Looks like an L.Cao FA6; if so not recommended based on the published data -it is not a unit ideal for horn loading, & if so used requires a much larger example for anything approaching a good alignment.
Thanks Scott
Yeah I was thinking it looks quiet
Large for that cabinet.
Is Alpair 10p still probably the best Driver for XL frugal cabinet?
Yeah I was thinking it looks quiet
Large for that cabinet.
Is Alpair 10p still probably the best Driver for XL frugal cabinet?
Aka 'L.cao FA6' https://jimsaudio.com/l-cao-fa6-alnico-matched-full-range-speaker-6-inches-pair/ Many of these (predominantly Chinese) companies have several names. 'DavidLouis' = 'Melo David' = [insert the latest name here], with associations to, or outright copies of, rivals. You only need to peruse aliexpress / alibaba etc. for a few minutes to see just how much of this goes on.
Youtube videos are at best terrible for assessing performance. More accurately: they're utterly worthless. It's an unknown speaker in an unknown room recorded using unknown hardware with an unknown microphone in an unknown position, by an unknown individual of unknown competence using unknown hardware and unknown software. The recording may or may not be then manipulated using the same or other unknown software, before finally being compressed and uploaded to youtube where it is then replayed through a myriad of completely different systems. With that driver, assuming the (almost certainly inaccurate) published data, in FHXL you will, unless significant additional measures are taken, have an excess of midbass with attenuated output below that due to the driver's excessive Qt (roughly double what I designed FHXL for).
Youtube videos are at best terrible for assessing performance. More accurately: they're utterly worthless. It's an unknown speaker in an unknown room recorded using unknown hardware with an unknown microphone in an unknown position, by an unknown individual of unknown competence using unknown hardware and unknown software. The recording may or may not be then manipulated using the same or other unknown software, before finally being compressed and uploaded to youtube where it is then replayed through a myriad of completely different systems. With that driver, assuming the (almost certainly inaccurate) published data, in FHXL you will, unless significant additional measures are taken, have an excess of midbass with attenuated output below that due to the driver's excessive Qt (roughly double what I designed FHXL for).
ScottAka 'L.cao FA6' https://jimsaudio.com/l-cao-fa6-alnico-matched-full-range-speaker-6-inches-pair/ Many of these (predominantly Chinese) companies have several names. 'DavidLouis' = 'Melo David' = [insert the latest name here], with associations to, or outright copies of, rivals. You only need to peruse aliexpress / alibaba etc. for a few minutes to see just how much of this goes on.
Youtube videos are at best terrible for assessing performance. More accurately: they're utterly worthless. It's an unknown speaker in an unknown room recorded using unknown hardware with an unknown microphone in an unknown position, by an unknown individual of unknown competence using unknown hardware and unknown software. The recording may or may not be then manipulated using the same or other unknown software, before finally being compressed and uploaded to youtube where it is then replayed through a myriad of completely different systems. With that driver, assuming the (almost certainly inaccurate) published data, in FHXL you will, unless significant additional measures are taken, have an excess of midbass with attenuated output below that due to the driver's excessive Qt (roughly double what I designed FHXL for).
Which driver do you find to sound best in the Frugal Horn XL?
thanks
I don't generally refer to subjective sound since by definition it's subjective -what I hear is very unlikely to be what somebody else hears. What I can tell you is that the default / baseline when I designed it was the Markaudio Alpair 10 range -be it in metal cone, paper cone or hybridised ceramic cone (MAOP, which is an alloy cone where the surface layers have been converted to a ceramic oxide: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780857094377500077 ). Beyond those, the Pluvia 11 / MAOP 11, Alpair 11MS, Jordan Eikona & related Jordan units, TB W5-1880, W5-2143 etc. all work reasonably to well and are within the general load tolerance. Slightly more left-field, you can just about fit an FF165wk or FE168ESigma in it, those being at the outer limits.
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Falvours. The Frugel-Horns can change personality by changing the driver. Which suits you best is for you to determine.
But FHXL was specifically designed with Alpair 10p, the A10.3 is very close so it works as well. These 2 drivers are 6 of one half dozen the other, but are the benchmark drivers.
MAOP 10s then likely “amoung the best”. There is no best, only the best set of compromises for YOUR use.
Other drivers offer other flavours… i know someone who prefers FF156wk for rock.\
dave
But FHXL was specifically designed with Alpair 10p, the A10.3 is very close so it works as well. These 2 drivers are 6 of one half dozen the other, but are the benchmark drivers.
MAOP 10s then likely “amoung the best”. There is no best, only the best set of compromises for YOUR use.
Other drivers offer other flavours… i know someone who prefers FF156wk for rock.\
dave
All aside, I had a pair of L. Cao drivers similar to those some years ago, and I thought they were very good and worth putting some effort into.


F6 ferrite are nice - nearly ruler flat treble on axis - qts must be near 0.7 after break-in - worked well in the Karlsonator Six prototype. (no obvious "boom" but not the fast - hard subjective attack with slapped upright bass which a Fostex would provide)
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