I'm looking around for what's a good speaker that'll work well in a sealed box such as the LS3/5A spec box. Falcon acoustics have recommend a SPH-135TC as they say it works well in a small sealed cabinet but have none in stock. I have also seen a SPH-135AD anyone compared those two drivers sonically?
Obviously I've heard the B110 in the LS3/5A and its a great combination of organic and richness. These are such old drivers though surely things have improved and it would be nice to have something which betters it for less money as the retail of those now are very high.
Something warm colourful and detailed sounding would be nice.
Another one a DIY forum member mentioned was the Peerless Heritage 5 1/4" woofer: Peerless TPY05W08O0088 5-1/4" Heritage Family Woofer 8 Ohm. Cant seem to find any in the UK though would have to import that one. Those old clear ProAc drivers are not available anymore by any chance are they the Seas type? And would they work in a small sealed box?
I've actually got two builds on the go I may get the cheaper Monacor for one and maybe splash out a little more on something a little more upmarket for the other, any suggestions welcome and greatly appreciated.
Obviously I've heard the B110 in the LS3/5A and its a great combination of organic and richness. These are such old drivers though surely things have improved and it would be nice to have something which betters it for less money as the retail of those now are very high.
Something warm colourful and detailed sounding would be nice.
Another one a DIY forum member mentioned was the Peerless Heritage 5 1/4" woofer: Peerless TPY05W08O0088 5-1/4" Heritage Family Woofer 8 Ohm. Cant seem to find any in the UK though would have to import that one. Those old clear ProAc drivers are not available anymore by any chance are they the Seas type? And would they work in a small sealed box?
I've actually got two builds on the go I may get the cheaper Monacor for one and maybe splash out a little more on something a little more upmarket for the other, any suggestions welcome and greatly appreciated.
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Do you have a fixed budget or maximum price in mind?
FaitalPRO 5FE120 5" Professional Midbass Midrange Woofer 8 Ohm
This is a really good choice at the lower price range. Overall very good performance; easy to work with.
SEAS Prestige CA15RLY (H1216) 5.5" Coated Paper Cone Woofer
SEAS Prestige ER15RLY (H1455) 5.5" Reed Paper Cone Woofer
These 2 Seas models are quite popular. MANY choices in this size.
FaitalPRO 5FE120 5" Professional Midbass Midrange Woofer 8 Ohm
This is a really good choice at the lower price range. Overall very good performance; easy to work with.
SEAS Prestige CA15RLY (H1216) 5.5" Coated Paper Cone Woofer
SEAS Prestige ER15RLY (H1455) 5.5" Reed Paper Cone Woofer
These 2 Seas models are quite popular. MANY choices in this size.
According to Willys Hifi, the Monacor SPH-135AD you mentioned "is used in the Sterling Broadcast LS3/5a and is universally acknowledged as the best modern and superior alternative to the classic KEF B110". https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0809/2387/files/sph-135-ad.pdf?16855655710546981037
I wondered about that also. Unfortunately, no one stocks Monacor in the US or Canada to my knowledge anyway. I have read that some of their drivers are very good indeed. One day; I may just order some directly from Europe; a modern version of the LS3/5A appeals to me also.
I have been very happy with the Satori line from SB. I have a Wavecor driver on order now to play with and test. The "Balanced Drive" series from Wavecor are getting really good reviews so far; equal or better than Scan Speak, Seas, Satori, etc.
Audio Technology are just WAY out of my price range but some say they are the some of the best if not THE best drivers available!??
I have been very happy with the Satori line from SB. I have a Wavecor driver on order now to play with and test. The "Balanced Drive" series from Wavecor are getting really good reviews so far; equal or better than Scan Speak, Seas, Satori, etc.
Audio Technology are just WAY out of my price range but some say they are the some of the best if not THE best drivers available!??
Thanks very much for the suggestions all.
This seems interesting
I didn't have a specific budget in mind but I would like to just get something decent as possible with value for money being the key and DIY completely trumps anything off the shelf with respect to these type of designs. I wouldnt mind trying an exotic driver as long as its well worth it and it'll work in this small cabinet well. I see those Seas drivers are very popular especially with some like ProAc which are one of my favourite manufactures. I would be interested in possibly a pair of those in one of my sets of speakers I am building. The B110 is the obvious choice in the LS3/5A and it is such a glorious combination but surely things have improved from it. The thing is it was a winning formula and I suppose all ways will be, yet as a result of being so sort after they do demand high prices. So do ProAc new tablette 10s as well, which are basically another attempt at a more modern better LS3/5A.
Yes I have tried contacting Monacor to advise but no answer yet. However Falcon Acoustics Jerry told me specifically the TC was the best, wire it parallel at 8 ohms and its superb in a small cabinet. I wouldn't go wrong with that one even though he didnt even have any in stock. Someone on this forum also suggested a Peerless I asked Jerry about this and he said it was a good driver but needs a bigger box, Monacor was the better choice.
It seems I have the opposite problem to you
many possible drivers are stocked in the US but not necessarily available easily in the UK, but I think the Monacor is one I am going to go for when I decided which one is better. But I may also try a Seas as a 'improved' variant build maybe.
This seems interesting
I didn't have a specific budget in mind but I would like to just get something decent as possible with value for money being the key and DIY completely trumps anything off the shelf with respect to these type of designs. I wouldnt mind trying an exotic driver as long as its well worth it and it'll work in this small cabinet well. I see those Seas drivers are very popular especially with some like ProAc which are one of my favourite manufactures. I would be interested in possibly a pair of those in one of my sets of speakers I am building. The B110 is the obvious choice in the LS3/5A and it is such a glorious combination but surely things have improved from it. The thing is it was a winning formula and I suppose all ways will be, yet as a result of being so sort after they do demand high prices. So do ProAc new tablette 10s as well, which are basically another attempt at a more modern better LS3/5A.
Yes I have tried contacting Monacor to advise but no answer yet. However Falcon Acoustics Jerry told me specifically the TC was the best, wire it parallel at 8 ohms and its superb in a small cabinet. I wouldn't go wrong with that one even though he didnt even have any in stock. Someone on this forum also suggested a Peerless I asked Jerry about this and he said it was a good driver but needs a bigger box, Monacor was the better choice.
It seems I have the opposite problem to you
many possible drivers are stocked in the US but not necessarily available easily in the UK, but I think the Monacor is one I am going to go for when I decided which one is better. But I may also try a Seas as a 'improved' variant build maybe.
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North American distributor Newark.com carries a few Monacor units. Not sure if any are suitable for OP's application here.
https://www.newark.com/c/audio-video/speaker-components/speakers?brand=monacor
I have heard the 135tc and the 135AD. They are quite similar, the AD has a slightly bigger peak about 7k and certainly run full range it can be yeard. The tc is less sensitive at 8ohm which might or might not be an issue. A driver that looks very promising that I have not heard is the Monacor sph 130. This has very similar specs to the kef B110, but looks much less peaky.
IF you want to try, BEYMA 5m30 aluframe PAPER CONE unfortunately the surrounding FOAM is sometimes not real good. So you need to check that you get new Brand NEW Drivers..then they will last.. check this out..
I have used them a lot, manufactured int SPAIN., Valencia
ALTAVOZ 5"M30 8 OH
I have used them a lot, manufactured int SPAIN., Valencia
ALTAVOZ 5"M30 8 OH
Good value drive units
At cpc.farnell there is an interesting Peerless SDS-135F25CP002-06 unit for 8.75 GBP including vat. Another option is a little higher priced Visaton W130S-8.
At cpc.farnell there is an interesting Peerless SDS-135F25CP002-06 unit for 8.75 GBP including vat. Another option is a little higher priced Visaton W130S-8.
hmm, bigger peak at 7k hey, not sure whether I like the sound of that.
The SPH-130 does look very good, I thought it was the metal cone you was talking about but its this one, yes?
MONACOR: SPH-130
I would like to try a monacor, but the easiest one on the ears if possible.
MONACOR SPH-130 - 5.5" Mid-range
It shows it here in comparison to a few others. Its really hard to know which would be more suitable. Wish I knew more about VAS etc, but I am learning slowly. I've got the bug for DIY speakers now, wish I had gone that way years ago. Before if I didn't like a speaker I used to change it. Well I must have tried almost all types, yet the ones that did things really well that I liked I should have just kept and tweaked. I would have saved a fortune But you have to go there I suppose to know what its like. I learned a lot about speaker sounds in the process if nothing else.
I also think some of the best sounds Ive heard have come out of ProAc speakers, which have used decent drive units as a rule. But those speakers are so expensive relatively for what you get. And so are LS3/5As, sound nice though.
It shows it here in comparison to a few others. Its really hard to know which would be more suitable. Wish I knew more about VAS etc, but I am learning slowly. I've got the bug for DIY speakers now, wish I had gone that way years ago. Before if I didn't like a speaker I used to change it. Well I must have tried almost all types, yet the ones that did things really well that I liked I should have just kept and tweaked. I would have saved a fortune
But you have to go there I suppose to know what its like. I learned a lot about speaker sounds in the process if nothing else. I also think some of the best sounds Ive heard have come out of ProAc speakers, which have used decent drive units as a rule. But those speakers are so expensive relatively for what you get. And so are LS3/5As, sound nice though.
Jeff Bagby's Continuum is a modern version of the LS3/5
Continuum-Writeup
Continuum II Loudspeaker Kit - Meniscus Audio
between Jeff's design chops and the quality of the drivers, I don't think you're going to do much better in this 'class' of speaker.
Continuum-Writeup
Continuum II Loudspeaker Kit - Meniscus Audio
between Jeff's design chops and the quality of the drivers, I don't think you're going to do much better in this 'class' of speaker.
That looks like a very nice kit. Think I may just pull the trigger on the 135TC for now as Jerry from Falcon recommended. Im still all ears for another good pair of mid basses for the other set I'm building though. Something better possibly, this is quite an experience making your own loudspeakers.
My parting shot - Wilmslow Audio certainly like the 135AD.
Look at their LS3 kit. The tweeter choice and crossover design is likely be more important than the difference between The 135TC and the 135AD.
WA LS3 Bookshelf Loudspeaker
Look at their LS3 kit. The tweeter choice and crossover design is likely be more important than the difference between The 135TC and the 135AD.
WA LS3 Bookshelf Loudspeaker
If you do go for the Monacor, I can recommend Audiomate, if you do not or cannot source them from Falcon.
Doesn't the original BBC monitor have transformators in the filter that make it particular as well ?
From memory the B110 was a little colored but had many models, so the magic was maybe the whole synergy. Not sure something more neutral has the magic. But Dynaudio 2 ways type are very musical (doped polymer + the good tweeter). If you can find an old 52SE second hand you can go wrong !
The Bagbys 2 ways' are said to be very musical ...and time aligned. That's where I will go for a diy and a little bookshelf
System7 fellow has certainly something to say for such britanic monitors
Galu noticed Falcon A. : KEF B110 REPLACEMENT SP1003. FALCON B110 8 ohm. MATCHED PAIR. MADE IN UK.
From memory the B110 was a little colored but had many models, so the magic was maybe the whole synergy. Not sure something more neutral has the magic. But Dynaudio 2 ways type are very musical (doped polymer + the good tweeter). If you can find an old 52SE second hand you can go wrong !
The Bagbys 2 ways' are said to be very musical ...and time aligned. That's where I will go for a diy and a little bookshelf
System7 fellow has certainly something to say for such britanic monitors
Galu noticed Falcon A. : KEF B110 REPLACEMENT SP1003. FALCON B110 8 ohm. MATCHED PAIR. MADE IN UK.
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Got the 135 TC in the end on falcons recommendation. Fitted it but I still feel there is a lot of work to do.
Doesn't the original BBC monitor have transformators in the filter that make it particular as well ?
From memory the B110 was a little colored but had many models, so the magic was maybe the whole synergy. Not sure something more neutral has the magic. But Dynaudio 2 ways type are very musical (doped polymer + the good tweeter). If you can find an old 52SE second hand you can go wrong !
The Bagbys 2 ways' are said to be very musical ...and time aligned. That's where I will go for a diy and a little bookshelf
System7 fellow has certainly something to say for such britanic monitors
Galu noticed Falcon A. : KEF B110 REPLACEMENT SP1003. FALCON B110 8 ohm. MATCHED PAIR. MADE IN UK.
I believe as you say its just a sum of the parts in the original that made them what they were and crossover design is something I really need to get working on.
The other option may be if its even possible that is, is to look at active crossovers. Can you model a crossover and sound characteristics more easily with an active crossover like a dayton audio, Wondom or miniDSP whatever and by using good measurement equipment like a Dayton Audio Omnimic V2?
I really don't think I would be able to quickly master any art of working with coils and resistors to the levels of research and standards that went into the LS3/5A easily. However working with real time adjustable variables in software would be a lot easier for me. Could it be modelled that way? Or will digital just not give the sound of analogue components? Perhaps its thinking a bit optimistic with the technology thats out there at the moment.
One option is to use a enclosure modeller that does reverse T/S parameter lookup.
ie. specify enclosure size, type eg. Sealed vs vented, frequency of box tuning (Eg, by FB Hz or port dimensions) ; manufacturers, and size
And let the software search up all drivers of a specific category
Eg.
7L
Vented
Port diameter 38mm; needing turning 55Hz
Brands: Scan-Speak, SEAS, Dayton Audio, Peerless, Vifa, Tymphany
Size: 5”
Driver status: In production
ie. specify enclosure size, type eg. Sealed vs vented, frequency of box tuning (Eg, by FB Hz or port dimensions) ; manufacturers, and size
And let the software search up all drivers of a specific category
Eg.
7L
Vented
Port diameter 38mm; needing turning 55Hz
Brands: Scan-Speak, SEAS, Dayton Audio, Peerless, Vifa, Tymphany
Size: 5”
Driver status: In production
