorites for this type of use?

[ScottG]

http://www.supravox.fr/anglais/haut_...0_2000_EXC.htm

or the BD15 bass

http://www.bd-design.nl/index.html?l...arget=d82.html

they are both low mass drivers

there are even lower mass 15" drivers but they don't have the freq. extension of either.

for very low non-linear distortion, but higher mass with greater physical impact but less tonal ability look to the BMSPro 15N830v²

http://www.bmspro.info/index.php?sho...10282&id=54382

[FE3T]

Im not quite sure about the abillity to play up to 700hz or higher, but im totally inlove with these:
Rockford Fosgate Punch Power DVC 15

[Pano]

Thanks guys, that gives me some new stuff to look at.

Anyone have any other favorites from Beyma, B&C, EV or others?

[erkq]

An Altec 416 will play to 700Hz. But it gets fairly directional that high as any big speaker will. Mine have a -3dB point of 18Hz in a 6 cu ft tuned box. So, good range too. Good durability... I have a pair I bought 30 years ago... still going strong. Can find then on eBay for < $250 each. Find cast basket versions (mostly 8B's, some 8A's) with surface mount gaskets. Stay away from stamped metal baskets.

[SEIJI]

I own a pair of Altec 416-16B which souded prety good!!!

And I am seriously considering to get a pair of electromagnet supravox 200-400.........................any one has got any listening experience on the supravox??

I used TAD TD4001 + TH4001 as midrange and PT-R9 as high.

[freddi]

some lower mass Eminence weren't too shabby, I like Altec 421 as used to be cheaper than 416, B&C are higher mass so less efficient in voice range than 5% or higher efficient drivers

[dwk123]

The 18Sound 15ND930 is one to look at. Neo motor AND demodulation rings. First impedance glitch is well over 1k according to the lit. A bit pricey, though.
A variant of this is used in the Yorkville U15, although they're crossed at ~350 in that application so I can't say much first hand about the top-end extension.

[tomtt]

Originally posted by panomaniac
.

Looking for low distortion, good extension and high sensitivity. The driver will be used in a bass reflex box of anywhere from 3 to 9 cubic feet. (85 - 255L) .

Altec 515b- 'a proven track record' and 'maintain $ value'

hardly go wrong with these


http://images.google.com/images?q=al...&start=21&sa=N

http://images.search.yahoo.com/searc...-8&fr2=tab-web

[Pano]

Thanks again for the nice answers.
I love the sound of Altec Drivers, I've never owned them, but certainly have heard and used them.

Got a few of questions:

erkq: You’re getting an F3 of 18Hz from a 416? Wow, that's impressive! What is the tuning on that? Normal ported box, or something else?


fredii: I see the 421 on eBay all the time at good prices. Just don't know anything about the driver. Wasn't it designed as a "Musical Instrument" driver? How does it sound in a normal hi-fi application? It has a reasonable VAS.
Which of the Eminence low mass 15s do you like? (I might go cheap, then upgrade later)


tomtt: I love the 515bs that I've heard - but they seem to be fetching darn good prices these days. Worth it?