Mach5 vs. Dayton Reference

[andrewmc]

Hi Everyone,

I'm going to build a subwoofer to play in conjunction with a small fullrange driver (fr125s, aura ns3 or hivi b3s)

It should probably play fairly flat from 40hz up to 150hz with low distortion -- probably in a sealed box for lower group delay, but I can be persuaded otherwise.

Since the sub may play up to 150hz, I am strongly considering building two so that I don't destroy any stereo image.

I'm located in Winnipeg MB right now, and I like the price of the Mach5 woofers:

http://mach5audio.com/index-2.html

But I haven't seen any tests of them, and the 10" sub doesn't seem well suited to a sealed box.

The other alternative is the dayton reference series woofer:

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=295-460

Not sure if the 10" will do the trick, or if I would need to step up to the 12".

Any suggestions? Oh, I'd appreciate some advice about amplifiers -- how do you figure out how much power you need?

[hooha]

Hmmm...

That's quite a comparison - a $43 unit vs. $140 unit (CA). Granted, the MAW line should be priced much higher than it currently is, but even if it is priced at double, its still surprising.

Why don't you shoot me an email and swing by to give it a listen.

Mark

[audioferret]

Why do you want to crossover so high? The FR125 you mentioned will handle exceptionally well down to 80 Hz or lower in a sealed or ported box (recommend sealed, I have a pair) I think 150 Hz is unneccessary in this case. The CSS drivers are quite exceptional.

From http://www.planet10-hifi.com/sealed.html

[audioferret]

Also, If you would like to build a pair of small boxes, check out the Extremis, the same driver mentioned in this thread.

Openly Baffled: DDR in Extremis

The bass produced by this driver will definitely handle your desired range and than some.

Also, check out the HTFR that Raw Acoustics is selling. He also sells a kit and semi-finished cabinets.

http://www.rawacoustics.com/item__HT...r_kit,811.html

http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/i...?topic=33882.0

[andrewmc]

Mark, thanks for the offer. I'll take you up on that sometime in early feb. if that's okay with you. I can afford to go either route, and $100 in the price of the drivers is small compared to the amount of effort it is going to take to build everything, but if your driver will do the trick, I'd be happier buying locally.

I could probably live without a sub with the fr125s, but certainly the ns3 and b3s will need to be crossed much higher, both for power handling, and poor distortion in that range -- I'd like to have the option of crossing that high if I want to.

[hooha]

No, you can't live without a sub!

No problem. Heck, for $100/channel you can double up on the drivers.

Actually, if you end up getting those fr125's there's a couple of us who would like to hear them.

Best,
Mark

[owdi]

I've heard the fr125s in a sealed MTM w/ no sub, and with a sub, and it sounded much better with a sub. Read this blog for a good idea of what the Dayton Reference series subwoofers are capable of. Based on the harmonic distortion sweep the 12" will sound great crossed over 2nd order at 150hz.

Dan

[gmilitano]

Hi andrewmc

Good stuff, another Winnipeger!

I built a Ported Subwoofer with the MAW-10. I am very pleased with it. You are more than welcome to come down for a listen. I use it to fill out the bottom end of my Fostex FE127E Sealed Bipole so my setup is fairly similar to what you are planning.

[andrewmc]

Thanks gmilitano,

I may take you up on that. I have the fr's mounted in cardboard boxes for break in right now. Will move them to some open back boxes I picked up at Jysk when my router bits arrive, and eventually to a proper enclosure.

I'd be happy to bring them along (incomplete as they may be).

[paulspencer]

Is there a measured frequency response for the 6.5" midbass?