Best bass driver for small enclosure?

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7V

7V

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Joined 2003
seventh-veil.com
#1
I'm looking for a bass driver for a very small sealed enclosure. I don't yet know the exact size but suspect about 4 litre cabinet volume. I've always preferred sealed to ported enclosures and haven't ruled out the possibility of using two drivers in compound or isobaric configuration to reduce the volume requirement.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Regards
Steve
 
#3
The MCM Electronics 55-3870 runs $18 USD and in a 4L Sealed will do -3db @ 93hz -6 @ 73hz.
ZaphAudio has these measured and reviewed on his web site, he says they are an excellent driver.
"Quote From ZaphAudio: This is also one of the value leaders in this group, and an excellent driver for the price. The cast frame is one of the best in the group, almost as strong and well ventilated as the Seas. Very smooth and clean through the midrange, but not quite the same bass clarity as a couple of the other drivers in this price range. There is a breakup node, but it's very high and easy to deal with. Will work well up to 2.5 kHz with an LR4 filter."
If you can get a hold of them for reasonable shipping they might be worth looking in to.
 
#6
These m&k 8" take up so very little space and put out excellent low tight bass for music. I have 2 spanning the wall on outer sides of monitors. They can be played and heard well at low volumes, and have some balls when you want to play it louder. If you ever want to copy them I can take down dimensions. Someone could probably help pic out drivers better then I could. One member has built small mk remakes maybe he will chime in, he has recommended using a model of peerless.

Parts express has a 250 plate amp that might be worth checking out, since it comes equipt with an eq. Some type of eq would be a good idea. There are better ones but I couldn't find one to purchase here 😕

I would bet one of hypex plates with built in digi eq could sound great with a sealed project, couldn't buy one of those here either.
 

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#7
Is it for a sub type or 2-Way, because arrangements will be different to work with crossover. To design a speaker/sub is better to look for the driver (first) and then to build the enclosure around it with the right parameters. You have below a driver list arranged by F3 (lower on top), choose the one that most pleases you so that, after that, you can find the best enclosure for it.

Wavecor SW182BD01
JL Audio 6W3v3-4
Tang Band W8-1363SBF
Wavecor SW182BD02
Rockford Fosgate P2D2-8
Tang Band W6-1139SIF
Tang Band W5-1138SMF
Tang Band W5-1138SM
Tang Band W8-740P
Seas W15CH001 - E0037 (Wilmslow Audio)
Tang Band W6-1139SI
Rockford Fosgate P28S4
Focal Utopia Be 13 WS
 
#8
It is smaller than you are looking for, but I've heard this driver in a speaker called the "Speedster" and the bass output (especuially for its size) is really impressive: Tang Band W4-1720 4" Underhung Midbass Driver
 
#9
BeauB said:
It is smaller than you are looking for, but I've heard this driver in a speaker called the "Speedster" and the bass output (especuially for its size) is really impressive: Tang Band W4-1720 4" Underhung Midbass Driver
Click to expand...
He-he, nice driver.
But if the OP wants to go for a between to your option and an "ugly" steampunk application, if he is working for or with such clients as James Gurney, Ben Burtt or Larry Harvey, or if he's redecorating his home, spy yacht or submersible then he should go for the PP Tang Band W4-1658SB 4". 😀

Tang Band W4-1658SB 4" Midbass Driver | 264-878
Where you can read:
"...performance rivaling that of much more expensive European speakers. The W4-1658SB features a polypropylene cone, rubber surround, long throw 2" voice coil, and shielded neodymium magnet..."
http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php?33109-Tang-Band-W4-1658SB-distortion-measurements
http://www.lautsprechershop.de/pdf/tangband/w4_1658sb.pdf
 

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#10
Thanks so much for your suggestions, guys. As usual you exceed my expectations!

What if I up the effective volume to, say, 6-8 litres? Does that change your suggestions?

To answer some points brought up here:

Unfortunately, the 8" driver is going to be too big for my enclosure and, I think, the SDX7 as well (thanks for your reply, dave - good to talk again).

I'm making a 2 way, using a Bandor 50mm as a full-range (as I always have). However, as I'm only using one of these per side, I need a bass unit to accompany it. The bass driver doesn't have to reproduce anything above about 250Hz.

My expectation is to make music, albeit not loud. 🙂
 
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#12
7V said:
What if I up the effective volume to, say, 6-8 litres? Does that change your suggestions?
Click to expand...

What would really change suggestions would be allowing for vented. We made Silver Flute W14 work quite well in 5 litres + vent (actually 2 in 10 litre). And it has good response up higher making the XO to a FR MUCH easier. We are still playing with XO to FF85, but somewhere in the neighborhoodof 250-350 Hz.

dave
 
#17
A list of drivers for sealed. Reflex speakers are another breed. (..."I'm out!") 😉
With a driver for a 4/5L in a 8 L what really changes is the Q. In general with higher Q less extension and lower Q meaning higher F3 and better integration with room gain. In this list I'm using a Q of ~0.7 for a good understanding of each driver potential and in relation to each other. I would look in the spec sheets for the frequency output with a good transition to the main driver as you say at 150/250Hz. But I would not let that "get in the way" so to speak. Also, you are mentioning the fact of using smaller than 7" drivers. Also price is not in the equation, so...
Have fun. 🙂

TANGBAND W5-1138SMF, VB = 5.0 L, QTC = 0.7 (50 Hz@-7 dB)
http://oaudio.de/media/products/ae87b7c8a8d8aa49227.pdf
Tang Band W5-1138 SMF Tieftöner - Hobbyhifiladen

TANGBAND W5-1138SM, VB = 6.0 L, QTC = 0.7 (50 Hz@-7.5 dB)
http://www.tb-speaker.com/detail/1208_03/w5-1138sm.htm
Tang Band W5-1138SM 5-1/4" Neodymium Subwoofer | 264-831

AIRBORNE FR148B6-17L, VB = 13.0 L, QTC = 0.7 (50 Hz@-6.5 dB)
http://ehighend.de/pdf/airborne/fr148b617l.pdf
Kamm Lautsprecher Internet-Shop : AIRBORNE Tief- Mitteltöner FR148B6-17L

Monacor SPH-135TC 3 Inch Dual Coil, VB = 10.0 L, QTC = 0.7 (50 Hz@-7.5 dB)
SPH-135TC
Monacor SPH-135TC 3 Inch Dual Coil Speaker Driver 2x 60W

Focal UTOPIA Be, 13WS 5", VB = 6.0 L, QTC = 0.7 (50 Hz@-10 dB)
http://www.focal.com/en/index.php?controller=attachment&id_attachment=514
Amazon.com: 13 WS - Focal 5" 75W RMS Utopia Be Series Subwoofer: Car Electronics
Focal UTOPIA Be, 13WS 5" / 13cm Subwoofer, 75w RMS

JL AUDIO 6W3v3-4, VB = 6.0 L, QTC = 0.7 (50 Hz@-5.5 dB)
Car Audio - Subwoofer Drivers - W1v2
JL Audio 6W3v3-4 W3v3 Series 6.5" 4-ohm subwoofer at Crutchfield.com

SCANSPEAK 15W/8530K00, VB = 5.0 L, QTC = 0.7 (50 Hz@-10.5 dB)
http://www.scan-speak.dk/datasheet/pdf/15w-8530k00.pdf
Scanspeak 15W/8530K00 MidWoofer - Revelator Range
Scanspeak Revelator 15W 8530K00
Here by Troels (DK)
Ellam-FLEX
Ellam-XT
Ellam-98

Also look for FAST monitors (here with a Fostex FF 85K full range driver) from various authors/sources, for ideas as using a 2-Way with a FR tweeter... (google)
Loudspeaker – Floorstanding FAST | Not! That It Matters
 

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#19
I did not suggest it, because they only really work down to 5 litres, but the Monacor 135 AD (or the 135 TC) are fine in 5 litre (and upwards depending on bass alignment) cabinets. They are used in LS3/5a copies.

(You could even try a 2nd hand pair of kef B110s.) Once you get up to 5 litres plus there is a bigger choice.
 
#20
..and #1 is:

Exodus Anarchy

While the driver is larger.. the driver's VAS is quite small (half that of the Seas) while having a decent fs (only slightly higher than other good choices) and a good Qts value for a sealed enclosure:

http://www.zaphaudio.com/temp/EX-Anarchy-TS.gif

-xmax is pretty much unbeatable at over 12mm +/- of linear excursion.

HD is excellent even down to 20 Hz:

http://www.zaphaudio.com/temp/EX-Anarchy-HD.gif

..and it otherwise "measures up" as well:

http://www.zaphaudio.com/temp/EX-Anarchy-FR.gif

http://www.zaphaudio.com/temp/EX-Anarchy-CSD.gif


Of course there is the question of SUPPLY.

DIY Soundgroup apparently has that (now called the "Denovo" Anarchy):

Denovo Audio Anarchy woofer DIY Sound Group



..what this driver really needs is a secondary coil for some active bass enhancement.
 
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