Hi all,
I'm planning a 2-Way PA build using a 12'' woofer crossed over at around 1500-2000hz to a CD/horn and would like some opinions on the available options. The speakers would normally be used with a sub but a bit of bass extension for possible use full-range would be preferred.
I'm trying to keep the driver cost to around the equivalent of $100-150 (I'm in Germany so that means 90-140€, but parts prices vary a lot between here and the US so this complicates things a bit).
The two drivers I have in mind at this stage are the PA310-8 from Dayton (retails for 90-odd € here) and the Delta-Pro 12A from Eminence (140€ here).
PA310-8 12" Pro Woofer 8 Ohm Specification Sheet
https://www.eminence.com/pdf/Delta_Pro_12A.pdf
What I like about both is:
Both seem to be decent designs with some care taken at the price point (e.g. a copper cap on the Dayton motor). The Eminence is pricier but perhaps a better-established model and company for PA.
Anyway, does anyway have experience / measurements with either of these drivers?
Or perhaps suggestions for alternative drivers?
Cheers,
Andreas
I'm planning a 2-Way PA build using a 12'' woofer crossed over at around 1500-2000hz to a CD/horn and would like some opinions on the available options. The speakers would normally be used with a sub but a bit of bass extension for possible use full-range would be preferred.
I'm trying to keep the driver cost to around the equivalent of $100-150 (I'm in Germany so that means 90-140€, but parts prices vary a lot between here and the US so this complicates things a bit).
The two drivers I have in mind at this stage are the PA310-8 from Dayton (retails for 90-odd € here) and the Delta-Pro 12A from Eminence (140€ here).
PA310-8 12" Pro Woofer 8 Ohm Specification Sheet
https://www.eminence.com/pdf/Delta_Pro_12A.pdf
What I like about both is:
- they play quite low in a relatively small box (50-hz-ish in 40L, with the Dayton modelling a little better on this front)
- they have reasonably smooth midrange response for a large driver
- they are efficient enough (96db+, with the Eminence doing better on this front at more like 99db)
Both seem to be decent designs with some care taken at the price point (e.g. a copper cap on the Dayton motor). The Eminence is pricier but perhaps a better-established model and company for PA.
Anyway, does anyway have experience / measurements with either of these drivers?
Or perhaps suggestions for alternative drivers?
Cheers,
Andreas
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I quite liked my Fane Sov. Pro 12-500 drivers. Bit of a spike at 2.5kHz, but otherwise pretty smooth through the midrange.
I found them a little lacking when it comes to long-term thermal power handling, though. With just a pole-piece vent, things got quite hot in there. By the end of a louder gig, they were roughly 6dB down on the HF and LF sections. I was using an amp capable of 1.2KW per driver, though. At lower levels they packed a pretty solid punch when used without a sub.
These days, I've gone on to 2x10"s instead of a single 12". Faital Pro make the 10"s, and they're very very good.
Chris
I found them a little lacking when it comes to long-term thermal power handling, though. With just a pole-piece vent, things got quite hot in there. By the end of a louder gig, they were roughly 6dB down on the HF and LF sections. I was using an amp capable of 1.2KW per driver, though. At lower levels they packed a pretty solid punch when used without a sub.
These days, I've gone on to 2x10"s instead of a single 12". Faital Pro make the 10"s, and they're very very good.
Chris
Thanks Chris, interesting. Which Faitals are you using these days?
Also should have mentioned in the OP in case it wasn't clear, the cabs will be ported.
Cheers,
A
Actually a driver that I've just realised is very cheap here is the Faital Pro 12PR300 (150€).
http://www.faitalpro.com/en/products/LF_Loudspeakers/product_details/datasheet.php?id=101050110
Not quite as high max SPL as I'm modelling it (but close), although presumably a significantly higher quality driver than the others I've been looking at.
Do others agree?
Still very much open to other ideas though...
A
http://www.faitalpro.com/en/products/LF_Loudspeakers/product_details/datasheet.php?id=101050110
Not quite as high max SPL as I'm modelling it (but close), although presumably a significantly higher quality driver than the others I've been looking at.
Do others agree?
Still very much open to other ideas though...
A
The 12PR300 does have a 2.5" voice coil combined with a minimum gap depth and voice coil winding height, making it a bit of a fragile speaker i.m.o. Not one that you would use if you're saying you want to use it full range from time tot time.
The Eminence also has a 2.5" VC but the gap depth is 25% larger. The Dayton has a 3" VC and i.m.o. if you want to have a long living (single driver) top, that's what you want to have.
The Eminence and Faital have a die-cast basket whereas the Dayton has a stamped steel frame.
From the three, I would personally probably go for the Dayton but the Eminence has a lower Vas and higher Qts which could squeeze a bit of extra low end out of a small cabinet.
However, as you're located in Europe, I would suggest the 12-280/A from Thomann. It has all benefits listed above combined and is cheaper as well..
https://images6.static-thomann.de/pics/atg/atgdata/document/manual/193263_en_online.pdf
Johan
The Eminence also has a 2.5" VC but the gap depth is 25% larger. The Dayton has a 3" VC and i.m.o. if you want to have a long living (single driver) top, that's what you want to have.
The Eminence and Faital have a die-cast basket whereas the Dayton has a stamped steel frame.
From the three, I would personally probably go for the Dayton but the Eminence has a lower Vas and higher Qts which could squeeze a bit of extra low end out of a small cabinet.
However, as you're located in Europe, I would suggest the 12-280/A from Thomann. It has all benefits listed above combined and is cheaper as well..
https://images6.static-thomann.de/pics/atg/atgdata/document/manual/193263_en_online.pdf
Johan
My brother has two 12" Box Cabinets and they perform well for the price.
The crossover inside has some kind of Mosfet protection for the HF.
Of course they play a little quieter than the Eighteensound (Former RCF engineers)drivers assembled on other self made cabinets...
The crossover inside has some kind of Mosfet protection for the HF.
Of course they play a little quieter than the Eighteensound (Former RCF engineers)drivers assembled on other self made cabinets...
The provided frequency response isn't really Real Response when it comes to boxes around it. My 44Hz lowest rated woofer happily does 23Hz loud and clear.
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