I started my project of a 3-way sound system and TRYING to achieve the best possible audio quality is my first project. I have already bought the tweeters and the midrange and now I have some doubts when choosing a woofer that would fit perfectly into the my project. Some old and experienced sound people in my state talk about dry woofers instead of rubberized ones for the following reasons:
1 - Frequency Response: Dry Cone: Dry cone woofers generally have a wider frequency response, covering both mid and low frequencies. This is important for 3-way systems where the woofer needs to integrate well with the midrange driver. Rubberized Cone (Subwoofer): Subwoofers with rubberized cones are optimized for very low frequencies and do not do as well in the mid frequencies. They are designed to move large volumes of air and produce deep bass, but can lose clarity in the midrange frequencies.
2 - Rigidity and Control: Dry Cone: These cones generally have a better transient response, which means they can respond more quickly to changes in the audio signal. This results in a more accurate and detailed sound. Rubberized Cone: Although rubberized cones are good for preventing distortion at high volumes, they can be less rigid, which can affect the accuracy of sound reproduction in the midrange.
3 - Integration with Crossover: Dry Cone: The more balanced nature of dry cone woofers makes it easier to integrate with the midrange and tweeters in the crossover, providing a smoother transition between drivers. Rubberized Cone: Integration can be more challenging due to the more limited frequency response, requiring specific crossover adjustments to avoid gaps or unwanted overlap.
I said that I had chosen a rubberized midranger and even so they mentioned the dry cone woofer again and recommended the following woofers: JBL Selenium 10PW5
JBL Selenium 8PW5
Oversound 8G300
1 - Frequency Response: Dry Cone: Dry cone woofers generally have a wider frequency response, covering both mid and low frequencies. This is important for 3-way systems where the woofer needs to integrate well with the midrange driver. Rubberized Cone (Subwoofer): Subwoofers with rubberized cones are optimized for very low frequencies and do not do as well in the mid frequencies. They are designed to move large volumes of air and produce deep bass, but can lose clarity in the midrange frequencies.
2 - Rigidity and Control: Dry Cone: These cones generally have a better transient response, which means they can respond more quickly to changes in the audio signal. This results in a more accurate and detailed sound. Rubberized Cone: Although rubberized cones are good for preventing distortion at high volumes, they can be less rigid, which can affect the accuracy of sound reproduction in the midrange.
3 - Integration with Crossover: Dry Cone: The more balanced nature of dry cone woofers makes it easier to integrate with the midrange and tweeters in the crossover, providing a smoother transition between drivers. Rubberized Cone: Integration can be more challenging due to the more limited frequency response, requiring specific crossover adjustments to avoid gaps or unwanted overlap.
I said that I had chosen a rubberized midranger and even so they mentioned the dry cone woofer again and recommended the following woofers: JBL Selenium 10PW5
JBL Selenium 8PW5
Oversound 8G300
Pedroga,
As Galu pointed out, something is being lost in translation:
"Rubberized" means treated or coated with rubber.
Woofers, midrange or tweeter drivers may use rubber surrounds, but their cones are not treated or coated with rubber.
"Dry" means free from moisture or liquid; not wet or moist.
All drivers should be kept dry if you have a choice, though they can be treated with a product called The Wet Look™ which makes paper cones resistant to water, humidity, sun, and salt.
There are far too many other aspects of speaker design to make such broad generalizations valid.
Art
As Galu pointed out, something is being lost in translation:
"Rubberized" means treated or coated with rubber.
Woofers, midrange or tweeter drivers may use rubber surrounds, but their cones are not treated or coated with rubber.
"Dry" means free from moisture or liquid; not wet or moist.
All drivers should be kept dry if you have a choice, though they can be treated with a product called The Wet Look™ which makes paper cones resistant to water, humidity, sun, and salt.
The surround construction, which can be a variety of materials (rubber, foam, cloth, etc.) and shapes (half-roll, accordion pleat, etc.) all can affect those three aspects of a speaker, but as presented in your post are quite simplistic.
There are far too many other aspects of speaker design to make such broad generalizations valid.
Art
^I deleted my post re pleated and roll surrounds after considering that Pedroga meant the cone makeup and not the surround configuration.
I think we need a few more explanatory words there, Pedroga.
Are you comparing pleated (accordion) surrounds with rubber roll surrounds as I first suspected?
Please confirm with a yes or no.
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I'll try to explain myself better guys I was told that for a 3-way sound system it would be better to place a dry cone or mid-bass woofer as a woofer in a sealed cabinet, as they say in my country.
It would be a woofer like this without that rubber sticking out like my midrange
It would be a woofer like this without that rubber sticking out like my midrange
I think it might be more fundamental, I think he may be confusing sub-woofer and woofer?
For a conventional 3 way hifi speaker a paper cone with pleated suspension or roll surround (made of rubber) would be preferred for its good performance into the mid-range.
For a conventional 3 way hifi speaker a paper cone with pleated suspension or roll surround (made of rubber) would be preferred for its good performance into the mid-range.
400hz is around the frequency you might expect to encounter baffle step losses (depending on baffle width) so you might actually do well to spec a woofer with sensitivity somewhere in the low 90s. It's hardly necessary, but a large speaker will be lots easier to drive to extreme SPL if the sensitivity is higher than average.
I'm assuming all three drivers will be powered by a single amplifier channel?
I'm assuming all three drivers will be powered by a single amplifier channel?
That's what I imagined, but finding one of these in my country is very difficult unless I order one to be made, but then we run into the problem of measuring the parameters thielle small
When I search for woofers speakers like the ones you mentioned in my country, only subwoofers appear.
When I search for woofers speakers like the ones you mentioned in my country, only subwoofers appear.
I will connect all 3 ways to an internal crossover. I'm looking for speakers from at least 8 inches to 10 inches
each 3-way speaker will be connected to a different channel on the amplifier and the 12-inch subwoofer box will be connected to the subwoofer channel
Usually, generally, your choice of the midrange external surround type is dictated by how it will be used. Or, you have a given driver(=speaker) and adapt it to the design. You can see may types of design of the speakers in the enclosures, and mostly they respond to commercial criteria.
A simple 3 way may have the woofer unfiltered ( natural low pass of the device) and the mid and the tweeters with 'just a cap' for high-pass..
Oh, I started with the type of surround...
Well, who cares?! Since you choose a roll surround you're on the safe side!
You don't see accordion surround woofers in hifi catalogues!
Ok, you live in the forest and they're hard to get and made to order is a possibility!
Probably also the music played don't require big movement of the membrane, who knows?
So the user requirements come into play..
Now the user's skills meet commercial...he/she (most frequently 9,99% is a he) will need to have everything on the desk and assemble the thingy. Previously that has been done mentally and the physical realization is just a fraction of the operation.
This occurs routinely nowadays as we are online and every new discovery is shared.
So now we are dealing with the external surround dilemma, which reflects the speaker design as purposed to the kind of usage. The answer has already been given.
Thinking of how each of the speakers in each enclosure will voice as one?
I'm talking about the crossover, the passive components that are used, are you aware of it?
25% posts around here are about crossover, 25% are about box construction, 25% is simulation and measurements, which often falls in the crossover category,, but also is linked to box construction as the surfaces and distances are causes and effects in sound. The other 25% goes in ranting, in collecting memories of the past, some ego self indulgence in expressing this passion
Some living in the jungle may not catch the subtle nuances often whispered by the neighbor ...as surviving in a hostile environment ( for some it's paradise, snakes, ants and spiders aside) selects the important actions
A simple 3 way may have the woofer unfiltered ( natural low pass of the device) and the mid and the tweeters with 'just a cap' for high-pass..
Oh, I started with the type of surround...
Well, who cares?! Since you choose a roll surround you're on the safe side!
You don't see accordion surround woofers in hifi catalogues!
Ok, you live in the forest and they're hard to get and made to order is a possibility!
Probably also the music played don't require big movement of the membrane, who knows?
So the user requirements come into play..
Now the user's skills meet commercial...he/she (most frequently 9,99% is a he) will need to have everything on the desk and assemble the thingy. Previously that has been done mentally and the physical realization is just a fraction of the operation.
This occurs routinely nowadays as we are online and every new discovery is shared.
So now we are dealing with the external surround dilemma, which reflects the speaker design as purposed to the kind of usage. The answer has already been given.
Yes, of course.
Thinking of how each of the speakers in each enclosure will voice as one?
I'm talking about the crossover, the passive components that are used, are you aware of it?
25% posts around here are about crossover, 25% are about box construction, 25% is simulation and measurements, which often falls in the crossover category,, but also is linked to box construction as the surfaces and distances are causes and effects in sound. The other 25% goes in ranting, in collecting memories of the past, some ego self indulgence in expressing this passion
Some living in the jungle may not catch the subtle nuances often whispered by the neighbor ...as surviving in a hostile environment ( for some it's paradise, snakes, ants and spiders aside) selects the important actions