Well finding a midwoof that suits all the continents is not easy...
At looking Parts Express the choice is poor for the drivers being avialable elswhere at the same time. But the NE-149W-08 & the HDS-830091 and the uncertainty about their MOQ for simple diyers I see only 3 choices : (with Madisson ). I don't know if it is a difficulty due to the taxes for USA to purchase at Solen Canada, so I didn't look at there.
All have round basket (not the HDS), are less than 75 bucks and well distributed and longer aviability. I personally like a lot the flat spll of the Discovery (simple filter and good sound according many). We can also find a HDS if accepting to not flush the driver.
This is if 5" driver is prefered. 4" extend the choice (see mikessi/A4eaudio.
If it is impossible and some people really interrested and if the choice is too difficult because the WW aviability concept, then better for North America to fo their own and EUropean to do their own. Sad reality.
How much people really interrested by constructing it ? Poll ? What do you think guys ? Wait the go-nogo of the NE149W-08 ? Split ?
At looking Parts Express the choice is poor for the drivers being avialable elswhere at the same time. But the NE-149W-08 & the HDS-830091 and the uncertainty about their MOQ for simple diyers I see only 3 choices : (with Madisson ). I don't know if it is a difficulty due to the taxes for USA to purchase at Solen Canada, so I didn't look at there.
- WF146WA05 : Wavecore glass fiber
- SS 15W84xxG00 https://www.mes-enceintes-acoustiques.com/2020/07/scanspeak-15w.html
- SB15NRX2C30
All have round basket (not the HDS), are less than 75 bucks and well distributed and longer aviability. I personally like a lot the flat spll of the Discovery (simple filter and good sound according many). We can also find a HDS if accepting to not flush the driver.
This is if 5" driver is prefered. 4" extend the choice (see mikessi/A4eaudio.
If it is impossible and some people really interrested and if the choice is too difficult because the WW aviability concept, then better for North America to fo their own and EUropean to do their own. Sad reality.
How much people really interrested by constructing it ? Poll ? What do you think guys ? Wait the go-nogo of the NE149W-08 ? Split ?
@diyiggy -
I realize that not everyone's' recommendations have been checked for global availability, and your recommendation to check that is good. It's not efficient to just throw out recommendations that someone comes along 5 minutes later to explain is unavailable. All of the drivers that I listed with a $ / € price are available in the US at Parts Express or Madisound and available in Europe at Soundimports or toutlehautparleur.com. I indicated with a ? if availability was unclear, which includes the 2 Peerless NE drivers.
I realize that not everyone's' recommendations have been checked for global availability, and your recommendation to check that is good. It's not efficient to just throw out recommendations that someone comes along 5 minutes later to explain is unavailable. All of the drivers that I listed with a $ / € price are available in the US at Parts Express or Madisound and available in Europe at Soundimports or toutlehautparleur.com. I indicated with a ? if availability was unclear, which includes the 2 Peerless NE drivers.
Everyone is encouraged to offer a midrange drive as a possibility... But please make sure it doesn't exceed $75/$80 and make sure it's available globally.
Even better is to rule out some of the options and narrow down our choices.
All of the drivers in post #685 (all 8-ohm versions except the SB12MRNX2-04 which does not come in an 8 ohm version) are 86dB /2.83v sensitivity or higher. Thus, the proposed design goals do not narrow down the choice of midrange from that rather long
But copying our comments about availability, didn't realise you checked the availability after.... so I let you check then, it is okay for me. I added the 2 drivers on your list. I can't check the price of the wavecore at Compacbel, site seems to have problems to display the items for the moment.
- SS 15W/8434G (or 8424G) 5.5" ; 79$ /€ 70 almost no breaks ups
- SB Acoustics SB15NBAC $80 / €83 -- Al driver
- Peerless NE149W-08 $76 / €? --
- Markaudio CHP-90 $69 / €69 --
- SB Acoustics SB15NRX2C30-8 $63 / €69 --
- SB Acoustics SB15MFC30-8 $62 / €69 --
- SB Acoustics SB12MNRX2-25-04 $61 / €63 -- FOUR INCH MID --
- Peerless NE123W $60 / €80-90 depending on 4 vs 8 ohm, but are they available in Europe -- FOUR INCH MID --
- FaitalPRO 5FE120 (Round version 5FE125) $50 / €42 --
- Peerless HDS 830860 $34 /€55 -- PP driver
- WF146WA05 : 71$/ 5.3/4" Wavecore glass fiber (less flat than the HDS glass fiber but round basket if flush mounting matters)
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My favorite:
- Scan Speak 15W8424G00 is 53 EUR before taxes/shipping (SoundImports.eu).
8 Ohm nominal, 87 dB/2.83V/1m.
Very smooth response, should make for an easy (=cost-effective) xover.
Rms = 0.60 kg/s is decent.
It has a simple round flange.
It's a Scan! - Scan Speak 15W8434G00 is very similar. As far as I can tell the main difference is larger Xmax.
The 15W8424G00
The first one is unavaileble in the us, and the second costs 79$ so over budget
No, there is a very simple and effective solution, but as always, too many cooks spoil...
A super budget friendly proposal, especially for the U.S. residents, at PE:
- Peerless 830669, SLS 12; $76.08 (EU 100€)
- Peerless 830860, 5.25" PPB; $38.86 (55€)
- Peerless BC25TG15-08, $15.69 (30€)
- SUBTOTAL 1 pair=$262 (370€)
or better.
If this project prototype is to be designed and built by fellow Americans, then they should decide which brand and budget
should it be.
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I do like this option. While it is at the high end of the price range for the US it's a good bargain in Europe. But the Peerless is a GREAT bargain in the US and an okay bargain in Europe (at least based on the public list price). So on average it's reasonable and not just getting the best bargains in the US for every driver.
15W8424G00 is only present at Solen for 70 USD (converted from CAD), dunno if an option for US diyers. (I didn't say it was unavailable, ahaha !)
@Lojzek : your list will make a good solution too. I personally don't know about that propylen driver sound. My eyes had slipped on that reference, ahaha. I like that tweeter too, just ask a high cut off as I inputed already (>=3K hz)
@wolf_teeth : not hard to filter the Lavocce ? What about the sensivity if it can not cross over low because it is a 4" ?
@Lojzek : your list will make a good solution too. I personally don't know about that propylen driver sound. My eyes had slipped on that reference, ahaha. I like that tweeter too, just ask a high cut off as I inputed already (>=3K hz)
@wolf_teeth : not hard to filter the Lavocce ? What about the sensivity if it can not cross over low because it is a 4" ?
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A quick question regarding evaluating midrange drivers. Looking at Dibirama site and I see reviews of SB13PFCR25 ($34)which despite its plastic frame has very decent THD. However the CSD looks like this:
Compared to the more expensive SB15NBAC ($80) the CSD looks like this:
Both drivers have fairly low THD with the SB15NBAC edging out it's cheaper cousin, but wondering how audible the difference in CSD will be in a finished speaker.
Thanks
Compared to the more expensive SB15NBAC ($80) the CSD looks like this:
Both drivers have fairly low THD with the SB15NBAC edging out it's cheaper cousin, but wondering how audible the difference in CSD will be in a finished speaker.
Thanks
Attachments
I imputed it before but I was answered the plastic frame was slouch, I didn't pursue ! The HDS are surely a better value buck for buck...
Keep in mind the scaling of these graphs. The plastc frame driver has a lower breakup peak, therefore graph is "scaled up".
Attached a very rough comparison, referenced to the useful output level.
I am really asking about CSD and impact on driver performance, how important is it say, compared to THD.
The HDS 830860 looks good but PE shows out of stock and you need to buy 500 so not sure an option in US. Madisound has the 830656 5.25" for $14.50 (sale price) but is SDS line.
The HDS 830860 looks good but PE shows out of stock and you need to buy 500 so not sure an option in US. Madisound has the 830656 5.25" for $14.50 (sale price) but is SDS line.
Not sure what you mean by "unavailable in the US", or how that would be relevant. It's also not available in Switzerland or Liechtenstein. Not sure about Vanuatu 😉. If there's no-one selling it where you live, just buy it somewhere else. Thats what I do with pretty much all my hobby things.
You can get the Scan drivers for USD 54 from SoundImports.eu, which is well withing the cost limit indicated by @A4eaudio. Shipping to the US is not all that expensive (USD 24), so total of USD 78 (which is still less than the max. indicated by @A4eaudio, but we need to compare prices excluding VAT/taxes/shipping to make it even).
I asked if this was available in Europe but didn't get an answer. I did look at the "normal" places and they don't carry it.
It's just to avoid that we design something that many won't build because it's to expensive or to hard to get the drivers that i'm so critical. Off course the scanspeak is very good and if it was an own design (for myself) on of the top contenders actually. But for US based diy'ers it's hard to get, even with shops like sound import.