The patents have now expired on these.... http://www.codrive.com/
I got a pair about 16 years ago and they were really special. The tech and design is unique and really sounds like an accurate midrange driver from 300Hz all the way down to low bass circa 22Hz.
I crossed them over at 300Hz to a pair of Manger drivers which are still among the fastest (step response and CSD) and the blend was seamless.
I have emailed and called Ron ( the owner) but no reply.
Has anyone got a pair of these or know a supplier/dealer who still has stock?
Thanks
A.
I got a pair about 16 years ago and they were really special. The tech and design is unique and really sounds like an accurate midrange driver from 300Hz all the way down to low bass circa 22Hz.
I crossed them over at 300Hz to a pair of Manger drivers which are still among the fastest (step response and CSD) and the blend was seamless.
I have emailed and called Ron ( the owner) but no reply.
Has anyone got a pair of these or know a supplier/dealer who still has stock?
Thanks
A.
No question the design is unique!
No way coupling the mass of two voice coils on extended formers, a 10" and a 12" cone connected together with a pushrod, then forcing the output of the 10" through a bandpass chamber with a ~2.5" exit can have the transient response accuracy of a dedicated midrange driver.
Other than that, performs reasonably well as a 12" sub.
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/way-down-deep-iii-codrive-cb1
Best of luck finding a pair of these unicorns!
Thanks Art!
They really did sound amazing at 300 Hz... None of the >100 Hz to 200 Hz chesty/muddy male vocals / strings etc that 12 inch subs produce ... The Co drive drivers covered this band as well as the PHL 6 and 8 inch drivers I had used previously.... But, they had all the power and dynamics below 100Hz that no 6 or 8 inch drivers has.... There was nothing "reasonable" about their performance... Exceptional yes!
I was using far superior DSP to Rons own IIR PA/Live Sound set up... I used a DEQX, also my amps were killer Dave Belles custom designs and loaded each driver in a far more inert cabinet.
Edit - I used the DEQX to limit the Co Drives to 25Hz to 300Hz as the Manger driver I used above 300Hz is SPL limited to around 96dB before distortion creeps up, so The Co Drives were cruising.
Also I was using two Co Drives (one per side) so the use case is totally different from the "Jurassic thump) home cinema sub woofer use case in the review you linked to... Used for music as I used them they were sublime.
They really did sound amazing at 300 Hz... None of the >100 Hz to 200 Hz chesty/muddy male vocals / strings etc that 12 inch subs produce ... The Co drive drivers covered this band as well as the PHL 6 and 8 inch drivers I had used previously.... But, they had all the power and dynamics below 100Hz that no 6 or 8 inch drivers has.... There was nothing "reasonable" about their performance... Exceptional yes!
I was using far superior DSP to Rons own IIR PA/Live Sound set up... I used a DEQX, also my amps were killer Dave Belles custom designs and loaded each driver in a far more inert cabinet.
Edit - I used the DEQX to limit the Co Drives to 25Hz to 300Hz as the Manger driver I used above 300Hz is SPL limited to around 96dB before distortion creeps up, so The Co Drives were cruising.
Also I was using two Co Drives (one per side) so the use case is totally different from the "Jurassic thump) home cinema sub woofer use case in the review you linked to... Used for music as I used them they were sublime.
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After years of enjoying the music and not the equipment I got the urge to go for an end game system.... I assumed (wrongly) I would be able to get more of the Co Drives ... The system only cost me about £2.5K to build and I sold it for £4K so all good.
So now I have my new mid and top design and looking for a killer low end....
So now I have my new mid and top design and looking for a killer low end....
What is the ideal low end crossover point and target SPL to compliment your new mid and top design?
This is my last system so really going for it...
Re sub to low midrange crossover:
At the moment aiming for 70 Hz with a conventional (18 inch Beyma) as part of a 4 way design:
Beyma TPL 200 covering 2 Khz up. (Sensitivity for a pair = 104dB/1 watt @ 1 meter above 2 Khz)
Array of 6 midrange drivers covering 300 Hz to to 2 Khz., (Sensitivity for a pair = 104 dB/1 watt @ 300Hz / 108dB @2K Hz)
A 15 inch low mid driver covering 70 Hz to 300 Hz. (Sensitivity for a pair = 94dB/1 watt @ 70hz and 101 dB @ 300 hz)
An 18 inch low bass driver covering 25Hz to 70Hz. (Sensitivity for a pair = 88dB/1 watt @ 30Hz and 96dB @70Hz)
If I can get 6 Co Drives (3 per side) they will replace the 15 inch low mid and the 18 inch subs to make the system 3 way.
8 channels of fully balanced power amp modules (TBC) powered by batteries (70 Kg / 48 volt 150 Amp hours per side)
Custom Audio / video source /DSP/Eq crossover/Pre amp/A to D, DAC (8 channel) with fibre input direct from leased line.
All amps, electronics and source battery powered... Whole rig (including the OLED TV screen!) off grid / solar powered.
Re sub to low midrange crossover:
At the moment aiming for 70 Hz with a conventional (18 inch Beyma) as part of a 4 way design:
Beyma TPL 200 covering 2 Khz up. (Sensitivity for a pair = 104dB/1 watt @ 1 meter above 2 Khz)
Array of 6 midrange drivers covering 300 Hz to to 2 Khz., (Sensitivity for a pair = 104 dB/1 watt @ 300Hz / 108dB @2K Hz)
A 15 inch low mid driver covering 70 Hz to 300 Hz. (Sensitivity for a pair = 94dB/1 watt @ 70hz and 101 dB @ 300 hz)
An 18 inch low bass driver covering 25Hz to 70Hz. (Sensitivity for a pair = 88dB/1 watt @ 30Hz and 96dB @70Hz)
If I can get 6 Co Drives (3 per side) they will replace the 15 inch low mid and the 18 inch subs to make the system 3 way.
8 channels of fully balanced power amp modules (TBC) powered by batteries (70 Kg / 48 volt 150 Amp hours per side)
Custom Audio / video source /DSP/Eq crossover/Pre amp/A to D, DAC (8 channel) with fibre input direct from leased line.
All amps, electronics and source battery powered... Whole rig (including the OLED TV screen!) off grid / solar powered.
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Looks like efficiency is a concern with your solar powered rig.
Assuming that Ron Coffin and Keith Yates tests were done at ~1000 watts, the CB-1 amplifier rating,
the CoDrive sensitivity appears to be ~78dB 1w/1meter.
Six CoDrives would be ~-3dB less sensitive at 30Hz than the pair of 18" you are considering, so would use about twice the power.
That said, considering the dynamic range of music, in terms of household power demands the music system won't amount to much.
Assuming that Ron Coffin and Keith Yates tests were done at ~1000 watts, the CB-1 amplifier rating,
the CoDrive sensitivity appears to be ~78dB 1w/1meter.
Six CoDrives would be ~-3dB less sensitive at 30Hz than the pair of 18" you are considering, so would use about twice the power.
That said, considering the dynamic range of music, in terms of household power demands the music system won't amount to much.
Yes, I would loose a bit sensitivity but the sound will be superb🙂 Also I have enough battery power to power three big systems for 24 hours so all good.