I'm considering building a two-way bookshelf using an Audax Aerogel midbass (the cheaper polymer-chassis series). Has anyone used one? How do they sound?
A little dilemma: should I choose the 4", 5-1/4", or the 6-1/2"? The 4" seems to have the smoothest response but has the least bass.
Thanks for any advice.
A little dilemma: should I choose the 4", 5-1/4", or the 6-1/2"? The 4" seems to have the smoothest response but has the least bass.
Thanks for any advice.
8inch only
Hello,
I am afraid that I have only had experience with the 8inch vesion (AP210Z0) from the same range. They are in the first proper set of speakers I have built and although there is still a lot more work to put into the cabinets to have them sounding right (I never have the time), I am impressed with the sound.
I would suggest some care in cutting the hole, as the polymer chassis can deform slightly if you try to press it into a hole that is fractionally tight, and they don't feel rugged to handle. To my uncalibrated ears (I have never listened to a decent commercial system), they perform well and appear to be good value for money.
Hope this is of some help.
Andrew
Hello,
I am afraid that I have only had experience with the 8inch vesion (AP210Z0) from the same range. They are in the first proper set of speakers I have built and although there is still a lot more work to put into the cabinets to have them sounding right (I never have the time), I am impressed with the sound.
I would suggest some care in cutting the hole, as the polymer chassis can deform slightly if you try to press it into a hole that is fractionally tight, and they don't feel rugged to handle. To my uncalibrated ears (I have never listened to a decent commercial system), they perform well and appear to be good value for money.
Hope this is of some help.
Andrew
hey coolkoa
There is also a test on the linkwitz-lab page (it is really from "the mr linkwitz" himself I believe) on the 2 different size aerogel audax versions, compared with others, I suggest you take a good look at that.
I have experience with the 4" audax, HM100Z0. At 93 dB sens. (one of the highest sens. hifi mids I found in the consumer price-region here in europe) and still going quite low (400 Hz@2L enclosure, if you c.o sharp enough). Distortion measures extremely good, specially in the upper region 1-3kHz. I use it in range 400-3kHz/24dBLR. The bigger ones I've never used...
good luck
There is also a test on the linkwitz-lab page (it is really from "the mr linkwitz" himself I believe) on the 2 different size aerogel audax versions, compared with others, I suggest you take a good look at that.
I have experience with the 4" audax, HM100Z0. At 93 dB sens. (one of the highest sens. hifi mids I found in the consumer price-region here in europe) and still going quite low (400 Hz@2L enclosure, if you c.o sharp enough). Distortion measures extremely good, specially in the upper region 1-3kHz. I use it in range 400-3kHz/24dBLR. The bigger ones I've never used...
good luck
you can find quite a few designs with a web search that use aerogel drivers e.g. :
http://www.worldaudiodesign.co.uk/products/kls9twdestext.html
http://home.hetnet.nl/~geenius/Auriga.html
🙂 sreten.
http://www.worldaudiodesign.co.uk/products/kls9twdestext.html
http://home.hetnet.nl/~geenius/Auriga.html
🙂 sreten.
Thanks for all the replies everybody. I may consider using the die-cast Aerogel ones for durability (they have flatter responses, too). Now, for the tweeter...
coolkhoa said:
coolk, I'm gonna combine the 4" audax (93dB) with the 96dB aurum cantus tweeter (active application). There is also the cheeper aurum cantus (93dB), that can work fine in a passive combination. I have not ordered the tweeters yet, but the reactions are really good so far, there is some talk about them in this forum. maybe a suggestion for you? or the 96dB tweeter with a series resistor to make up for the relatively low 6 ohms...
good luck🙂
Thanks, dokter dB. I think you're talking about the G2 ribbon, which looks attractive, indeed.
Actually, I need a really inexpensive tweeter with a small faceplate so I can position it close to the Audax in a relatively small (read: tiny) enclosure. Now I'm seriously considering the 1" Micro Tweeters from Audax that have been paired with the Aerogels in many projects on the web (including the Audax Home Theater system by Joe D'Appolito). My dilemma this time is which model to use: the textile dome (TM025F1), which has gotten good reviews, or the similar titanium dome (TM025F7). The titanium one seems to have the flatter response at the upper-end (the textile's response climbs slightly). But I don't know if the metal will sound "metallic" or a little too harsh on the ears.
Maybe this calls for a new thread on the forums🙂
BTW I'm really interested in ribbon tweeters (they supposedly sound clear and transparent), and I would like to experiment with them in the near future. For a different project, perhaps?
Actually, I need a really inexpensive tweeter with a small faceplate so I can position it close to the Audax in a relatively small (read: tiny) enclosure. Now I'm seriously considering the 1" Micro Tweeters from Audax that have been paired with the Aerogels in many projects on the web (including the Audax Home Theater system by Joe D'Appolito). My dilemma this time is which model to use: the textile dome (TM025F1), which has gotten good reviews, or the similar titanium dome (TM025F7). The titanium one seems to have the flatter response at the upper-end (the textile's response climbs slightly). But I don't know if the metal will sound "metallic" or a little too harsh on the ears.
Maybe this calls for a new thread on the forums🙂
BTW I'm really interested in ribbon tweeters (they supposedly sound clear and transparent), and I would like to experiment with them in the near future. For a different project, perhaps?
Ive used the small 1" fabric dome paired with the 4" polymer aerogel driver for a small set of speakers for the kitchen. These were one of the 1st pairs of speakers I built not using any kind of simulation software so therefore are not perfect. But then again they dont need to be, one speaker is three meters of the ground on a cabinet and one is one meter off the ground in a shelvin unit with the hifi. So as you can see well integrated speakers are not needed there as noone is going to pic nits that the tweet doesnt integrate perfectly with the woof at two different listening levels as you walk around! However I do pic nits LOL as I think they sound a lil harsh and forward but thats comparing them to my system which is a smooth as (insert an appropriet word)
Anyway, they do sound very impressive for the money, deffinatly worth it.
Now that I have got measurement software Im going around redesigning all my previous designs!
Anyway, they do sound very impressive for the money, deffinatly worth it.
Now that I have got measurement software Im going around redesigning all my previous designs!
Hmmm...interesting, very interesting. 5th element, I was surprised to hear that you think the fabric dome is a little "harsh" and "forward." Maybe I will have to try both versions for myself!🙂
Hopefully this is not too far OT. I work in the same town as a vendor who still reportedly still has a decent supply of Audax drivers. Since I've read that Audax is following Dynaudio's lead and abandoning the DIY market, I'd like to know which of their drivers are especially prized by the folks here. For example, I've seen the AP210Z0 mentioned in a couple of threads.
I'm thinking about putting a few boxes together in order to get my HT system better matched. I just added a sub:
http://diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25852
and I would like to replace my main left and right (Tannoy PBM-8s - want to move them upstairs to the home studio) and center and left and right rear surround (all Sherwoods scrounged from a POS HT in a box rig). I'd like to put together five to seven identical small systems, two-way, probably sealed. The XO in my Yamaha receiver is fixed at 90 Hz, so I would like all of the systems to be fairly flat from 90 Hz to 15 kHz or higher.
I'm certainly not stuck on Audax - I'll consider any recommendations. If there are any Audax drivers that are particularly desirable for the application that I've outlined, I would love to hear about them.
Finally, I'd just like to say that I'm really glad to have found this place, and I hope that I will be able to contribute what I can.
TIA,
dooper
I'm thinking about putting a few boxes together in order to get my HT system better matched. I just added a sub:
http://diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25852
and I would like to replace my main left and right (Tannoy PBM-8s - want to move them upstairs to the home studio) and center and left and right rear surround (all Sherwoods scrounged from a POS HT in a box rig). I'd like to put together five to seven identical small systems, two-way, probably sealed. The XO in my Yamaha receiver is fixed at 90 Hz, so I would like all of the systems to be fairly flat from 90 Hz to 15 kHz or higher.
I'm certainly not stuck on Audax - I'll consider any recommendations. If there are any Audax drivers that are particularly desirable for the application that I've outlined, I would love to hear about them.
Finally, I'd just like to say that I'm really glad to have found this place, and I hope that I will be able to contribute what I can.
TIA,
dooper
Audax abandoning DIY market?
dooper, this is big news; where did you hear about it? Honestly, I'm a little skeptical about Audax not making drivers anymore. After all, isn't that all they do? You see, Dynaudio also sells commercial speakers, and they make more money off that than from the DIY market (and besides, they don't want anybody else using their technology). Perhaps Harmon International is phasing out the Audax brand?
If this is true, it means bad news for me. I'm ready to invest a lot of time and effort into designing speakers based on Audax's polymer-chassis Aerogels (because I think Aerogel offers the least coloration, especially for near-field listening).
dooper, this is big news; where did you hear about it? Honestly, I'm a little skeptical about Audax not making drivers anymore. After all, isn't that all they do? You see, Dynaudio also sells commercial speakers, and they make more money off that than from the DIY market (and besides, they don't want anybody else using their technology). Perhaps Harmon International is phasing out the Audax brand?
If this is true, it means bad news for me. I'm ready to invest a lot of time and effort into designing speakers based on Audax's polymer-chassis Aerogels (because I think Aerogel offers the least coloration, especially for near-field listening).
OK, I just got off the phone with my local Audax vendor, Q Components ( www.loudspeakers.ca ) and I was told that Audax has already ceased production of drivers for the DIY and OEM home audio markets. According to what I was told, they will be concentrating exclusively on OEM for autosound.
The Audax web site lists a contact person in California - mdaigler@harman.com - perhaps he / she could confirm.
dooper
The Audax web site lists a contact person in California - mdaigler@harman.com - perhaps he / she could confirm.
dooper
I've been told by the folks at Madisound that Audax will begin phasing out driver manufacturing over the next two years. This is a bit scary for me, as the EAW LA325 uses Audax drivers for their mids. I hope I will still be able to get parts for them.
Also, Harmon doesn't own Audax. They own everything else, but not Audax.
Cheers,
Zach
Also, Harmon doesn't own Audax. They own everything else, but not Audax.
Cheers,
Zach
Sorry to respond so late but the harshness I think is more in the xover, having said that vance in the LSPcookbook used a network to kill the rising response at the upper end, however the harshness I think is my xover! Or just an aging 25 year old marantz reciever with 8 year old cd player. I have played the speakers on my system when i first made them and they didnt sound harsh then. But my tastes have changed as the speakers got even smoother and smoother.
It looks like Audax is quitting DIY for real.🙁
This is unfortunate, but what will happen to their High Definition Aerogel (HD-A) technology??
BTW thanks for all the posts everyone.
This is unfortunate, but what will happen to their High Definition Aerogel (HD-A) technology??
BTW thanks for all the posts everyone.
I just thought I would clear up some details regarding this thread. I worked for for Audax for 9 years up until last August as the sales manager for the consumer and pro market. Audax is a Harman company and last year the decision was made for Audax to become a manufacturer for only the automotive OEM market. Production of OEM and standard products for the consumer and pro market are supposed to stop by the end of this year. This includes aerogel cone drivers. I'm not sure what will come of this technology. A couple of driver manufacturers were interested in purchasing the rights to build it and the equipment, but I'm not sure where that stands.
Now for a shameless plug. I've got a TON of audax drivers for sale that I had for samples, etc. I've got a number of ads in the trading post section. It has been a little while since I updated them, so not everything is still available. If you are interested let me know. I don't cruise this forum too often, so you can send any questions directly to me at mwdaigler@adelphia.net
Now for a shameless plug. I've got a TON of audax drivers for sale that I had for samples, etc. I've got a number of ads in the trading post section. It has been a little while since I updated them, so not everything is still available. If you are interested let me know. I don't cruise this forum too often, so you can send any questions directly to me at mwdaigler@adelphia.net
Matt D said:
Thanks for the info. Is there any chance you would know where I could get my hands on a full set of specs for the Audax kit designs? My problem is that www.audax.com site is down, and the www.audax.fr isn't hosting the files related to the Audax Home Theatre kit design. I've tracked down all the specs on cabinet & crossover from various other kit resellers' sites which is complete enough to construct from, but I would really like some more stuff like response measurements, etc.
Unfortunately I had to take the audax.com site down when I left and have everything redirected to audax.fr. I copied all the content onto a CD and sent it to France and they were going to put it up on their site. That hasn't happened yet. And, of course I didn't make a copy of the CD for myself.
I've got the original faxes from Joe D'Appolito but no way to scan them into my computer.
You could try contacting the Audax distributor, E44 in France. They are actually the ones managing the French website and should have the CD with the audax.com content.
As a last resort, I could mail or fax copies to you.
I've got the original faxes from Joe D'Appolito but no way to scan them into my computer.
You could try contacting the Audax distributor, E44 in France. They are actually the ones managing the French website and should have the CD with the audax.com content.
As a last resort, I could mail or fax copies to you.
Tweeter harshness
If you look closely, there should be two or more different sensitivies of each TM025 variety.
Among the soft domes, the TM025F1 has 92 dB sensitivity but if you look at the waterfall on the Audax site, it has pretty nasty spikes above 10 kHz. The TM025F9 has 91 dB but nicer waterfall. Matt told me this is because of more damping, but I don't recall if there is more felt on the pole piece or actually a pole-piece bore.
Anyway, there is also the TM025F7, which is the same thing as the F9 but with a round flange like the F1. It was measured some years ago in the German magazine Hobby Hifi, and its distortion figures put some highly regarded "real" tweeters to shame. FR linearity and waterfall were also very good.
As for Ti domes, the TM020J7 also measured very well.
I'm excited as I'm expecting to receive Matt's parcel today. It went the sea way, in a friend's moving container.
Regards,
Eric
If you look closely, there should be two or more different sensitivies of each TM025 variety.
Among the soft domes, the TM025F1 has 92 dB sensitivity but if you look at the waterfall on the Audax site, it has pretty nasty spikes above 10 kHz. The TM025F9 has 91 dB but nicer waterfall. Matt told me this is because of more damping, but I don't recall if there is more felt on the pole piece or actually a pole-piece bore.
Anyway, there is also the TM025F7, which is the same thing as the F9 but with a round flange like the F1. It was measured some years ago in the German magazine Hobby Hifi, and its distortion figures put some highly regarded "real" tweeters to shame. FR linearity and waterfall were also very good.
As for Ti domes, the TM020J7 also measured very well.
I'm excited as I'm expecting to receive Matt's parcel today. It went the sea way, in a friend's moving container.
Regards,
Eric
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