Post your opinion on 6" woofer choice 800-20 Hz

Jump to Latest
B

Bmsluite

Member
Joined 2023
#1
I want your pick of these drivers.

I've been designing this 3 way desktop monitor for some months now. The only driver I'm not 100% on is the woofer. I have room for 6", even a 7", but no bigger. Iron's law is taking over and preventing me from letting anything hit very low.

I have 0.5' cubic space to play with. I can probably push that a little more but I'd need another 0.5' cubed more to really make an impact. Seams it is wha

They all measure out the same sealed. I can vent any one of these by making the stand of the model into the port. CAD pretty much gives me free range to do anything I want.

Since they all will come pretty close to hitting as low as the others its really just which is optimal from 800hz and down. If you've used any of these and have any input I'm all ears.

Here are the choices:
1.

SB Acoustics SB17CAC35-4 6" ceramic woofer- 4 ohms​

https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.c...coustics-sb17cac35-4-6-ceramic-woofer-4-ohms/

This 6" white ceramic woofer looks like a shoe in. It looks like it will work. I've seen it called dull but then also seen it highly praised. The current model uses this but it is easily modified to accept any of the others. 12mm of XMAX so can possibly bass boost it.
1732483082557.png


2.

SB Acoustics SB17CRC35-4 6" Woven Carbon Fiber Cone Woofer - 4 ohm
https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.c...5-4-6.5-woven-carbon-fiber-cone-woofer-4-ohm/​


This is the carbon fiber version of above. It hits a few hertz lower than the above for some reason. The cone breakup is about the same. Since I'm crossing around 800-1000hz I'm not too worried about it.
1732483363869.png


3.

Satori MW16P-4 6" Egyptian Papyrus Cone Woofer - 4 ohm
https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.c...5-4-6.5-woven-carbon-fiber-cone-woofer-4-ohm/​


This seems like the upgraded version of above. I believe these are also made by SB Acoustics. It is just their upgraded line. Runs about the same Q specs as the above too. Maybe its transients are better? I couldn't find a ton of information on people using these. They look fancy. If they sound that much better then for $120 extra the pair I'll go with them. With the amount of work that goes into a system like this...... $120 isn't going to make or break the project.
1732483546816.png

4.

SEAS Prestige L18RNX/P (H1224) 7" Aluminum Cone Woofer
https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.c...estige-l18rnx/p-h1224-7-aluminum-cone-woofer/​


I know SEAS drivers are always good. This is an aluminum phase plug version. I'm thinking the transients and detail of the SEAS will be better but I know experience to know that for sure. Horrible breakup node around 10khz but won't be a problem crossing so low. Can also notch filter that out since it is so sharp. 8mm of XMAX so still pretty good but 30% less cone travel than the ceramic SB Acoustics.
1732484090360.png

5.

SEAS Prestige CA18RLY (H1217) 7" Coated Paper Cone Woofer
https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.c...ige-ca18rly-h1217-7-coated-paper-cone-woofer/​


Another SEAS. I hear thing one is pretty good. 10mm of XMAX so can also be boosted. I found a lot of resources praising this driver.
1732484219234.png

6.

SEAS Prestige Titan L16RNX3 6" Aluminum Cone Woofer (H1869) - 8 ohm​


https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.c...e-l16rnx3-6-aluminum-cone-woofer-h1869-8-ohm/

This one is a bit different. 3x the power handling as the others that I don't actually need. However, this hits down to 40 just fine in my little 0.45' box. The cost of this is low sensitivity. I would have to pad down the planar and the ribbon A LOT to use this driver. Seems almost like a mid bass for a car. Kind of a strange driver. Also, this thing is nearly $200.
1732484363726.png

7.

Peerless by Tymphany 835025 6-1/2" Aluminum Cone HDS Woofer
https://www.parts-express.com/Peerless-835025-6-1-2-Aluminum-Cone-HDS-Woofer-264-1086?quantity=1​

The budget choice here. I like the 8" peerless woofer I have. This is really the only thing at PE I found useful. Hits the same as the others but it runs out of XMAX quick. Only 5.3mm. If I ran only sealed it would make sense. This also has lower sensitivity than all the other drivers except the Titan.


SUMMARY:

Well let me think about your choice. Definitely let me know if I missed a gem that I should be considering instead. I'll toss up the graph I'm been running of WINISD sims. They are all similar. The pink line is the Titan. I looked at some Morels as well as some Dayton reference woofers. Didn't really like the specs of the Morel and the Daytons...... too little XMAX and I don't honestly trust any of their specs and stats after testing some of their products for myself.
 
#5
Missing SPL requirements.
A lot of it depends on how much cone displacement you expect on a regular basis. Is it monitoring live / pro / dj levels, or more casual listening? Jazz, classical, etc., or dubstep, EDM? A small room will also help reinforce the bass a lot more than a large room.

Without some more background, it's hard to be specific. Also you said it's a desktop system, so I think a 3-way could cause phasing issues with nearfield listening, especially with that horizontal driver layout. If wanting substantial bass, I would go with a pair of larger woofers under the desk or somewhere nearby. So you could end up with something like:
2x 10" subs/woofers,
4" cone mids
"Greater than symbol" 4kHz ribbons*

OTOH,
There are lots of projects with the classic 6.5" + 25mm dome layout, w/wo waveguides. This could be a safer option.

Active or passive crossovers? I personally prefer 'hybrid' ones in the sense that a 1st order network provides the minimum technical requirements, while active filters feed into separate amplifiers for each driver.

*The forum won't let me type a greater than symbol without turning the text into a quote...
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Bmsluite
#6
motokok said:
I'm unclear why "down to 20hz" is mentioned. Ditto why you'd not model them for vented. Is it rolling off to a sub? Ditto what the budget is.

I'd add the WF182BD09/10 or LDW7 CSS version of it to the list.
Click to expand...
I guess what I mean is 800 to roll off.

I'm modeling them vented because I know what they will all be sealed. I will vent them first, if they don't sound how I want then I'll seal them and roll off to a sub
 
#8
Abstract,

I'm going passive for this but am considering Tri amping with line filters. I need to look more into how that is done. Might be best since the planar and ribbon are such high sensitivity

I don't want to play it safe. I want to play around. Luckily this whole thing is going to be 3d printed. That means I can make different enclosures for different alignments if needed. And I don't have to build a whole new box, just a bit of modeling and send to the printer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GM
#9
The SB17CRC is an awesome midbass with a lot of low end punch. I am very happy with it in a small sealed bookshelf. It has a very sharp cone breakup, so I had to use a really steep 4th order filter for it around 2000Hz. Since you are targeting just woofer duty, should not be an issue.

The Satori is a gorgeous driver and I use it in my mains. Beautiful midrange. But probably overkill as just a woofer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GM, Bmsluite and mordikai
#12
There are better drivers for this like the Scanspeak 15W8531 that go low in 0.5cu. But you also need space for the port, and that is a long port for such a small space and low tuning. That is just physic. In 0.5cu tuned to 40Hz the port is 3" dia and 22" long. The same driver (or even your choices) are to smal lto give bass loud also, so don't expect high impact bass from something like this. I would recommend to use seperate sub with it if you want that and limit your midbass to 100Hz. That gives a lot more possibilities with what you got.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bmsluite
#14
waxx said:
There are better drivers for this like the Scanspeak 15W8531 that go low in 0.5cu. But you also need space for the port, and that is a long port for such a small space and low tuning. That is just physic. In 0.5cu tuned to 40Hz the port is 3" dia and 22" long. The same driver (or even your choices) are to smal lto give bass loud also, so don't expect high impact bass from something like this. I would recommend to use seperate sub with it if you want that and limit your midbass to 100Hz. That gives a lot more possibilities with what you got.
Click to expand...
I have the space for a very large port on this project actually.

That Scanspeak is quite pricey. Do you know of anything else with similar Q specs? Seems a shame to run such a nice driver and cut it off at 800 hz.
 
#16
I don't think that i so expensive, the alternatives that i know are way more expensive, like the Kartesian Wom145_vHE or the Seas E0115-8 or so. Maybe a Dayton RS180 or the Peerless HDS-P835025 can come close (but not there). You ask a lot from a small woofer in a small box, and those who can handle that are pricey i'm afraid. It's not easy to do. But if you can have an outside port tube, that scanspeak is perfect.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bmsluite
#18
jayme said:
...
The Satori is a gorgeous driver and I use it in my mains. Beautiful midrange. But probably overkill as just a woofer.
Click to expand...

While it is "just woofer" duty, it's going up to 800hz rather than something like 350hz. The woofer is going to cover more octaves than the mid or tweeter and cover the fundamentals of male and female vocals as well as a lot of instruments. If price isn't and obstacle , for best sound quality would you recommend the Satori?
 
#20
The SB Acoustics you proposed offer excellent midrange with very low distortion, but for woofer duty they are average from my experience. Seas Prestige (4) and (5) have a bit outdated motor without induction control. The Prestige Titan is in the 5" class regarding SD. There is larger brother L19xx that might fit, and has excellent motor. From your list I woud choose this one (the larger L19). The Peerless is not bad, but hard to source as Tymphany has left the DIY business.

Perhaps Dayton Equipe? --> Test in Voicecoil
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom