Compression driver with a highest sensitivity available

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Racjonalny

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Joined 2017
#1
Hi guys

Please advise on the matter as in the title. I am looking for a compression driver + horn combination with a sensitivity of at least 110dB, but in the 2-15 kHz band. At frequencies close to the lower limit, the sensitivity may be arbitrarily higher, but it is important that it does not fall below 110 dB in the entire indicated band. I deliberately wrote sensitivity - nominal impedance is irrelevant, and a low value increases the sensitivity. Impedance at the level of 4 Ohms would solve this problem and many currently available models would meet the indicated condition - the problem is that they are not available in the 4 Ohm version...Of course I'm looking for a hi-fi/hi-end driver, not a fire sirens ;-).
Thanks in advance.
 
#2
Hi,
check out Faitalpro HF142. Datasheet says that most of the band is over 110dB. There is audioxpress test bench article with a measurement showing the whole band over 110dB measured in I believe 60x40 horn. In general, narrower dispersion horn gets you some more decibels compared to wider dispersion ones.

Faitalpro hf10ak almost meets the spec as well, dips below 110dB around 2k if i remember. Never heard hf142 but I have the hf10ak and it sounds fine, but it is already a ten year old model so I suspect newer tech drivers might outperform it on some aspects. Hf142 is newer design. Anyway, I've gathered from the forums that bad horn will make any driver sound bad horn. Look for a horn without diffraction slot at the throat and smooth largish mouth easeout. Have fun!

What kind of system are you building if I may ask?🙂
 
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#4
Yes, I know about Faital Pro HF142, but, as you know - it does not meet the requirement, though it is close ;-). The drop above ca. 13 kHz is to big to be compansated.
Faital Pro HF10AK I have currently in my speakers, and I even asked the manufacturer if it is possible to make a replacement kit in 4 Ohm version, becouse it would be just what I need, but unfortunately - no.
I need that high sensitivity both becouse I need to have high SPL, and becouse I have an actice system, in which difference between power for bass section (2500W amp, ca. 101 dB speakers) and treble section (700W, ca. 107 dB) turned out to be to big, and my current Faital Pro HF10AK would be the limitting part of SPL, becouse amp for this section will start to clip first 🙂. Yes, I know that the difference in sensitivity is at the level of 6 dB, i.e. 4 times the power, so it should be the other way around, with a slight margin at high tones, but it turns out the opposite. In my listening room, by measuring the SPL of the speakers from a futher and futher distance, the level of treble is getting lower in relation to the rest of the band.
So, we go back to where we started - I need at least 110dB of sensivity in ale the band 2-15 kHz at least ;-).
 
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#6
Racjonalny said:
I deliberately wrote sensitivity - nominal impedance is irrelevant, and a low value increases the sensitivity. Impedance at the level of 4 Ohms would solve this problem and many currently available models would meet the indicated condition - the problem is that they are not available in the 4 Ohm version..
Click to expand...
Racjonalny,

It sounds like you are looking for a driver/horn combination that puts out over 110dB at one meter on axis from 2-15 kHz with 2.83 volt input, as opposed to a one watt input.

The JBL 2386 horn with most any decent 8 ohm driver would meet that specification. It is a 2" entrance horn, but adapters to 1", 1.5" could be used.

Other JBL candidates would be 2307, 2309 and other horns normally used with a "lens" in front- without the lens they have very narrow HF dispersion, resulting in high on axis HF output.

Art
 

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#8
If I'm assuming that you want HiFi sound (and are going to do correction in any way to linearize the driver/horn combination), don't you get loads of spl back when choosing a driver that has higher sensitivity in all the bands below e.g. 10KHz and use that excess sensitivity, translated in spares watts for the top end?
 
#9
Racjonalny said:
In my listening room, by measuring the SPL of the speakers from a futher and futher distance, the level of treble is getting lower in relation to the rest of the band.
Click to expand...

This is because of the difference in radiation pattern and its effect on far field room response. Your bass drivers are radiating far more total power than the HF when the system is balanced flat on axis. A broader HF pattern will reduce the effect you measure.

mterbekke said:
If I'm assuming that you want HiFi sound (and are going to do correction in any way to linearize the driver/horn combination), don't you get loads of spl back when choosing a driver that has higher sensitivity in all the bands below e.g. 10KHz and use that excess sensitivity, translated in spares watts for the top end?
Click to expand...

That's exactly right. I'm struggling to understand why 107dB driven with 700W just for the HF is insufficient in a listening room?! 😱 I know what 100W in a 100dB/W/M HF section can do, another 15dB is just crazy.
 
#10
Racjonalny said:
Yes, I know about Faital Pro HF142, but, as you know - it does not meet the requirement, though it is close ;-). The drop above ca. 13 kHz is to big to be compansated.
Faital Pro HF10AK I have currently in my speakers, and I even asked the manufacturer if it is possible to make a replacement kit in 4 Ohm version, becouse it would be just what I need, but unfortunately - no.
I need that high sensitivity both becouse I need to have high SPL, and becouse I have an actice system, in which difference between power for bass section (2500W amp, ca. 101 dB speakers) and treble section (700W, ca. 107 dB) turned out to be to big, and my current Faital Pro HF10AK would be the limitting part of SPL, becouse amp for this section will start to clip first 🙂. Yes, I know that the difference in sensitivity is at the level of 6 dB, i.e. 4 times the power, so it should be the other way around, with a slight margin at high tones, but it turns out the opposite. In my listening room, by measuring the SPL of the speakers from a futher and futher distance, the level of treble is getting lower in relation to the rest of the band.
So, we go back to where we started - I need at least 110dB of sensivity in ale the band 2-15 kHz at least ;-).
Click to expand...

Hi Racjonalny,

Why even care what sensitivity is? ....when you are active, with i presume an amp of its own on the compression driver. Yes, no ?

Isn't all you care about what achievable SPL the driver makes across 2-15kHz ?


I don't get it, what does sensitivity even have to do with it?
 
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