Good Evening. I was wondering if going up the Mark Audio line is worth it? I have had the Mark Audio’s CHN 50’s for over a year and I have had some time with them under my belt. I’m a huge fostex guy and I noticed strengths and weaknesses of the Mark Audio CHN 50’s drivers. Yes its only a 3 inch driver and it’s a great bang for the buck driver. So is going up the line worth it in the following questions?
1. Cost vs sound
2. Cone material
3. Design
I just don’t want to build and waste my time if it’s not worth the investment on moving up the mark Audio line. Please let know what you all think? Thanks JM
1. Cost vs sound
2. Cone material
3. Design
I just don’t want to build and waste my time if it’s not worth the investment on moving up the mark Audio line. Please let know what you all think? Thanks JM
I'm a big fan of Mark Audio, less of Fostex (altough it's often good when used in the right cabinet).
Mark Audio is very cheap i think for what they deliver, but they tend to make drivers that sound more neutral than other FR drivers who are often very coloured (in a good or bad sense). But they are not your typical lowter type or Fostex type of fullrange drivers that are ment for backloaded horns. If you like the typical Fostex kind of sound (relative bright), Mark Audio won't give you that. But they are very good in reflex, TL or even sealed for a relative neutral and balanced sound.
I never heared the CHN50 myself, but heared other smaller Mark Audio drivers and the main difference i think is in general that bigger are more sensitive and go lower in bass response. The top end (but the 10P and 12P) stays always very controllled and dispertion mostly extremely good for a fullrange driver. The 10P and 12P have a controlled early roll off which gives them a vintage kind of sound (a lot like the old Philips AD series and 9710 series do).
My best bet to try the bigger ones wihtout spending much money and time is a CHN110 (cheap but great quality) in a Pencil. The Pencil is very easy to build and great sounding. I did build one (for someone who paid me for that) for a Alpair 10.3 (very similar in build) in an afternoon (without counting the oiling as finishing) altough i had the wood cut in a cnc shop.
Mark Audio is very cheap i think for what they deliver, but they tend to make drivers that sound more neutral than other FR drivers who are often very coloured (in a good or bad sense). But they are not your typical lowter type or Fostex type of fullrange drivers that are ment for backloaded horns. If you like the typical Fostex kind of sound (relative bright), Mark Audio won't give you that. But they are very good in reflex, TL or even sealed for a relative neutral and balanced sound.
I never heared the CHN50 myself, but heared other smaller Mark Audio drivers and the main difference i think is in general that bigger are more sensitive and go lower in bass response. The top end (but the 10P and 12P) stays always very controllled and dispertion mostly extremely good for a fullrange driver. The 10P and 12P have a controlled early roll off which gives them a vintage kind of sound (a lot like the old Philips AD series and 9710 series do).
My best bet to try the bigger ones wihtout spending much money and time is a CHN110 (cheap but great quality) in a Pencil. The Pencil is very easy to build and great sounding. I did build one (for someone who paid me for that) for a Alpair 10.3 (very similar in build) in an afternoon (without counting the oiling as finishing) altough i had the wood cut in a cnc shop.
That makes sense. Yes Mark Audio drivers are totally different full range drivers then what am use to listening to. I have them in a rear ported bass reflex that I built over a year ago. Yes going to bigger drivers provide a deeper low end and broader sweat spot or sound stage makes sense. So does the micro or inter detail get better with the materials they use for their cones and design goals? I would say am interested but, will research more and go from there. Jm