The Alpair 10 is a stand out driver. I have not heard a TB that comes close (but there are many i have not heard) and the Dayton,while good, is still not in the same league.
The A7.3/P7HD are the same size of the Dayton, and better. When you ar elooking at the total cost of the project, the difference in driver price is not that much.
dave
Asmany know, i think the TC9 is not a great driver. I would like to hear the Visaton.
dave
Do note, that has been pointed out many times, these clips are so contaminated by other stuff (mic/room/his amp/your amp/your speakers etc that no solid conclusion can be made. These are not as useful as X thinks.
dave
I quite like the 3FE25 (16Ω/neo magnet).
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
dave
Those are nice sounding drivers. I think Nd magnet is 3FE22 and ferrite is 3FE25. I have a pair of each. 16ohm for the 3FE22 and 4ohm for 3FE25.
It depends on how big the speakers are, but if we are talking about 3.5in full range drivers in a bass reflex port box. Probably within 3in to 8in will give a bass enhancement. The extension is the same, but since the SPL is elevated, the -3dB point may appear to be lower in extensiion. Try it and adjust the distance until it sounds good - sort of like mechanical EQ.
Ah dilemma dilemma, either I get a pair TB w8-1337SDF for $150cdn or get a pair of Alpair7 for $252cdn. Getting a pair TB I might regret later if it's not up to my expectations then need to upgrade again. Or spend the $252cdn but not knowing if it's the dream speakers I am looking for.
You mean W4-1337SDF?
Personally, I would go for W5-2143. I think it sounds better than A7 (I have an A7), way better build quality with cast aluminum frame vs plastic frame. Measures very flat, sound is smooth and has great HF extension. It has 90dB sensitivity. No wierdness in frequency response. Has superb deepbass capability. I don't have a W4-1337SDF, but I think the W5-2143 is Tangband's newer generation of driver and very well made and excellent sounding.
Less expensive than A7, same price as 1337SDF.
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Why not Alpair 10 for $170/pr?
Closer in size to the TB, and for most people the mid/top is as good as the A7 class driver.
I know which one i would pick.
dave
Closer in size to the TB, and for most people the mid/top is as good as the A7 class driver.
I know which one i would pick.
dave
I’ll take the plastic frame please. You judt csn’t sbude them as much. I have not heard the TB.
dave
I have not had a problem with cracking. But I can see that in general, a cast aluminum frame is generally more durable and less prone to cracking than a plastic frame.
Markaudio Alpair 7 - problem with cracked plastic basket
The Young’s modulus of ABS (I think) or even polycarbonate can’t compare with aluminum.
I have both drivers and can see the difference myself. Even the thin stamped steel baskets on Fostex are more durable (I have FF105WK, FF85WK, and FE83(RS branded)).
TC9FD and SB65WBAC25-4 frames are glass-filled nylon I think. Much more resilient than ABS. Nylon is more pliable and doesn’t crack easily but needs a fiber added to stiffen it. I have not cracked any TC9FD frames.
The W5-2143 is one of the best sounding full range drivers I have heard. Great combination of smooth response, able to to reach highs and lows. Works well with a bass reflex. Nice sensitivity. Nice price. Well built.
Markaudio Alpair 7 - problem with cracked plastic basket
The Young’s modulus of ABS (I think) or even polycarbonate can’t compare with aluminum.
I have both drivers and can see the difference myself. Even the thin stamped steel baskets on Fostex are more durable (I have FF105WK, FF85WK, and FE83(RS branded)).
TC9FD and SB65WBAC25-4 frames are glass-filled nylon I think. Much more resilient than ABS. Nylon is more pliable and doesn’t crack easily but needs a fiber added to stiffen it. I have not cracked any TC9FD frames.
The W5-2143 is one of the best sounding full range drivers I have heard. Great combination of smooth response, able to to reach highs and lows. Works well with a bass reflex. Nice sensitivity. Nice price. Well built.
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Odds are sadly you first buy won't be the dream speaker you are looking for. If you would share what you expect in a speaker and what you liked in the ls50 compared to other speakers, the community will be able to guide you better.
Fullrangers can give you a really intimate and engaging sound, similar to what headphones can offer, but each one is unique and have advantages/disadvantages that others don't. Usually, smaller is better but only have limited SPL and bass depth ,where large drivers will feel less strained at medium high volume, but will be more sensitive to placement Also fullrangers will have a less flat frequency response than a two way, so are less «neutral» in that regard. That is why lot of fullrange lovers a few of them in their possession....
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Xrk,
the new TB fullranges look like good bang for buck for fullrange aficionados i agree.... i would like to hear one someday.
the new TB fullranges look like good bang for buck for fullrange aficionados i agree.... i would like to hear one someday.
True, but they ring more and aren’t as well damped. I’ll take a good plastic basket over a generic Al one.
I hav ereplaced Alpairs where people cranked the fixing screws down way too hard and cracked the bezel A little eposxy and thy work fine.
Tightenihg the screws down to much on any baslket will degrade the sound. They should only be tightened sufficiently to stop a (real or imaginary) washer from spinning.
The Young’s modulus of ABS (I think) or even polycarbonate can’t compare with aluminum.
Indeed. And more durable than Al too. They are not that thin and whoever engineered them knew what they were doing.
You can go for sound, or you can go for durability of a part, a part that as long as used correctly, will have other issues that wil long affect the driver before the basket gives out.
The Alpair 7.3eN is the best FR driver i have heard (for my needs tastes and support gear). There are lots of decent FRs with different strengths and to get the one for you may take a couple tries.
dave
I agree with you that each speaker has advantages/disavantages.
Just yesterday I finally took my equipments upstairs and set them up on my bedroom for the first time in 15 years. It is a dead quiet carpeted room with curtains on the front and side walls, room is 9'x10'x8'high.
Little do I know, I never thought my 2 decades old $150cdn per pair Polk audio RTi4 could sound so much better. It was almost in the same league as the LS50 in terms of sound stage and details. After it was hooked up to the Yaqin MC-12S, placing them in a close 5 feet triangle setup, the experience was immersive. What I concluded is that even a pair of cheap speakers can sound good with the right amp in the right condition. I never had a high power tube amp until recently. And that made a world of difference when driving the RTi4.
But of course the LS50s were still better even when they were placed in my living room which is a much larger space than the bedroom. What I like about the LS50 over the RTi4 is that it feels like I am listening to a 320kbps recording vs 192kbps. Everything sounds a little more realistic with the LS50.
So I think what I am looking for are high resolution, smooth, detailed but not fatiguing, and easy to drive. I won't be keeping my Yaqin MC-12S so I need something that can be paired with cheap amps.
what you could do also for minimum risk or trouble is to buy a pair of recent powered bookshelves if only for reference, something that can be returned easily, like JBL 306p MKII (which i have not heard) that gets good reviews and see if you like the sound. Commercial speakers like that tend to be non-fatiguing and relatively neutral in general. Fullranges often will be more «polarizing and divisive», but will have better «presence» and reveal subtleties better . Really, like big headphones.
if you want to DIY and want a not complicated 1 driver fullrange that you will have to live with once bought and assemble, than i think the w5-2143 can be a good safe bet, but chances are it will not sound like and ls50, namely in the treble.
Most speakers in the world are AT LEAST two way, for the simple reason that it is very difficult to reproduce very faithfully the whole spectrum with one single driver. However, maybe you will get the fullrange bite, you never know. Many only swear by them.
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