I'm looking to make myself a set of "mix cube" type studio monitors. Typically known for being single-driver, sealed, and light on bass/treble so one can focus on mixing midrange content. Most attempts to clone the prototypical Auratones end with the need to find an identical driver. I'm not interested in a clone, just making a small, sealed, let's say "mid-focussed" speaker from a full range (or I guess good mid range) speaker driver as a complement to my "big" monitors. I actually already made a prototype with a $1.95 speaker from a DIY electronics site in a 3D printed enclosure. It's a bit to distorted at low volumes to be the finish line but it was close enough to make me think a real swing is worth the time.
So, I'm looking for driver options. Right now the best looking driver I've found is the Audax 13LB25AL with its flat midrange and gradual role off in a small sealed enclosure. The sensitivity is a bonus too. I also have a pair of Mark Audio Alpair 10p but they look to need a bigger sealed box to prevent a bass bump from over damping. The smaller alpairs all look to have a little bit of a scoop in the mids that would be undesirable. Surely there are other choices if anyone can make a recommendation. I'd pay about $150/driver max or thereabouts.
So, I'm looking for driver options. Right now the best looking driver I've found is the Audax 13LB25AL with its flat midrange and gradual role off in a small sealed enclosure. The sensitivity is a bonus too. I also have a pair of Mark Audio Alpair 10p but they look to need a bigger sealed box to prevent a bass bump from over damping. The smaller alpairs all look to have a little bit of a scoop in the mids that would be undesirable. Surely there are other choices if anyone can make a recommendation. I'd pay about $150/driver max or thereabouts.
Hmm, vocals are ~100-8 kHz, [100*8000]^0.5 = ~894.43 Hz = ~34400/pi/894.43 = ~12.24 cm dia. = ~ 117.71 cm^2 [Sd] for a balanced acoustic power distribution with a ~80 Hz Fs, so the Audax has good tuning, but is too small for best overall tonal balance just as its response shows and IME, better to go larger than the ideal if need be since we want the low end to be as efficient as practical.
Damn, lost my reply…
Last of these. Very good midrange, purposely shelved down 10 dB in the top 2 octaves. Would give you ~100-5kHz response. EnABLed improves DDR/detail.
Stock ones can be had here:
Markaudio CHP-70 Gen2 Natural Paper
The Alpair 7ms has the better mids, similar bottom, but extends all the way up. Quite a bit pricier too.
There is also the CHBW70eN (black, and CHBW70 stock), essentials the same driver, but shelved down 15 dB. They have been NLA for some time.
The CHP & CHBW would need about 5 litres. Butterworth response. About a 20cm cube (15mm material). if you follow the AuraTone shape (not recommended).
dave
Last of these. Very good midrange, purposely shelved down 10 dB in the top 2 octaves. Would give you ~100-5kHz response. EnABLed improves DDR/detail.
Stock ones can be had here:
Markaudio CHP-70 Gen2 Natural Paper
The Alpair 7ms has the better mids, similar bottom, but extends all the way up. Quite a bit pricier too.
There is also the CHBW70eN (black, and CHBW70 stock), essentials the same driver, but shelved down 15 dB. They have been NLA for some time.
The CHP & CHBW would need about 5 litres. Butterworth response. About a 20cm cube (15mm material). if you follow the AuraTone shape (not recommended).
dave
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Taking GM comments.
Would the 6RS140 faital pro 6 inch, or 6FE100 for a sealed box fit the bill. Although I am not sure the top end is adequate for this specific application?
People do like those Audax aerogel midranges and woofers.
Would the 6RS140 faital pro 6 inch, or 6FE100 for a sealed box fit the bill. Although I am not sure the top end is adequate for this specific application?
People do like those Audax aerogel midranges and woofers.
The question is how small do you want it. The 10P or 10.3 can fit in a 5L case without real bass thump. This is the response.
And the 10P would be what i would use for this.
Smaller than that sealed and going low enough for voice will be hard i think. 5L will just fit a 10P in it, that is like 21x21x20cm when using 18mm wood (wich i recommend, and preferable plywood).
And the 10P would be what i would use for this.
Smaller than that sealed and going low enough for voice will be hard i think. 5L will just fit a 10P in it, that is like 21x21x20cm when using 18mm wood (wich i recommend, and preferable plywood).
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And the 6RS140 is a midwoofer, not a real fullrange driver i think. You will need a tweeter with it to get a real trustable response for this. I would not use it above 4kHz i think as resonances become very strong at 5kHz on the off axis scale. On axis it looks ok on first sight, but i'm sure with the non-smoothed response you will see strong peaks of +10dB there
It might help if I clarify my goals a bit. The auratone frequency response is aggressively rolled off below 300 and about 5K. Here’s an article with some measurements. It is absolutely not necessary that the response be flat across the vocal range… it’s really about providing an alternative perspective to larger monitors that have low end and high end that get you all hyped up. Not to mention the crossover related artifacts that can make things a little more difficult for critical listening. You just want help to find the pain points in the midrange.
Some people actually approximate this by band limiting their monitor path between 400 and 4000 Hz (with shelving filters) to make sure it sounds good without all the thump and sizzle.
Some people actually approximate this by band limiting their monitor path between 400 and 4000 Hz (with shelving filters) to make sure it sounds good without all the thump and sizzle.
I think your Audax could be a great choice. I had assumed it was an Audax aerogel. But in fact its a paper cone. The spec look good i am surprised its not so well known here.
Maybe a bit of experimentation with baffle size or large round overs to help with diffraction you could end up with a real analytical tool for your mixes.
Maybe a bit of experimentation with baffle size or large round overs to help with diffraction you could end up with a real analytical tool for your mixes.
If you like Auratone mid, try Dayton PA130-8. It is 5.25in pro driver with a nice sound and is 89dB, inexpensive, and sounds great. Very nice full-bodied mid range with highs up to 12kHz. Very pleasant.
If you need more sensitivity, try the PRV 5MR450NDY. 95 dB and needs a high pass above 200Hz. Superb mid range though.
If you need more sensitivity, try the PRV 5MR450NDY. 95 dB and needs a high pass above 200Hz. Superb mid range though.
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I would recommend the SB Acoustics 12NRX25-4 mid bass driver for your application.
I've been using it in a 5 litre sealed and or ported (works well either way) cabinet with great results. This driver doesn't go much past 10k but does not sound rolled off. Decent bass response ported or sealed, and well under your budget. I'm very impressed with the build quality of this driver compaired to the many full range offerings out there. And it sounds great straight up, plug and play!
Larry
I've been using it in a 5 litre sealed and or ported (works well either way) cabinet with great results. This driver doesn't go much past 10k but does not sound rolled off. Decent bass response ported or sealed, and well under your budget. I'm very impressed with the build quality of this driver compaired to the many full range offerings out there. And it sounds great straight up, plug and play!
Larry
Ya very little concrete history to draw on when searching. I decided to start a little cheaper and grabbed a TC9FD18-08 on Amazon since they are very popular here. I’m probably going to do several iterations and keep whichever sounds closest to my needs.
Glad to hear it. I also splurged and got the carbon fiber version (TG9FD-10-04) to demo as well.
The 8ohm Tg9fd is a dream of a good sounding driver. 95% as good as 10F/8424 for 20% the cost. But alas, it’s no longer manufactured.
Unfortunately, we need an amalgamation of the two, the low end of 6FE100 with the HF of the 6RS140 and as waxx pointed out, ideally a BW out to ~20 kHz to get a good enough off axis response, ie, some form of co-ax and preferably a tri-ax as W.E. proved with its 8" 755A one piece diaphragm, two built in mechanical/acoustical XOs.
No clue about any Audax after the early '90s.
So, quick question. When I plug in the TG9’s data into speaker builder pro 2.0 the box volume for sealed bessel or butterworth both come out to negative numbers. What does that imply about this driver and those alignments? The recommend voles range from -2 to -5 liters.