18'' speaker

[MeisterSachs]

I am looking for an 18'' speaker with low distortions, esp at mid frequencies from 500 up to 1800 Hz. The breaking up of the cone should be very small. The SPL should be between 9 and 96 dB, and the system should have a free resonance frequency from 34Hz to 40Hz. The speaker shoud be a low distortion type. The maximal output doesn't concern.
McCauley 6254 was my favorite, but is out of production.

Every recomendation is very welcome!

Frank

[Cal Weldon]

Originally posted by MeisterSachs
up to 1800 Hz.

Hi Frank,

That's awfully high to run a cone that big. Break up will be quite audible. What is your application?

[MeisterSachs]

I use it in a open frame up to 500Hz. Therefore breaking up should be small for low distortions.

[Cal Weldon]

You're asking about PA drivers, none of which are known for low distortion as far as I know. Perhaps someone else can answer from here.

[HK26147]

I use 2242H JBL 18's. But ONLY up to 100Hz.
An 18" will beam quickly, and probably be - 6db down off-axis starting at below 1Khz.

[tinitus]

Frank, you may know your country fellow men at HTH traumboxen

Despite their origin and price range those A&D should work very well in OB
Some germans who seemed to have quite high demands told here that the A&D woofers lived up to their expectations
Another member in here have designed a fine OB with A&D

But you mention McCauley, which are expencive drivers
So if you are after the very special stuff, cost no matter, then there are some fine woofers from Fertin or Supravox
The field coil versions are adjustable on Qts and sensitivity, and good candidated fore OB

Well, a special 15" dipole woofer made by AE Speakers in USA are probably among some of the finest OB woofers
They are affordable, so a little additional expences shouldnt scare anyone away, if they are what it takes to build the dream project
But they are not shown on their site, but needs to be ordered


But you ask fore low distortion, which reminds me
Two woofers, clamshell mounted, isobaric, compound, pushpull or whatever its called, should result in lower distortion dur to greater symmetrie
Only clamshell mounting is not very practical fore playing anything but the lowest subbas
But there may be a way around that issue
If your baffle was made very thick, thery would be room fore both woofers being mounted the best way possible...one pointing forwards, and the other pointing backwards
Think of it, none of the supposed chassis issues from the back of the driver
Even if the problems solved seems to be minor, in the world of speaker design it may be a huge step...fore mankind...man I just stepped on the moon...I think I get dizzy now

[simon5]

I would recommend Acoustic Elegance TD15-M which is good to about 2 kHz and flat to 4 kHz on-axis only.

But since you want 18 inches... you might want to try the new Acoustic Elegance TD18-H... they did their best, but it's as good as the TD15-M. It will beam more, and the breakup is lower in frequency and less controlled. It's also a bit less efficient, but much more excursion and much more bass.

Good luck !