6-7" midbass suggestions 90-91dB/W @ 6-8 ohms

I'm looking for a pair of nice 6 - 7 inch midbass drivers with 90 - 91 dB/2.83V @ 6 - 8 ohms. Budget available is up to $300 per driver.

This is for a high end 4 way system and needs to cover roughly 300 -1000 Hz and should handle a good amount of power (and enough xmax) to allow for higher than average output levels at lower THD. Drivers with smaller voice coils (less than 38mm) won't work for me here due to excess power compression. Yes, I'm probably asking for alot here.

Most of the more common Seas, Scan Speak, Vifa drivers either don't have the sensitivity or power handling. Considered some pro audio drivers as well, but the ones I looked at don't have a track record (ie. distortion measurments, etc). Availability is also a problem here in the US for some of the more boutique type drivers.

Any info would be appreciated.
 
An excellent driver for this band is the SB Acoustics SB17CAC:

SB Acoustics SB17CAC35-4 6 Inch Ceramic Midwoofer Review

Madisound sells the driver in 4 and 8 Ohm versions:
SB Acoustics SB17CAC35-4 6" ceramic woofer
SB Acoustics SB17CAC35-8 6" ceramic woofer

If high output and power handling is a concern then you could try this driver from SB Audience:
SB Audience Nero-6MRN150D 6" Midrange
The only issue is that the Q is very low, so the low end is drooping a bit. This can probably be offset by putting it in a small enclosure. Otherwise, an excellent driver with low distortion and high voltage sensitivity.
 
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About the CAC..

Qts is not as low as SB spec, At 200+hrs still .43, by DATS-2.

I'll check again in a month or two.


I'm thinking the spec sheet is what they used to label 'preliminary'. Or their testing procedures are very different. Bur Erin used a Klippel, which I assume SB would. And he had it at .511
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

Totally forgot about the 6ND430 - I thought that one was replaced by a different model?

Rival looks interesting.

SB17CAC also may be a candidate depending on power compression

The wavecore WF168 doesn't have the required sensitivity in 8 ohm version.

The Tang Band W6-1914SB is NLA according to Parts Express.

SB MW16TX-8 doesn't have enough sensitivity

SB 17CAC also looks to be too low efficiency in 8 ohms

There is the Jantzen JA 8008 HMQ, but its not easy to get here in the US
 
About the CAC..

Qts is not as low as SB spec, At 200+hrs still .43, by DATS-2.

I'll check again in a month or two.


I'm thinking the spec sheet is what they used to label 'preliminary'. Or their testing procedures are very different. Bur Erin used a Klippel, which I assume SB would. And he had it at .511

Q: What relevance does Qts have in this discussion?
A: Zero!

The OP clearly states the driver will be used from 300Hz and up. So the low end of the passband will be far above Fs, and so whatever Qts is has little to no influence on the response there.

Anyway, Erin mentions how awesome this driver is when NOT used below 100Hz. Distortion is very low. He also gives some power compression measurements - see the link I provided in my earlier post. I would suggest using the 4 Ohm version for the higher voltage sensitivity.
 
Get the 18Sound and look no further. It does 115dB from 200Hz. It is essentially without flaws. And it certainly is affordable.

Attached SPL and max SPL (limited at max excursion and max power) half space at 1m in about 2l.

PS. The Tymphany options are nice, but this supplier is turning away from DIY. No problem if you need 500 pcs though.
 

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I have seen the like on the 5MR, as it is highly liked as a full-range driver here at diyaudio.
I actually have a pair of the 5MR 8 ohm 5.25" to play with.

Let me put it this way, when you search and search for a driver to 'fit the need', and the list is short, then the candidates are pretty unique.

I still have to finish my Francium project, but that is because it requires specific goals. The Visaton MHT12 and Audax HM170Z18 pair require a higher sensitivity midrange to keep up with the pair of woofers. I have on hand the 5MR 8 ohm as well as the Audax 5.25" Aerogels. Something tells me that the PRV (with thin black paint over the tacky logo) is going to win out. It is likely lower HD than the Audax mid, as well as being robust for prosound apps. We'll have to see....

Wolf
 
PS. The Tymphany options are nice, but this supplier is turning away from DIY. No problem if you need 500 pcs though.


Not Parts Express - they rely on low volume (to many); though of course like any vendor they would prefer high volume.

..the problem is that China is clamping down on neo. magnets again:

I think I read a 74% jump in the last week for it (along with other rare earth minerals), and the price was climbing before then. :eek: It makes determining a products cost to the end-user tough.