I have (hopefully not speaking past tense) some measurements of the NE180 on an older PC with a bad HD, but haven't attempted to recover the data from yet.
The NE180 is IMO a dedicated midbass driver. I wouldnt use it past 2 - 2.5k, especially without a notch around 4.5k and a carefully implemented LP arrangement. Up to 1 - 1.5k as a midbass it sounds astonishingly good. Its very accurate, yet still interesting and lively sounding, but never becomes harsh or wooly at higher levels. If string instruments and piano are part of you're favorite listening material, this driver will not let you down. It has the finesse of a smaller midbass and the output capability of a very good 20cm LF driver. Theres none of that shouty sort of vibe but all the midrange detail is there.
I did a 2.5 way with 2x NE180s and a DA32TX corundum tweeter in a sealed, wide rounded baffle arrangement (a bit like the Troels Stradivarius). It was possibly the best speaker I've ever built in terms of resolution and accuracy, specifically in the bass and lower mids. Sadly the DA32 dome is also NLA in small quantities - another great driver killed off by Tymphany.
FR wise, the NE180 isn't easy to work with for use in a 2 way with a smaller tweeter. The 4.5k notch Isn’t easy to deal with if not working it into the LP filter rolloff. I wish the data on my old PC was accessible right now to show how low this driver measured for THD. 3rd order HD was 60 dB down from 150 hz to 2k. If you need a driver to seamlessly integrate with a 54mm mid dome (like the Morel MDM55 or CAM558), the NE180 or NE149 are the drivers I'd go for.
The NE180 has suffered from a short run of build inconsistencies, mostly due to a bad batch that had improper VC gap/depth offsets. The later ones were all excellent and I havent seen any other problems of sorts. The published curves for them are also inaccurate. It may have something to do with running changes they made. Not really sure, but the later built units I used were all decently close to each other and definitely measured much flatter up top than the factory curves indicated.
Purifi does make a decent driver. The dedicted midranges are too stale for me and have a bit of that Wilson Audio sound ie the 18W SS drivers they used early on. I didn't like the midrange of these drivers, mainly how vague they sound in the lower mids (had a little to do with the low impedance amplifier loading they were known for). Being a jazz lover and musician of this genre (upright and electric bassist), my ear instantly gravitates towards the bass and lower mids, specifically how resolving this area sounds. The NE series drivers have something in the mids that most other drivers don't and sound alot like a larger pro sound midbass driver without the harshness or fatigue.
I've heard 2 sets of speakers (2 and 3 way) using different versions of Purifi 6" bass-mids. I didnt like their overly lean sound of lower mids or the lack of harmonic detail in this area. The best description would be too laid back. I wanted to like them based on the reviews, but even after 2 days of listening, they didn't move me at all. There was definitely some lack of BSC in the 2 way version, but the 3 way didn't suffer from this and still had the same signature to my ears. The 3 way system measured fairly flat but didn't transpose a multitrack mixdown properly to other monitors Ive used. I expected more from Purifi based on the research.
The NE180 is IMO a dedicated midbass driver. I wouldnt use it past 2 - 2.5k, especially without a notch around 4.5k and a carefully implemented LP arrangement. Up to 1 - 1.5k as a midbass it sounds astonishingly good. Its very accurate, yet still interesting and lively sounding, but never becomes harsh or wooly at higher levels. If string instruments and piano are part of you're favorite listening material, this driver will not let you down. It has the finesse of a smaller midbass and the output capability of a very good 20cm LF driver. Theres none of that shouty sort of vibe but all the midrange detail is there.
I did a 2.5 way with 2x NE180s and a DA32TX corundum tweeter in a sealed, wide rounded baffle arrangement (a bit like the Troels Stradivarius). It was possibly the best speaker I've ever built in terms of resolution and accuracy, specifically in the bass and lower mids. Sadly the DA32 dome is also NLA in small quantities - another great driver killed off by Tymphany.
FR wise, the NE180 isn't easy to work with for use in a 2 way with a smaller tweeter. The 4.5k notch Isn’t easy to deal with if not working it into the LP filter rolloff. I wish the data on my old PC was accessible right now to show how low this driver measured for THD. 3rd order HD was 60 dB down from 150 hz to 2k. If you need a driver to seamlessly integrate with a 54mm mid dome (like the Morel MDM55 or CAM558), the NE180 or NE149 are the drivers I'd go for.
The NE180 has suffered from a short run of build inconsistencies, mostly due to a bad batch that had improper VC gap/depth offsets. The later ones were all excellent and I havent seen any other problems of sorts. The published curves for them are also inaccurate. It may have something to do with running changes they made. Not really sure, but the later built units I used were all decently close to each other and definitely measured much flatter up top than the factory curves indicated.
Purifi does make a decent driver. The dedicted midranges are too stale for me and have a bit of that Wilson Audio sound ie the 18W SS drivers they used early on. I didn't like the midrange of these drivers, mainly how vague they sound in the lower mids (had a little to do with the low impedance amplifier loading they were known for). Being a jazz lover and musician of this genre (upright and electric bassist), my ear instantly gravitates towards the bass and lower mids, specifically how resolving this area sounds. The NE series drivers have something in the mids that most other drivers don't and sound alot like a larger pro sound midbass driver without the harshness or fatigue.
I've heard 2 sets of speakers (2 and 3 way) using different versions of Purifi 6" bass-mids. I didnt like their overly lean sound of lower mids or the lack of harmonic detail in this area. The best description would be too laid back. I wanted to like them based on the reviews, but even after 2 days of listening, they didn't move me at all. There was definitely some lack of BSC in the 2 way version, but the 3 way didn't suffer from this and still had the same signature to my ears. The 3 way system measured fairly flat but didn't transpose a multitrack mixdown properly to other monitors Ive used. I expected more from Purifi based on the research.
@profiguy
A bit OT, but was wondering if you have heard the 18Sound 10NDA610 midrange? Used up to 1 to 1.5kHz as you noted for NE180s, under an 80 degree dispersion waveguide, I was wondering if it would display similar sound attributes you described (appealing to me). Plus very high efficiency and flat impedance.
I see the smaller 6ND430 quoted often (above by @hifijim ) but rarely any comments for the 10".
A bit OT, but was wondering if you have heard the 18Sound 10NDA610 midrange? Used up to 1 to 1.5kHz as you noted for NE180s, under an 80 degree dispersion waveguide, I was wondering if it would display similar sound attributes you described (appealing to me). Plus very high efficiency and flat impedance.
I see the smaller 6ND430 quoted often (above by @hifijim ) but rarely any comments for the 10".
I had a hard time to find the NE123W-08, they were advertised at Compacbel & Soundimport in Europe but not in stock I still have monney to have send me back from 15 days. Whatever is saying their pages they have no more the 149 and the 180. Well maybe in US... Most of the little web vendor here do not stock but tlhp I believe and Lautspreschershop from my experience... using PP or having a call is advised...
There is the 120 Wom a 4" from Kartesian to swap the NE123, but it should be a little below in quality... I am like Augerpro, I am lookingg for the best I can affoard and the Purifi ... well think the same than Profiguy while not having his great experience... But that's what I believe reading betweens lines on all the forum... the little resonance is well controlled in the Purifi design but here very too early, hence their good philosophy at Purifi to advice a serie notch that is not often seen (for me it gives good result as well with my everyday 5" aluminium).
I have not heard the 18M, but reading all the revelator aging problems with leads and voice coil interface from this serie, plus the glue of the slice... I am nott tempted and the datasheet is not extraordinary (while I suspect most of the time IM measurememnt is what matters most as the H5 level only... (and H7 we never see anywhere).
I would bet (only) the second containder at trade offs game is not the 18M but the audiotechnology 15H 13 06 sdkm ... alas expensive and not as smooth than the Vifa, and if better detailled not as euphonic certainly... The Purifi is certainly the most neutral... but for that I will pick up a BW FST in spite of the Purifi (according the low cut - off you need as the FST ask often 300/400 hz high pass). the shy flat foam surround migth be worrying me for agging. Maybe @tktran303 and @5th element fellows could say more about that as using it everyday in their own DIY 🙂
That's really 2 cents and only theoric as I have not heard them all, and certainly few had.
There is the 120 Wom a 4" from Kartesian to swap the NE123, but it should be a little below in quality... I am like Augerpro, I am lookingg for the best I can affoard and the Purifi ... well think the same than Profiguy while not having his great experience... But that's what I believe reading betweens lines on all the forum... the little resonance is well controlled in the Purifi design but here very too early, hence their good philosophy at Purifi to advice a serie notch that is not often seen (for me it gives good result as well with my everyday 5" aluminium).
I have not heard the 18M, but reading all the revelator aging problems with leads and voice coil interface from this serie, plus the glue of the slice... I am nott tempted and the datasheet is not extraordinary (while I suspect most of the time IM measurememnt is what matters most as the H5 level only... (and H7 we never see anywhere).
I would bet (only) the second containder at trade offs game is not the 18M but the audiotechnology 15H 13 06 sdkm ... alas expensive and not as smooth than the Vifa, and if better detailled not as euphonic certainly... The Purifi is certainly the most neutral... but for that I will pick up a BW FST in spite of the Purifi (according the low cut - off you need as the FST ask often 300/400 hz high pass). the shy flat foam surround migth be worrying me for agging. Maybe @tktran303 and @5th element fellows could say more about that as using it everyday in their own DIY 🙂
That's really 2 cents and only theoric as I have not heard them all, and certainly few had.
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the 6ND460 is imo a good bet as well for the paper lover and for the price vis à vis of the Purifi... it is a classic, and Scholl member had good returns with a 15" and a classic big dome tweeter sligthy horned..
But guys, look at the beautifull electric phase of the NE serie... noones comes close but the Audiotechnology... certainly matters for the passive filter guys not working in the FIR domain. The textreme exhibit such good elec phase but still suffer from the resonance peak despite its material...
But guys, look at the beautifull electric phase of the NE serie... noones comes close but the Audiotechnology... certainly matters for the passive filter guys not working in the FIR domain. The textreme exhibit such good elec phase but still suffer from the resonance peak despite its material...
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OK I come with data.
My journey with the NE180W started after I was on the lookout for a 6.5" driver under around US/EU/GBP $50.
As some other fellows down under may know, the pickings are kinda slim- the main contestants being Scan-Speak, Vifa / Peerless NOS, SB Acoustics...
I'd already had a fantastic experience with the NE123W-08 in pairs about a decade ago when I built the Jim Holtz/Curt Campbell Statement II:
https://www.htguide.com/forum/forum...ts-ii-a-musical-evolution?p=780336#post780336
Though curiously there was never a 2 way from Jim/Curt with the NE180W (more on that later), so I thought hmmm maybe there's a covid recession buster 2-way just waiting to be designed. with a budget Peerless BC25TG.
What sparked my curiosity further was Tim Fellepa's measurements, taken around 2018:
Wow. Really nice and smooth out to 2KHz
Reference:
http://feleppa.com.au/speakermeaswoofer.html
This is on his quasi IEC baffle 1.2x9m measured at 30cm.
Tim said
"Very low non-linear distortion of all types, near-perfect Le(x). Good sensitivity. The frequency response is respectably flat and extended - it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to call this a 'full range' driver (though I wouldn't recommend using any 6.5" driver full range). Very reasonably priced for this level of performance and perhaps one of the most suitable woofers for a 2-way speaker at any price"
It was these last 3 words are caught my attention- at any price. I interpreted this driver to be a gem in the rough:
It looked much better than Zaph's old measurements from 2011:
Reference:
http://www.zaphaudio.com/temp/Vifa-NE180W-FR.gif
or Hificompass's, of the 4 ohm variant- Vifa NE180W-04:
Reference:
https://hificompass.com/en/speakers/measurements/vifa/vifa-ne180w-04
So, I applied baffle simulation to Tim's measurements, to see what would happen in a typical 8.5" wide cabinet.
On a 50 dB vertical scale, it might look something like this:
"That look really good!", I thought. Just 1 notch filter on the first resonance around 5KHz, and I might be able to get away with ignoring the higher resonances.
Well, time to order one and do some testing. This is what I got:
Build date is mid 2021;
this is now labelled a Peerless by Tymphany.
It has a large foam gasket, neo magnet, super light, great looking build quality.
Here's my measurements, taken high some 2.5 metres off the ground for a long 10ms window, in my trust 20L test cabinet.
Here's a horizontal dispersion measurement
Conclusion.
Perhaps I now understand better why Jim and Curt didn't release a 2 way with this driver.
I now let you draw your own conclusions.
My journey with the NE180W started after I was on the lookout for a 6.5" driver under around US/EU/GBP $50.
As some other fellows down under may know, the pickings are kinda slim- the main contestants being Scan-Speak, Vifa / Peerless NOS, SB Acoustics...
I'd already had a fantastic experience with the NE123W-08 in pairs about a decade ago when I built the Jim Holtz/Curt Campbell Statement II:
https://www.htguide.com/forum/forum...ts-ii-a-musical-evolution?p=780336#post780336
Though curiously there was never a 2 way from Jim/Curt with the NE180W (more on that later), so I thought hmmm maybe there's a covid recession buster 2-way just waiting to be designed. with a budget Peerless BC25TG.
What sparked my curiosity further was Tim Fellepa's measurements, taken around 2018:
Wow. Really nice and smooth out to 2KHz
Reference:
http://feleppa.com.au/speakermeaswoofer.html
This is on his quasi IEC baffle 1.2x9m measured at 30cm.
Tim said
"Very low non-linear distortion of all types, near-perfect Le(x). Good sensitivity. The frequency response is respectably flat and extended - it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to call this a 'full range' driver (though I wouldn't recommend using any 6.5" driver full range). Very reasonably priced for this level of performance and perhaps one of the most suitable woofers for a 2-way speaker at any price"
It was these last 3 words are caught my attention- at any price. I interpreted this driver to be a gem in the rough:
It looked much better than Zaph's old measurements from 2011:
Reference:
http://www.zaphaudio.com/temp/Vifa-NE180W-FR.gif
or Hificompass's, of the 4 ohm variant- Vifa NE180W-04:
Reference:
https://hificompass.com/en/speakers/measurements/vifa/vifa-ne180w-04
So, I applied baffle simulation to Tim's measurements, to see what would happen in a typical 8.5" wide cabinet.
On a 50 dB vertical scale, it might look something like this:
"That look really good!", I thought. Just 1 notch filter on the first resonance around 5KHz, and I might be able to get away with ignoring the higher resonances.
Well, time to order one and do some testing. This is what I got:
Build date is mid 2021;
this is now labelled a Peerless by Tymphany.
It has a large foam gasket, neo magnet, super light, great looking build quality.
Here's my measurements, taken high some 2.5 metres off the ground for a long 10ms window, in my trust 20L test cabinet.
Here's a horizontal dispersion measurement
Conclusion.
Perhaps I now understand better why Jim and Curt didn't release a 2 way with this driver.
I now let you draw your own conclusions.
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@diyiggy
Gen 2 dual magnet FST (circa 2013-2015; B&W CT8LR tech)
Dynamic,
Effortless
Clean, clear, open.
Gen 2 dual magnet FST (circa 2013-2015; B&W CT8LR tech)
Dynamic,
Effortless
Clean, clear, open.
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@tktran303 - You challenged us to draw conclusions, so here goes...
Looking at the NE180W measurements you made, it looks like there are a few things to be concerned about:
1) There is a + 3dB resonance at 750 Hz which is visible on all axis. Do you think this is inherent in the driver, or could it be coming from the test box? Hificompass measurements don't show this feature.
2) There is a +3 dB resonance at 900 Hz which is visible at 50 degrees to 90 degrees. Same question about the test box.
3) There is some low-Q behavior at 1200-1500 Hz with some cancellation off axis. This to me looks like a cone edge / surround breakup, and if it is, this is less concerning. Surround breakup is pretty typical of drivers of this size with rubber surrounds, and most of the time it is not intrusive. At the higher performance levels (and prices), driver designers spend a lot of effort to reduce it. Again, assuming that is what we are seeing here, I could be wrong.
On the plus side, the harmonic distortion is very good.
Even with the above faults, for $85, it is a pretty good driver. If it turns out that items (1) and (2) are test-induced, then it is an extremely good driver for the price.
j.
Looking at the NE180W measurements you made, it looks like there are a few things to be concerned about:
1) There is a + 3dB resonance at 750 Hz which is visible on all axis. Do you think this is inherent in the driver, or could it be coming from the test box? Hificompass measurements don't show this feature.
2) There is a +3 dB resonance at 900 Hz which is visible at 50 degrees to 90 degrees. Same question about the test box.
3) There is some low-Q behavior at 1200-1500 Hz with some cancellation off axis. This to me looks like a cone edge / surround breakup, and if it is, this is less concerning. Surround breakup is pretty typical of drivers of this size with rubber surrounds, and most of the time it is not intrusive. At the higher performance levels (and prices), driver designers spend a lot of effort to reduce it. Again, assuming that is what we are seeing here, I could be wrong.
On the plus side, the harmonic distortion is very good.
Even with the above faults, for $85, it is a pretty good driver. If it turns out that items (1) and (2) are test-induced, then it is an extremely good driver for the price.
j.
So whats the verdict on the SATORI 6" MW16TX-4 TeXtreme Cone Woofer - 4 ohm ? To be considered ???
The new Polk mid where they kept poly for light weight and dampening and put some stiffening ridges in it is cool too...
I wish there were a few more stiff light cone offerings like this and Eton (not avail) etc....
The ringing in the metal drivers for xover at the tweeter is horrible.
Thx
John
The new Polk mid where they kept poly for light weight and dampening and put some stiffening ridges in it is cool too...
I wish there were a few more stiff light cone offerings like this and Eton (not avail) etc....
The ringing in the metal drivers for xover at the tweeter is horrible.
Thx
John
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Where is the NE180W-X available for $85? I see some on the usual auction site for $122 and up, and some of those shipping from Lithuainia. DigiKey is out of stock. Ali Express shows some for the nominal price, but are those the real item, counterfeits, or sold out the back door of the factory without authorization? I'm not really down with bootleg drivers.
Otherwise I'm looking at the SB17CAC/CRC35-4 as a midrange driver for OB use over the 400 - 1600 range. Probably wouldn't go far wrong with either, but at $85 the NE180 might be an attractive alternative.
Bill
https://www.parts-express.com/Peerl...ber-Cone-Woofer-Speaker-264-1134?quantity=500
$84 each but a minimum order of 500, apparently... Sorry I did not notice that. Now I remember some discussions here about Tymphany going OEM-only...
Metal cone drivers can sound good in a very limited bandwidth but the required filtering is often too difficult to pull off for the average diy builder / designer. 99% of systems based on these types of drivers have audible resonance issues. That's mainly due to the price being prohibitive for correct FR compensation and often the attention to the resonance is in vain if cheap engineering is used to minimize parts count in the xover. Then there is the the lower Qms and heavier cone making the driver less efficient and resolving with lower level detail.
The exception to all this was the older Thiel drivers which were very well designed and not available to diy. As with accuton, the ceramic sound signature is vastly different and not everyone's cup of tea. They can be very analytical sounding in the correct implementation, but I have yet to hear an accuton system I can live with. Then there is the fragility issue as well. These aren't drivers for heavy volume handed listeners (like i tend to be with certain music). The SB15CAC may be the exception, especially for the price, but it will also require alot of careful filtering to keep it far out of breakup mode.
Some of the pro sound drivers are options but they also tend to be handfuls to extract the neutrality required for best performance in a higher end hifi application. As a midbass, the B&C 8NDL51 is a top notch driver which has that resolving, yet warm and harmonically rich sound hard to get from a driver of its size from 200 to 1k. It does 91dB/2.83V after BSC and only requires a very small box as a dedicated midbass. Then we also have the Audax HM210C0 which also does midbass with finesse. These are both other options for drivers with attributes necessary to qualify as true high end midbass units. Im PICKY about midbass. It has to be correct and on point for me to endorse. On a budget, some SB drivers are ok, but just not on the level of rhe others listed. Paper is the cone material of choice here. The only poly driver I've ever liked was the clear cone 18W SS, which is long discontinued or the poly cone Vifa P17WJ00-08. All the really good drivers are vanishing from diy.
The exception to all this was the older Thiel drivers which were very well designed and not available to diy. As with accuton, the ceramic sound signature is vastly different and not everyone's cup of tea. They can be very analytical sounding in the correct implementation, but I have yet to hear an accuton system I can live with. Then there is the fragility issue as well. These aren't drivers for heavy volume handed listeners (like i tend to be with certain music). The SB15CAC may be the exception, especially for the price, but it will also require alot of careful filtering to keep it far out of breakup mode.
Some of the pro sound drivers are options but they also tend to be handfuls to extract the neutrality required for best performance in a higher end hifi application. As a midbass, the B&C 8NDL51 is a top notch driver which has that resolving, yet warm and harmonically rich sound hard to get from a driver of its size from 200 to 1k. It does 91dB/2.83V after BSC and only requires a very small box as a dedicated midbass. Then we also have the Audax HM210C0 which also does midbass with finesse. These are both other options for drivers with attributes necessary to qualify as true high end midbass units. Im PICKY about midbass. It has to be correct and on point for me to endorse. On a budget, some SB drivers are ok, but just not on the level of rhe others listed. Paper is the cone material of choice here. The only poly driver I've ever liked was the clear cone 18W SS, which is long discontinued or the poly cone Vifa P17WJ00-08. All the really good drivers are vanishing from diy.
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No one in the diy world would be fluid or mad enough to spend the equivalent money of a higher end mid sized Japanese sedan on an order of speaker drivers. They are off their rocker and at that quantity the price should be almost half of what they're asking. I paid less than 60 a piece for my NE180s 2 yrs ago for a qty of 10.
I tried talking to PE wholesale about the issue and they aren't interested due to a claimed lack of demand from the diy market. I told them this driver along with the NE123 and Ne149 had a big following on diy audio, being used in several provem kit designs. They don't give a $#%@ about selling a product that competes with the markup they get from their IMO cheesy Dayton Audio driver lineup. Those drivers aren't on the same level as the NE series, but they make way more money pushing those being the markup is higher. Thats also why they stopped carrying the other Tymphany line. You watch, even the TC9FD18-08 will disappear as well. This sort of garbage makes me very upset. PE has the capital to buy a big lot of these drivers and knows it can sell them, but they don't want to bother. Now they're priced at double what they used to be and no quantity discounts.
nice one Jim!
This "trusty" test box has a 1.5" baffle with a cutout for 6.5-7" midwoofers
@profiguy
You make a good point about good drivers disappearing. They're going/gone at Madisound, and here down here in Australasia so is Peerless/Vifa.
But the national distributor has no house brand that can compete with the Vifa NE range, nor the Peerless HDS range. Yet they are slowly disappearing.
Some years ago Digikey started stocking Peerless by Tymphany. A large range and in huge numbers, particularly the smaller drivers (<4").
Now stock is dwindling and some quantities are MOQ is 500. Meanwhile you can get a customised driver from SB Acoustics for a MOQ of only 300!
So IMHO there's some company policy going on at Tymphany, not the distributors.
Remember when Tymphany released the SDF drivers?
https://products.peerless-audio.com/?keywords=SDF
or NCP drivers?
https://products.peerless-audio.com/?keywords=NCP
Why can't we get our grubby lil hands on these?
Believe me, I've asked. The answer is yes you can. MOQ 500!
We down under still have access to some stock of NE (and HDS) range... and anyone really desperate for these drivers can order from Australia:
https://www.wagneronline.com.au/ne/ps/
https://www.wagneronline.com.au/hds/ps/
Get them while you can! But I wouldn't release a design for public consumption using NLA drivers...
Peerless (DK) motto (on their labels) used to be "Reliable in supply and quality"
No longer. I believe it all started with the takeover of Danish Sound Technology by Tymphany... that was the beginning of the end-
http://www.zaphaudio.com/tymphany.html
You make a good point about good drivers disappearing. They're going/gone at Madisound, and here down here in Australasia so is Peerless/Vifa.
But the national distributor has no house brand that can compete with the Vifa NE range, nor the Peerless HDS range. Yet they are slowly disappearing.
Some years ago Digikey started stocking Peerless by Tymphany. A large range and in huge numbers, particularly the smaller drivers (<4").
Now stock is dwindling and some quantities are MOQ is 500. Meanwhile you can get a customised driver from SB Acoustics for a MOQ of only 300!
So IMHO there's some company policy going on at Tymphany, not the distributors.
Remember when Tymphany released the SDF drivers?
https://products.peerless-audio.com/?keywords=SDF
or NCP drivers?
https://products.peerless-audio.com/?keywords=NCP
Why can't we get our grubby lil hands on these?
Believe me, I've asked. The answer is yes you can. MOQ 500!
We down under still have access to some stock of NE (and HDS) range... and anyone really desperate for these drivers can order from Australia:
https://www.wagneronline.com.au/ne/ps/
https://www.wagneronline.com.au/hds/ps/
Get them while you can! But I wouldn't release a design for public consumption using NLA drivers...
Peerless (DK) motto (on their labels) used to be "Reliable in supply and quality"
No longer. I believe it all started with the takeover of Danish Sound Technology by Tymphany... that was the beginning of the end-
http://www.zaphaudio.com/tymphany.html
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PE is a profit maximizing company. Note, they carry way more drivers that are NOT in-house brands than they do their in-house brands. Peerless is the one pulling out of the DIY market and setting the MOQs, not PE.
We can hardly blame Parts Express... If the DIY market was purchasing 100+ NE180W-08's each month, I am sure they would be inclined to place an order for 500. But I bet the DIY market is about a dozen per month of each of the popular drivers... So PE would want to maintain an inventory of about 20-40 of the popular drivers, i.e. about 2-3 months supply. Nobody willingly keeps 3 years of inventory on hand.
Regarding Tymphany, perhaps it is possible that they have made some exclusive deals with one or more of the bigger OEMs, such as Voxx (Klipsch) or Harman, and part of the deal is to limit sales to potential competitors... Or maybe Tymphany considers it a marketing advantage to be OEM-only (no DIY) when trying to secure deals with OEMs.
j.
Regarding Tymphany, perhaps it is possible that they have made some exclusive deals with one or more of the bigger OEMs, such as Voxx (Klipsch) or Harman, and part of the deal is to limit sales to potential competitors... Or maybe Tymphany considers it a marketing advantage to be OEM-only (no DIY) when trying to secure deals with OEMs.
j.
That's the sign of a low loss surround aka underdampened. You'll see that in just about any cone driver that doesn't sound blah in the mids. Not saying its desirable in larger amplitude to have this sort of behavior, but its evident in almost all higher end cone drivers as well, specifically in some of the most respected ones and for sure on most pro audio drivers with cloth surrounds. Put a big flabby high loss rubber surround on that and see the cone - surround reflections disappear but with that goes your higher Qms. Smoothing of this measurement also matters and will show up much worse with ie 48 dB smoothing. You'd be horrified to see what most of the SS drivers look like there. Measurements do give indications of what to expect but dont signify the acoustic performance as a whole. Many higher end light weight cone drivers which have pretty wild breakup in that range sound much better than some with ruler flat response. Too much dampening isn't always desirable.