I make my own bending wave drivers. I got them from there Composite Envisions | Carbon Fiber Fabrics, Kevlar/Aramid, Zylon, Fiberglass, Carbon Fiber/Kevlar Hybrids and Carbon Fiber/Fiberglass Hybrids
I would really like to see the Rohacell drivers from SB come down in price near the aluminum, and a full line developed. They measure so nice, and have better IMD than their cousins. But the price is at such an awkward place, right between standard SB and Satori, when really it should really just be one or the other.
The series has not developed - you could always go custom.. build your own cones but use the rest from Satori
The series has not developed - you could always go custom.. build your own cones but use the rest from Satori
I'd totally play with this if I could figure out where to get suspension components.
SBA can supply that, go through this catalogue - they have page 4 all to themselves
and you could probably chat to USXX (Ulrik)http://www.gotomylis.com/
SBA can supply that, go through this catalogue - they have page 4 all to themselves
http://www.gotomylis.com/
I'd expect the MOQ to be scary, but that's good info.
Well, it depend I guess. To have SBA to produce and assemble, then yes. But if they supply their std parts and you do the rest.. that should be doable. If you just need a pair for yourself, then maybe buy some drivers and pick them apart and replace. You can always reuse the voice coil and all you would need is the spider and suspension... which you can source - many ways to skin a cat
I must say after looking over multiple brands and models, SB Acoustics - including Ulrik - is among the most talented speaker driver manufacturers. Its a relative young company but they have come far in the short amount of time they have been in operation. They are really pushing the boundary's of SQ which matter more than the self view in relationship to cost. Take Accuton, impressive engineering, well built units, doing things differently and so forth, for a geek like me, sure, its outstanding, but having experienced their sandwich and ceramic drivers in person, listened to loudspeakers in the $50-100k range, I'm not that impressed and what's up with the 7-10kHz spike lots of their drivers have... So here we are, talking about SBA's upcoming TX range and it is looking damned good. Yes, the NAC/BNAC is also among the better drivers out there and a sure choice, but I must say, SBA have ruined me for almost all other brands. At least in terms of how I like to design my loudspeakers and the tonality I want my loudspeakers to have. I will always choose SQ over SPL any day. Designing for SPL isn't difficult, get a set of PA drivers and you are done. Proper SQ is difficult and in my opinion, very few manage it properly... but I'll leave it there since what SQ is or has to contain is probably more subjective than objective and everyone has their own taste, which I do respect. We are all here to find that perfect loudspeaker
The story is much more complexed than the way you are putting it.
I've made two way speakers with ordinary Seas L15RLY and morel DMS32s in Visaton WG148R (Xo at 1.7kHz) and compared to two way to SB17NRXC with SB29RDC-C0004 (Xo at 1.7kHz). Both projects more or less documented here on DIY forum. While that SB tweeter is gorgeous, midwoofer sounded like crap regardless of measurements that were superior to little Seas. Seas L15, which is more or less 20 years older design with simple motor and average distortion profile sounded way better than SB17NRXC with copper sleeve and new design using more advanced technology and materials. It does not mean that it will sound better just because of new materials and technology.
Not saying this is the case with all SB drivers, just naming drivers i used and my experience with them.
And not to be taken as proponent for Seas, i am dreaded with their business decisions and pricing. About 6-7 years back i've bought 4 pieces of CA18RNX for 55 euros a piece. Now they cost 80 euros on a good day. Nothing justifies that price increase but greed.
That on the other hand opens the door to small manufacturers (because prices they need to make it worth bothering don't sound that crazy when you look at what you get and compare to Seas Graphene and Excel, SS revelator, illuminator and Elipticor). They are trying to push the boundaries instead of trying to squeeze as much profit from old technology until they have to upgrade their products.
KA-7NEO - Kravchenko-Audio
Anarchy 7 inch woofer by Denovo Audio
Anarchy 5.5 inch 8 ohm woofer by Denovo Audio
http://www.bliesma.de/
Viawave
I've made two way speakers with ordinary Seas L15RLY and morel DMS32s in Visaton WG148R (Xo at 1.7kHz) and compared to two way to SB17NRXC with SB29RDC-C0004 (Xo at 1.7kHz). Both projects more or less documented here on DIY forum. While that SB tweeter is gorgeous, midwoofer sounded like crap regardless of measurements that were superior to little Seas. Seas L15, which is more or less 20 years older design with simple motor and average distortion profile sounded way better than SB17NRXC with copper sleeve and new design using more advanced technology and materials. It does not mean that it will sound better just because of new materials and technology.
Not saying this is the case with all SB drivers, just naming drivers i used and my experience with them.
And not to be taken as proponent for Seas, i am dreaded with their business decisions and pricing. About 6-7 years back i've bought 4 pieces of CA18RNX for 55 euros a piece. Now they cost 80 euros on a good day. Nothing justifies that price increase but greed.
That on the other hand opens the door to small manufacturers (because prices they need to make it worth bothering don't sound that crazy when you look at what you get and compare to Seas Graphene and Excel, SS revelator, illuminator and Elipticor). They are trying to push the boundaries instead of trying to squeeze as much profit from old technology until they have to upgrade their products.
KA-7NEO - Kravchenko-Audio
Anarchy 7 inch woofer by Denovo Audio
Anarchy 5.5 inch 8 ohm woofer by Denovo Audio
http://www.bliesma.de/
Viawave
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I do have response curves for the final prototypes, and they look good - I just cannot show it at this point but it will be on the website next month.
All company's have hits and failures. Like the SEAS 27TFF tweeter, released in 1993 I think, really great tweeter, or Perless HDS-P830*** GFC series, one of my favorites midranges. I don't know about the NRX as midrange but should be good as woofer. NBAC and MFC is drivers I am curious about as midrange so will try them soon. Still need to experience the paper Satori and YG Acoustics version of the Illuminator is fantastic. Seas L15RLY is loved by many and SB17NRXC is discontinued now.
Bliesma and Viawave is on my list.
SEAS has changed tactics and see themselves as a premium brand, which is disappointing.
Bliesma and Viawave is on my list.
SEAS has changed tactics and see themselves as a premium brand, which is disappointing.
If you bought Titan series tweeters, which were supposedly matched pairs and were not, and then a second set to get a matched pair, which you then had; but the remaining 2 were far from spec due to poor QC, would you then have good faith in SEAS as a premium brand? This really made me lose respect for them as a reputable manufacturer.
That said, I was able to modify and get a match in the second pair, but I knew mostly what I was messing with.
Later,
Wolf
That said, I was able to modify and get a match in the second pair, but I knew mostly what I was messing with.
Later,
Wolf
If prices increase dramatically, say twice, but you still get the same product, then that is disappointing or there is little to no performance increase with newer products at a much higher price tag, then that is disappointing -as a general rule.
Very good sound results do not require very expensive drivers, they do not guarantee good results. Just look at KII three and everything will be clear. Seas is a big disappointment and a robbery. replace the former with a little titanium and coat the membrane with god ask what they call Graphine and it costs $ 500, please, by the way Titanium is the ninth most abundant element in the earth's crust, so it's not uncommon.
I'm not even going to start talking about Scan Speak, € 90 for 10f are they normal? I won't fund their greed and neither should we.
I'm not even going to start talking about Scan Speak, € 90 for 10f are they normal? I won't fund their greed and neither should we.
What bothers me is that many company's push the limit, they actually want to provoke and offer something different and sometimes better in the beginning. Once they reach such a level, they lean back and relax and slow down the R&D. Casually sprinkle some "refinement" on an existing product and up the price. Its common in many company's so not unique for audio, but such a behavior bother me. Its one thing if you produce something and further development is extremely difficult and it stagnates.
I have 3 loudspeaker driver manufacturers on my radar: SB Acoustics, Bliesma and Viawave. While Scan-Speak have the Discovery and Illuminator series which I do not have anything against, I'm not so sure about the extra cost is worth it. In the end, we are free to chose and just because I don't like a certain aspect does not mean someone else has to agree
I have 3 loudspeaker driver manufacturers on my radar: SB Acoustics, Bliesma and Viawave. While Scan-Speak have the Discovery and Illuminator series which I do not have anything against, I'm not so sure about the extra cost is worth it. In the end, we are free to chose and just because I don't like a certain aspect does not mean someone else has to agree
That it is but it does occur as titanium oxide.
Titanium oxide is dirt cheap and practically everything we own that is white is so because titanium oxide is used as white pigment.
Turning titanium oxide back into titanium requires vast amounts of energy and because of that metallic titanium will never be cheap. May be not expensive enough to justify $500 but it is not going to be as cheap as its abundancy might suggest.