I now have both 7MS in my 15.5 L (corrected) box CLOSED. Qtc should be about 0.73, F3 about 93 Hz. Even at moderate levels; there is STILL too much IM distortion from deeper bass so I can only conclude these need to be high-pass filtered at 80 Hz or higher.
After getting used to these; regardless of box type, size, tuning, alignment, etc. I honestly have to say I still MUCH prefer the Alpair 7P's. Again; my 7P's are modified with doped cones but even an untreated 7P sounds and performs better than the newer 7MS. This, again, is my personal opinion so; take that for what it's worth.
Maybe; after more long-term break-in, the 7MS will get more "musical"; right now; compared to my 7P's, they still sound like toy speakers (my very first impression holds here). I also am still using the 0.22 mH coil in parallel with 23 Ohms in series to tame the top octave. This also could improve over long-term break-in. If not; I could be happy using these from maybe 200 or 300 Hz high-passed to maybe 4 KHz up to 8 Khz low-passed. As broad-band mids; they will probably do just fine. Regardless, they are not nearly as neutral, natural or "musical" as my 7P's. Again, my opinions; I don't really expect too many people to agree with me necessarily but that's quite alright! Until next time...Cheers!
After getting used to these; regardless of box type, size, tuning, alignment, etc. I honestly have to say I still MUCH prefer the Alpair 7P's. Again; my 7P's are modified with doped cones but even an untreated 7P sounds and performs better than the newer 7MS. This, again, is my personal opinion so; take that for what it's worth.
Maybe; after more long-term break-in, the 7MS will get more "musical"; right now; compared to my 7P's, they still sound like toy speakers (my very first impression holds here). I also am still using the 0.22 mH coil in parallel with 23 Ohms in series to tame the top octave. This also could improve over long-term break-in. If not; I could be happy using these from maybe 200 or 300 Hz high-passed to maybe 4 KHz up to 8 Khz low-passed. As broad-band mids; they will probably do just fine. Regardless, they are not nearly as neutral, natural or "musical" as my 7P's. Again, my opinions; I don't really expect too many people to agree with me necessarily but that's quite alright! Until next time...Cheers!
Hi Nipper, you'r listening seems to correlate with ours, although we were comparing the 7.3 - 7ms. I do feel feel like these were not evaluated very well before release especially considering they have ceased production of the 7's and these are the replacements.
Have you seen the New Markaudio driver thread on here?
Perhaps the new Pluvia 7HD is the new driver for you, A7 guts in new basket, and with a spider. Should be samples kicking around in a few months.
Have you considered the 11ms? Its happier in a small box.
Have you seen the New Markaudio driver thread on here?
Perhaps the new Pluvia 7HD is the new driver for you, A7 guts in new basket, and with a spider. Should be samples kicking around in a few months.
Have you considered the 11ms? Its happier in a small box.
I did consider the 11MS. So, you're saying there is a new Pluvia 7? I haven't looked; is this an improved Pluvia 7 known as 7HD? I'll take a look; you peaked my interest! Do you have any PDF or other docs. you could share the links if I don't find anything? The thing about my world travels, especially Japan, I was exposed to many different design styles in the 70's, 80's and early 90's. I would go to Akihabara in Tokyo every chance I got. This is the big boy electronics toy capital of the world! Street vendors with RARE drivers and boxes; large "high-end" stereo stores and everything in between. The Japanese really like their single driver (true fullrange) systems. One reason, for sure, real estate is EXPENSIVE so the average Japanese person has a VERY small living space and therefore needed very small speakers and electronics but with TRUE High Fidelity. I really miss that place; Heaven on Earth for us "HiFi" speaker nuts! (I read somewhere that the term HiFi was invented by Yamaha for one of their high-end turntables back in the day!)...Cheers!
I’m not so sure Yamaha could be credited for coining the term, but it looks like they managed to be the first to market a product labelled as such - in 1954. HiFi began with Yamaha - Yamaha - United States
Thanks for inspiring the stroll down memory lane - always had a fondness for the company and their products - sold them for a few years during the mid 70, and owned a few. The singular most musical sounding SS amp I heard during that era was the B1.
Thanks for inspiring the stroll down memory lane - always had a fondness for the company and their products - sold them for a few years during the mid 70, and owned a few. The singular most musical sounding SS amp I heard during that era was the B1.
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I haven’t checked to see if this sim is from the initial spec or the final spec (i think the latter).
Looks lik eyour estimate of Q is high, particularily if the box is stuffed — it should be.
Do note that F3 is irrelevent to humans (useful for filters).
dave
Attachments
2 Alpair 7MS in parallel in 15.5 L gives us 7.75 L per driver. I used 3 different online box calculators and came up with Qtc of 0.73 and F3 of 93 Hz. I'm using a Vas of 5.0 L, Qts of 0.57 and Fs of 75 Hz; these are rounded off from the Mark Audio data sheet specs I found online. Maybe there are some newer/updated OEM specs??? Thanks for the info and plots! Box was not fully stuffed, only about 1/4th to 1/3rd total volume fill w/ high density foam (non-compressed). Time to buy more stuffing materials; too many prototype boxes I haven't taken back apart yet...Ah; the joys of retirement and doing my favorite hobbies!
Hey nipper1, I think you hit on it a couple of posts back, where you mentioned high passing the 7MS... It seems like the mono suspension does not like reproducing low bass. I would think that the 7MS is more like a mid-tweet and sealed is the right approach. I bought Markaudio 5 when it first came out many years ago and required sealed/acoustic suspension because it was spider-less. 7MS being larger might not require it at low desk-top volumes. But at meaningful levels using a wide-band woofer instead of (2x) 7MS is the better approach.
XRK on another thread used a Aurum Cantus AC130f1 and a small Fountek with good results. The 7MS with the flat cone profile is touted at having wide dispersion/power response so it might come close to the 2" Fountek. That AC is a very special driver, as it is poly smooth with none to little breakup, but yet sounds alive even at very low sound levels. I built the Continuum which uses the AC and when I listen to it I wonder why I even mess around with single driver ("full range") speakers.
XRK on another thread used a Aurum Cantus AC130f1 and a small Fountek with good results. The 7MS with the flat cone profile is touted at having wide dispersion/power response so it might come close to the 2" Fountek. That AC is a very special driver, as it is poly smooth with none to little breakup, but yet sounds alive even at very low sound levels. I built the Continuum which uses the AC and when I listen to it I wonder why I even mess around with single driver ("full range") speakers.
I have the 7ms in the pensil enclosure and I find them to be nice and warm, and they provide adequate bass if it's anything over say, 60hz. They're the first full range drivers I've had so I have nothing to compare them with in that sense.
For me, they sound great on anything that doesn't have a constant heavy bassline.
For me, they sound great on anything that doesn't have a constant heavy bassline.
I always read mostly really positive things about the AC 130F1; almost bought some many different times but just didn't do it. The 7MS DOES put off a really wide sound stage; a definite plus especially if you use it as a wide-band mid. with maybe a hard dome tweeter crossed in at say 6 to 8 KHz. The highest octave on the 7MS is too ragged for me to consider but, like I said, that may tame down with time. I'm just guessing here but to high-pass the 7MS in the 200 to 400 Hz range,; one would probably need a 2nd order X/O. 400 Hz to 600 Hz, a 1st order will probably work OK assuming you don't need loud. Again, this little guy is not going to get real loud anyway. In all honesty; I did NOT try any high-pass (I can save that for another time I suppose).
Glad to know that they work in a more sophisticated enclosure! I'm not trying to be overly critical or judgmental but I do want to report what I believe to be a fair and honest evaluation. Again, so much of this all comes down to personal tastes and preference.
That's fair enough. I just wanted to put in a positive word about them. I plan to make a FAST out of them some day so hopefully this will play to all their strengths.
I just don't see how they sound like toys to you, maybe the 7p are really good, I have no idea because these are the first full range I've ever heard. I've been comparing them to my two ways, though.
Hello there.
I bought Alpair7MS last summer.
I did not like the sound at all at the time.
Recently I bought miniPC(NUC8i3) for music server and stream TIDAL.
Installed Roon OS. Then changed AC adapter to linear PSU.
Now A7MS sounding correctly focused.
I have compared with MAOP7 then I prefer 7MS.
Detailed vocal sound,clear outline of sound echo...
Bass is not very tight but it is ok for me(small room so).
Flame is pretty soft so I think rubber gasket is too thick.
when I screw tighter, flame wounds and make sound less smooth.
When I loosen screw,bass sound goes too loose.
So I cut off protuberance of rubber gasket.
In Japan also A7MS haven't got best reviews.
But it is wonderful driver.
Sorry for my poor english.
I bought Alpair7MS last summer.
I did not like the sound at all at the time.
Recently I bought miniPC(NUC8i3) for music server and stream TIDAL.
Installed Roon OS. Then changed AC adapter to linear PSU.
Now A7MS sounding correctly focused.
I have compared with MAOP7 then I prefer 7MS.
Detailed vocal sound,clear outline of sound echo...
Bass is not very tight but it is ok for me(small room so).
Flame is pretty soft so I think rubber gasket is too thick.
when I screw tighter, flame wounds and make sound less smooth.
When I loosen screw,bass sound goes too loose.
So I cut off protuberance of rubber gasket.
In Japan also A7MS haven't got best reviews.
But it is wonderful driver.
Sorry for my poor english.
Tamra,
Thanx for the review…
Bass quality is largely determined by the cabinet… what box do you have them in?
It is important that the driver screws are not overtightened… just enuff to hold a real or imaginary washer from spinning under the head of the screw.
dave
Thanx for the review…
Bass quality is largely determined by the cabinet… what box do you have them in?
It is important that the driver screws are not overtightened… just enuff to hold a real or imaginary washer from spinning under the head of the screw.
dave
@tamara,
do tell us more about the box you're using. Is it possible that all these not so great reviews, have really been a revealing driver, revealing poor sources (guilty) or something else (bad mains etc)
do tell us more about the box you're using. Is it possible that all these not so great reviews, have really been a revealing driver, revealing poor sources (guilty) or something else (bad mains etc)
At the risk of sounding culturally insensitive, could some of the Japanese reviews be filtered by “local tastes” - something with which Mark is quite familiar, and to which he has more than once seasoned the FR curves of specific models. I think a perfect example of that would be the very recently released Pluvia 7HD and PHD.
The 1st a metal cone evolved from the A7.3 and the paper version with FR specifically tailored for the Japanese market.
dave
My cabinet is 10L bass reflex made of birch plywood.
Speaker kit for Markaudio 7 series.
?????????????
I know its not best but there are so many 7drivers.
MAOP7,P7HD etc and in the future 7.2 7.3...
I want to try many drivers but problem for space.
A7MS seems good try to build Pensil for my taste now.
I think Japanese audio fans from old Fostex,
They just loves paper cones.(Just my speculation).
Some ppl loved A6P but not A7P,so they made P7PHD(pure copper rectangle voice coil
improve bass and less hashness)
P7HD is made after A7.3. Softer spider with air damper.
For example. percussion sound force,A7MS sounds less power than driver with spider.
A7MS sounds really clear and detailed at quiet night.I can concentrate more on music
not how speaker sounds like. Also need low noise better signal.
But its not powerfull. Very different driver that's why some likes and some not I recogn.
Speaker kit for Markaudio 7 series.
?????????????
I know its not best but there are so many 7drivers.
MAOP7,P7HD etc and in the future 7.2 7.3...
I want to try many drivers but problem for space.
A7MS seems good try to build Pensil for my taste now.
I think Japanese audio fans from old Fostex,
They just loves paper cones.(Just my speculation).
Some ppl loved A6P but not A7P,so they made P7PHD(pure copper rectangle voice coil
improve bass and less hashness)
P7HD is made after A7.3. Softer spider with air damper.
For example. percussion sound force,A7MS sounds less power than driver with spider.
A7MS sounds really clear and detailed at quiet night.I can concentrate more on music
not how speaker sounds like. Also need low noise better signal.
But its not powerfull. Very different driver that's why some likes and some not I recogn.
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