Dayton RSS390HF-4 15"?

[Elbert]

Now that the horn project has been concluded and abandoned, the quest for new adventures in low frequency continues.

Browsing around, I came across this 15" Dayton Woofer:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=295-468

Some simulations showed impressive output down to 20 Hz in a 220L vented enclosure, and even in a closed box of "only" 160L, the -3dB point was around 30 Hz.

Does anybody have practical experience with this particular driver in any application??

[bobhowell]

A guy recently blew a couple of these when tuning @18hz and using 500w /boost, as I understand.

The story is somewhere on the PE board, dated Jan.

[Elbert]

Well, 500 W and 18 Hz + boost you say?

According to the simulations I made in WinISD, that would proably take you safely beyond the point of no return (in more than one sense) both in terms of excursion and thermal VC loading, so small surprise!

[bobhowell]

It was part of a larger thread on that driver. Seems a lot of folks like it vented and tuned low for HT. I did not read it close because it was not what I was searching for. Just amazed.

[bottomfeeder]

a friend of mine is running four ,each driver in a sealed 3 cubic feet box .
he is driving it with a adcom 4 ch amp , he gets 111 db at 20 hz .
He built the box from win isd .

[Elbert]

Wow.. 111 dB and 20 Hz!

Must say that 3 cubic feet is not a huge box size, was there a lot of EQ involved?

The box size I have calculated when playing around ends up at about 160 L for an -3 dB of 30 Hz.

Have been thinking about building a pair of vented subs with the Peerless XXSL 12" alu-woofers which should reach 20 Hz, but then again, a Dayton 15" in a closed box will have much better group delay..

I guess the big question is really how big the difference will be in sonic quality..

[ma_coule]

Originally posted by Elbert

I guess the big question is really how big the difference will be in sonic quality..

Hi Elbert,
what a coincidence! About two years ago I was standing almost at the same crossroad...
After a lot of simulations I decided on Dayton RSS390HF-4 15"... and I'm very satisfied.
I push them with Hypex 400 (later maybe with 700) from 20 to about 70 Hz (f3) in 75 L (netto) sealed box.
Are you sure that you need two of them?
If you need any further info you're welcome!
Cheers,

[bottomfeeder]

to elbert post # 6
His current eq type is a audessy .
Remember it is 4x15" woofers, I think his adcom is a 4x200 watt .
I found all ported subs need some help or must have a subsonic filter .
What the audessy can do is not only fix the sub cabinet size but helps room problems too .

[Elbert]

Ah!

Good to hear about some experiences!

If I go for the Dayton 15", I'll probably run a larger cabinet than 75-80L, more like 160 in order to get the benefits of good group-delay and not use up to much headroom with EQ correction.

I guess one unit would do, but there are a couple of reasons I'll probably go for stereo-subs:

1:

Better distribution of room modes, two LF sources in one rom (at different locations) will increase the number of modes, thereby allowing a better averaging effects.

2:

Stereo-subs allow higher X-over point meaning that I can run small stereo-speakers at realistic levels without killing them with excessive cone-excursion.

Would be interesting to know if anybody has tried these drivers (or comparable) in both vented and closed boxes and what the listening experience was? Is the difference in group delay noticeable? and is the closed box set-up worth the trade off in LF extension in any way?

[ma_coule]

Originally posted by Elbert

If I go for the Dayton 15", I'll probably run a larger cabinet than 75-80L, more like 160 in order to get the benefits of good group-delay and not use up to much headroom with EQ correction.

Hi Elbert,
maybe you can find the answer about your interesting dilemma here: http://www.trueaudio.com/post_010.htm

Cheers,