A totally subjective question which anticipates answers like "it depends on the cabinet and crossover" etc. But nevertheless, can you guys point me to some good 5" units for vocals. I'm a musician and songwriter and listen mostly to vocal music.
I'd like in particular to get some opinions on the cone material. So far I prefer coated paper to aluminium (Alpairs) but no knowledge of aerogel, carbon fibre, kevlar, plastics etc. Looking for a sound that is fairly full and not skinny, while retaining good detail.
I propose to use a hollow concrete block enclosure 440x215x215mm which should be adequately rigid and dead.
Any opinions and experiences gratefully received.
I'd like in particular to get some opinions on the cone material. So far I prefer coated paper to aluminium (Alpairs) but no knowledge of aerogel, carbon fibre, kevlar, plastics etc. Looking for a sound that is fairly full and not skinny, while retaining good detail.
I propose to use a hollow concrete block enclosure 440x215x215mm which should be adequately rigid and dead.
Any opinions and experiences gratefully received.
Good question of course. When I have a better idea of what mid-bass to use I'll see what kits or designs use the unit and then use the appropriate tweeter and crossover. Trying to get the mid-bass unit right first of all, but it's all connected.
these are my previous responses to such silly question:
no such thing as best
I like midranges which do not have much breakups
like this one for instance, faitalPRO 5fe100
FaitalPRO | LF Loudspeakers | 5FE100 (8Ω)
I used this peerless with hiquphon in mtm
this is another with almost no breakups
https://www.parts-express.com/pedocs/specs/264-1636--tymphany-tpy05w08o0088-spec-sheet.pdf
no such thing as best
I like midranges which do not have much breakups
like this one for instance, faitalPRO 5fe100
FaitalPRO | LF Loudspeakers | 5FE100 (8Ω)
I used this peerless with hiquphon in mtm
this is another with almost no breakups
https://www.parts-express.com/pedocs/specs/264-1636--tymphany-tpy05w08o0088-spec-sheet.pdf
Good Standard: SB17NRXC35-8
Old-School, but maybe better for your use: Audax HM130Z10
... There are 1000 other, but I would think of these two first.
Also Peerless as a lot of nice stuff for a fair price.
Eg Peerless 830656
Ah, almost forgot the "modern classic" Faital Pro 5FE120.
Almost perfect parameters and responce curve for a very good price.
Old-School, but maybe better for your use: Audax HM130Z10
... There are 1000 other, but I would think of these two first.
Also Peerless as a lot of nice stuff for a fair price.
Eg Peerless 830656
Ah, almost forgot the "modern classic" Faital Pro 5FE120.
Almost perfect parameters and responce curve for a very good price.
Just wanna say that if you go for the Faital 5FE120 over the 5FE100 you get demodulation for only an extra 2€/£/$ or so.
Why 5 inch? Any particular reason, or have you heard some that you liked? Is this near-field listening, or more normal in room distance?
I can recommend this speaker: Continuum II Loudspeaker Kit - Meniscus Audio
The MA Alpair 10P is a favorite among many listeners.
Not know your specific use, however, YMMV.
The MA Alpair 10P is a favorite among many listeners.
Not know your specific use, however, YMMV.
Yes, the cabinet I have in mind is a hollow concrete block 440x215x215mm. Interior is 139mm x 362mm. So a 5.5" is the biggest that will fit.
I see you guys are still recommending the Audax Aerogel driver. Do you find this good for vocals? I think I could still find a pair.
Some designs you’d probably wouldn’t have noticed:
Heissmann-Acoustics | DXT-MON RLY | Monitor Lautsprecher
DXT-MON | 5″ 1″ | Nahfeldmonitor | Kompaktlautsprecher
2-Wege-TQWT mit hochwertiger Wavecor-Bestuckung - gazza-diy-audio.de
Oh and do use an acoustically well designed baffle. A concrete block could be fitted with that.
Heissmann-Acoustics | DXT-MON RLY | Monitor Lautsprecher
DXT-MON | 5″ 1″ | Nahfeldmonitor | Kompaktlautsprecher
2-Wege-TQWT mit hochwertiger Wavecor-Bestuckung - gazza-diy-audio.de
Oh and do use an acoustically well designed baffle. A concrete block could be fitted with that.
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In my opinion the best is scan speak 15WU Illuminator
Kawero! speakers - Chiara - Kaiser acoustics germany. High definition acoustic products
Kawero! speakers - Chiara - Kaiser acoustics germany. High definition acoustic products
I've got two pairs of tiny speakers, one with Audax aerogels and one with Faital 5FE120. I prefer the Faitals.
But since I have no measurements this is purely anecdotal.
Useful information. I've never heard aerogel except on YouTube videos which can hardly be relied on. From the little I could hear they were detailed but fairly bland and neutral. I'm wondering if vocals need a fuller sound? Was that the case with the Faitals?
The Faital unit is certainly good value. What crossover and tweeter did you use?
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Both pairs of speakers are ported and officially tuned to the mid 60Hz but the Faitals are definitely fuller sounding. Especially at low volume the Audax sound a bit thin.
I did not have the impression that the Audax were more detailed either.
I did not have the impression that the Audax were more detailed either.
I find that glass-fiber/carbon-fiber midbasses do vocals very well, with minimal breakup.
The Seas-applied Curv-cone with bonded/woven polypropylene is also really nice.
Honeycomb and/or Kevlar is also really good at midrange and vocals, but they usually have peaks to remove.
Polypropylene/Mg-Silicate/DPC are all well damped. Sometimes there are dips in the response as a result.
Can't go wrong with good doped paper either.
Aluminum is also very clean, just kill the ringing.
That said-
Peerless 830991
Seas U16
I did NOT like the SB Rohacell/carbon-fiber drivers. The Satori TX drivers are likely much better.
Aurum Cantus AC130F1 is a gem. Clean and easy.
There are many good sounding vocal-producers.
Wolf
The Seas-applied Curv-cone with bonded/woven polypropylene is also really nice.
Honeycomb and/or Kevlar is also really good at midrange and vocals, but they usually have peaks to remove.
Polypropylene/Mg-Silicate/DPC are all well damped. Sometimes there are dips in the response as a result.
Can't go wrong with good doped paper either.
Aluminum is also very clean, just kill the ringing.
That said-
Peerless 830991
Seas U16
I did NOT like the SB Rohacell/carbon-fiber drivers. The Satori TX drivers are likely much better.
Aurum Cantus AC130F1 is a gem. Clean and easy.
There are many good sounding vocal-producers.
Wolf
What sort of implementation? I think I remember you liking the "ceramic" CDC woofers before, so I'm wondering what you heard with the CRC that you didn't like as much?
I have heard the CRC a couple(3?) times now, and it has a coloration that is not unlike hearing a spike in 3rd order HD. It's not an even-order issue, for that I'm certain. The first time I heard it was in a funky shaped cabinet and several thought the cabinet might have been to blame. Then I heard it again, and was met with the same colored issue in a more conventional cabinet. I would not use it, and avoid it if possible.
The ceramics are wonderful, and nothing is amiss with those. Tame the breakup, and you're golden.
Wolf
The ceramics are wonderful, and nothing is amiss with those. Tame the breakup, and you're golden.
Wolf
Smooth response is possible with a wide variety of cone materials, every material has positive and negative attributes.
The Galaxy Audio 5" driver does a great job all by itself for vocals, and can get loud enough for stage use (over 110 dB at 1meter), though a concrete block would not be fun to carry ;^).
https://www.galaxyaudio.com/assets/uploads/product-files/S5N-8cutsheet_v082011.pdf
The S5N-8 does fine down to 100 Hz, so adding a subwoofer is all you need to complete a system.
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