I wanted to start a thread containing any bargain priced woofers, midbass and mid cone drivers.
That said, what is your favorite bargain cone driver and why you like it. Any measurements and data are also very welcomed.
I'll start with the Silver Flute W20RC38 in 4 and 8 ohms.
This woofer/midbass is highly underrated, especially for 1.25 cu ft tuned to 35hz. The midrange is also outstanding, with a very manageable upper peak around 4k. It handles tons of power and doesn't show any signs of strain, even at higher excursion in a 2 or 2.5 way crossed around 3k. Its a fantastic budget cast frame driver costing around 50 bucks.
That said, what is your favorite bargain cone driver and why you like it. Any measurements and data are also very welcomed.
I'll start with the Silver Flute W20RC38 in 4 and 8 ohms.
This woofer/midbass is highly underrated, especially for 1.25 cu ft tuned to 35hz. The midrange is also outstanding, with a very manageable upper peak around 4k. It handles tons of power and doesn't show any signs of strain, even at higher excursion in a 2 or 2.5 way crossed around 3k. Its a fantastic budget cast frame driver costing around 50 bucks.
Inexpensive drivers can sound very good, with some responding to a challenge and others only asking to be used properly.
I agree. More than once have i been surprised by cheaper drivers. Its not always necessary to have copper in the VC gap or other fancy design features. I generally only use cast frame drivers, but here also are many exceptions of excellent stamped frame drivers.
In Oz, a good and cheap-ish combination - which I would love to try if I had the need - could be made from the SB Acoustics SB20pfc (8") and the Vifa TC7 full range driver (2.5"). The SB pfc series of drivers sound very good for the modest damage and are well reviewed. The TC7 gets an excellent review on Zaph Audio, particularly for its low distortion. Total driver cost around A$150-160. Have used the SB16pfc (A$50) and really like the sound, in Michael Chua's "Lark SM".
Other bargains here include the Peerless SDS series, of which I've used the 830656 (5"); 830657 (6.5") and SDS160 (6.5"). Sound good, easy to mount with no countersinking due to the stamped frame. Dayton drivers used to be great value here but the declining A$ has killed that, unfortunately.
Geoff
Other bargains here include the Peerless SDS series, of which I've used the 830656 (5"); 830657 (6.5") and SDS160 (6.5"). Sound good, easy to mount with no countersinking due to the stamped frame. Dayton drivers used to be great value here but the declining A$ has killed that, unfortunately.
Geoff
I forgot about the SB13PFCR25 and SB16PFCR25. They sound excellent and have decent low end in smaller boxes.
Well, I was going to suggest the SB16PFCR25 but you beat me to it. Not even cast or stamped frame, but plastic. But it keeps the price down to $36 so I'm all for it.
I searched my hard drive but can't figure out what happened to my measurement data. If I find it, I'll post it.
I searched my hard drive but can't figure out what happened to my measurement data. If I find it, I'll post it.
@A4eaudio
Interested in testing this?
https://www.parts-express.com/Tymph...-Paper-Cone-Woofer-8-Ohms-299-2265?quantity=1
Interested in testing this?
https://www.parts-express.com/Tymph...-Paper-Cone-Woofer-8-Ohms-299-2265?quantity=1
@tktran303 That peerless looks like a good driver. I was tempted picking up a pair when PE had them on sale for 18 bucks each. Still a great deal for 30 bucks.
Although I've never heard SB drivers,
SB Acoustics must surly be doing something right to gain all the praise they get in so many threads 🙂
SB Acoustics must surly be doing something right to gain all the praise they get in so many threads 🙂
You can also count some Mark Audio fullrange drivers in that category, like the Alpair 10 series, the 11MS and the CHN110. These are fullrange drivers that actually give more bass than a lot of similar size midbass drivers, while being very controlled untill the typical crossover region of a dome tweeter (1.5 to 4kHz)
If you want it bigger and more sensitive, the Beyma 10BR60V2 and the 12BR70 are cheap and great midbasses that i used a few times. They cost way less than equivalent drivers in Europe without real disadvantages that i notice.
If you want it bigger and more sensitive, the Beyma 10BR60V2 and the 12BR70 are cheap and great midbasses that i used a few times. They cost way less than equivalent drivers in Europe without real disadvantages that i notice.
Indeed; I just yesterday bought a pair of RS225-8's from WES that cost me (AU of course) $189 each. Fortunately shipping across the country was extremely cheap at $9, making the deal more palatable.
That said, we've never had it as good as our US friends do with Parts Express. I'd have a house full of speakers if I had access to PE with low cost shipping!
The GRS 8SW-4HE is a great sub which can be pushed very hard down to 25 hz, while playing very clean upwards to 200+ hz. The sound is very natural and clean, even EQed down to 20 hz. Not bad for $40.
PE's free shipping on greater than $100 is really an advantage over other sellers here in the US. Madisound is $120 and Newark is $150.
I used to be really spoiled...I lived 40 minutes from PE and they have local pickup within an hour if an order is placed before 4:00 pm. Tweaking a crossover and I didn't have the right value capacitor or inductor... I'd just order it and go pick it up. Now I'm 1 to 2 days shipping which is still pretty awesome.
I would be willing to, BUT...my house is in re-model mode and my speaker stuff is put away. I'm hoping to get back to some speaker stuff at the beginning of December but am afraid it will realistically be the beginning of January.
Few time ago I pondered also about building a classic 3-way for as cheap as possible without compromising much.
Had a Faital Pro 4FE42 as midrange in mind:
https://faitalpro.com/en/products/LF_Loudspeakers/product_details/index.php?id=401005105
Manufacturer data indicates that it might be a beast, found no alternative that catched me more. Have a Kartesian Mid120_vHE here running that plays faboulous to my taste, and the 4FE42 seems to be the budget brother of it.
As tweeter the SB Acoustics SB19ST:
https://sbacoustics.com/product/sb19st-c000-4/
Really flawless, and 1,75 Tesla in the gap!
All quite affordable here:
And as woofer the STX W.22.200.8.MCX_v3, eventually two of each per speaker in CB:
https://stx.pl/en/w-22-200-8-mcx-v2.html
Surprisingly well measurements: https://audiohorn.net/test/woofer/8inch/
Shipping costs are a bit high, ordering 4 instead of two makes sense for me (shipping is same):
For ~250.- € per pair of speakers for the drivers, this might give a serious floorstander hard to beat regarding performance, only looks. Xover @ >300Hz & >3kHz or similar. Costs might become very sensitive how easy the drivers are to tame, and how much xover parts you need if you want not take crap components.
Alternatively, I had the Onmes AMT50 budget AMT on my list (very nice performance shown in HobbyHifi magazine measurements, if used >> 3kHz):
https://omnesaudio.de/Lautsprecher-...Air-Motion-Transformer/Omnes-Audio-AMT-50html
Faital 10FE330 or 12FE330 as woofer might be another option for a fat bookshelf shaped speaker:
Best regards
Peter
Had a Faital Pro 4FE42 as midrange in mind:
https://faitalpro.com/en/products/LF_Loudspeakers/product_details/index.php?id=401005105
Manufacturer data indicates that it might be a beast, found no alternative that catched me more. Have a Kartesian Mid120_vHE here running that plays faboulous to my taste, and the 4FE42 seems to be the budget brother of it.
As tweeter the SB Acoustics SB19ST:
https://sbacoustics.com/product/sb19st-c000-4/
Really flawless, and 1,75 Tesla in the gap!
All quite affordable here:
And as woofer the STX W.22.200.8.MCX_v3, eventually two of each per speaker in CB:
https://stx.pl/en/w-22-200-8-mcx-v2.html
Surprisingly well measurements: https://audiohorn.net/test/woofer/8inch/
Shipping costs are a bit high, ordering 4 instead of two makes sense for me (shipping is same):
For ~250.- € per pair of speakers for the drivers, this might give a serious floorstander hard to beat regarding performance, only looks. Xover @ >300Hz & >3kHz or similar. Costs might become very sensitive how easy the drivers are to tame, and how much xover parts you need if you want not take crap components.
Alternatively, I had the Onmes AMT50 budget AMT on my list (very nice performance shown in HobbyHifi magazine measurements, if used >> 3kHz):
https://omnesaudio.de/Lautsprecher-...Air-Motion-Transformer/Omnes-Audio-AMT-50html
Faital 10FE330 or 12FE330 as woofer might be another option for a fat bookshelf shaped speaker:
Best regards
Peter
When I bought my Dayton RS180Ps from LSK (same company as WES now) they were $64 - now over double that, ouch. They're still great drivers, but offerings from the Peerless HDS and SB ranges seem much better value now.
Geoff
You lucky guy...by way of contrast, the 'WES' I just bought from is about 2,000 miles from me in New South Wales - the other side of Australia. There's almost nothing in my State for our hobby. I put it down to population - there isn't the market in my state to support these niche businesses. We only have around 2.9 million people in a state the size of Western Europe (or four times as big as Texas).
