World's best midrange Blind Testing - Need your help.

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#362
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#365
xrk971 said:
Does anyone care to give reasons why the ATC is worth nearly $600?

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/mult...nd-testing-need-your-help-32.html#post4391820
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Well it does weigh a lot. I know this isn't exactly a good answer but it contains huge ferrite magnets and a lot of machined metal work. It isn't worth $600, but going along with the old don't charge what it's worth, charge what they will pay saying....

Really the driver needs updating with a light weight neo magnet that way they could reduce the flange size dramatically and overcome one of the drivers largest issues, it's effective diameter.
 
#366
My Heil AMT weighs a lot too (12lbs) because of a huge magnet, is probably considered by some as a world class tweeter, but costs $350. Reducing flange size would be key. I thought it was big because they wanted a 5in waveguide to go with it? The graph does look very smooth and Inwould love to hear one. Do you think buying the similar Tang Band dome gets you 95% of the way there?
 
#369
Bob Richards said:
I wish the Vifa TC9 driver was being looked at too, since it's identicle to the Peerless TG9 except for the cone material and color. Not everyone likes the look of the TG9 light gray cone with black dust cover. It looks a little bit like an eyeball.

The TG has a smoother FR than the TC, according to the published spec, but it would be interesting to see what it really looks like from someone who isn't trying to sell it.
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The one i'm now curious is the 12MU from Scan-speak. Really expensive though but after hearing the 10F i think it could be interesting. Anyone here compared the two ?
 
#373
Listening session no.2 with xover 450hz to 4,500hz

By popular demand, i changed xovers to a more limited bandwith.

Results ?
Didn't change a tiny bit my overall perception of any of the drivers. It's just more annoying to listen...

Will also try an even more reduced bandwith in a future listening session but i'm quite sure i'm losing my time here: Sonic signature of each drivers keeps the same. And that is WITHOUT any EQ, so let's imagine how it will be with some corrections...

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Still: i took time to listen every one of them using that xover, with a refined list of musical excerpts, and i'm taking notes.

First Pending elimination: Visaton B80 and Fane 5FRK.
Will wait for EQ corrections and further listening, but there is some clouds above their magnets. Lack of micro-dynamics, overall on the dull side, nothing special to offer compared to the others. Cannot enjoy music while listening at them. At least for now.

That's it for pending elimination for now. I would consider all remaining ones as potential good contenders even though i'm starting to have preferences: Visaton Ti100 and Scan 10F. But all others seems to have qualities that needs in-depth evaluation. And EQ corrections.
 
#375
Bob Richards said:
I'd be very interested in your impressions using only 6dB/octave rolloff rates, and with f = 500 and 7kHZ. This is closer to how I would use them, and might be more revealing. Again, the size of the baffle board will come into play below about 1 kHZ ("Baffle step").
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Can't do that right now, it would be misleading.
I don't use (yet) a proper baffle, to begin with, no EQ (yet) as you know and 7khz is already the upper limit using 48db/oct, so i cannot imagine having any reliable results with 6db/oct...

Would gain in music listening enjoyment, though!
But for now, i must suffer. 😀
 
#376
Listening session no.3 with xover 350hz to 5,500hz


I'm pushing it a bit by lowering to 350hz but still; sonic signature remains for all drivers. No sudden changes.

Both 10F and Ti100 are very charming.
I've thrown in the test the 5'' Airborne FR151B8 paper cone version and for what i hear so far, that's the leader. At least to my ears.

That's it for today, i'll update you later this week-end with further listening sessions, that MIGHT include the Radian PB950 Be (!)
 
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#378
That Ti100 looks beautiful, but has a very prominent resonance peak at 7kHz. Not sure if that is going to work well for the 7kHz XO.

TI 100 - 8 Ohm

If you like the Ti100, perhaps the Tang Band W4-1337SD should be on your list? Seems to be more sensitive, flatter response, pure titanium cone, has Nd motor, no nasty 7kHz peak.

http://www.parts-express.com/pedocs/specs/264-848-tang-band-w4-1337sd-specifications-45672.pdf

You like the Airborne with a whizzer? Isn't that a no-no for a true mid? You want it to be pistonic and to not operate on cone breakup resonance.
 
#379
You like the Airborne with a whizzer? Isn't that a no-no for a true mid? You want it to be pistonic and to not operate on cone breakup resonance.
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Well, among the finest mid drivers i heard in my life, there is the Seas Exotic F8, Lowther DX4 and Voxativ AC2.8/AC1.6 that all have wheezers.

All better than the (excellent) and also 8'' Visaton B200 that has no wheezer.

I don't know what more to tell about that... Not an issue for me at all. I rely on the results i hear.
 
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#380
If you like the Ti100, perhaps the Tang Band W4-1337SD should be on your list? Seems to be more sensitive, flatter response, pure titanium cone, has Nd motor, no nasty 7kHz peak.
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Peaks do not afraid me since i'll EQ everything.
On the other hand, dips (or roll-offs) can be a real problem since you might end trying to push a driver out of his capabilities, which is almost always not a good idea.

EQing can only extract the most from a driver (if well done) but it does NOT change the sonic signature nor his natural capabilities.

and, yes, i might try a Tang Bang.
 
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