How about a compression driver?
Among the many 3.75" & 4" vc options out there in the world, it kinda just comes down to taste. With an old phenolic driver (and a tweeter for true HF) you can dig down to 200hz or so... I'll go with RCA mi-9448 (and that family of drivers, mi-9584 9458 etc etc). I havent heard the field-coils in-person so... just choosing from what i have experienced. Or maybe a TAD... BE diaphragm lets you have a 2-way. Better cross those over much higher - if you blow one you're out about the cost of a decent used car, or a dental implant.
But it depends on the available space - in a small room I would prefer direct-radiators, and of a diameter greater than 4.
Among the many 3.75" & 4" vc options out there in the world, it kinda just comes down to taste. With an old phenolic driver (and a tweeter for true HF) you can dig down to 200hz or so... I'll go with RCA mi-9448 (and that family of drivers, mi-9584 9458 etc etc). I havent heard the field-coils in-person so... just choosing from what i have experienced. Or maybe a TAD... BE diaphragm lets you have a 2-way. Better cross those over much higher - if you blow one you're out about the cost of a decent used car, or a dental implant.
But it depends on the available space - in a small room I would prefer direct-radiators, and of a diameter greater than 4.
I like vintage alnico paper cone; "CAM" coated aluminum-magnesium; fiberglass honeycomb.
Alpair 6.2PeN.
The “vintage" top willnot be a concern (some find the top soft) given MR, they have a gorgeous midRange and you can cross pretty low.
Good luck finding even the stock driver.
dave
The “vintage" top willnot be a concern (some find the top soft) given MR, they have a gorgeous midRange and you can cross pretty low.
Good luck finding even the stock driver.
dave
Considering the price, the SB12MNRX2-25 is a very good driver for covering the range from 300 to 3k.
I've tried about 20 drivers in this size range and consider the following ones most interesting.
Peerless TG9FD-10-04 (harder to get now)
Peerless NE123W-04 (harder to get now)
Fostex FF85WK
Fostex FF105WK
Dayton ND64-4
SB Acoustics SB65WBAC25-4
Other brands I tested that didn't make the top spots included Fountek, Visaton, Tang Band, and Aura. That doesn't mean they were bad, just that they didn't impress me for covering roughly 300 Hz to 20 kHz in a nearfield scenario without a bunch of EQ.
Peerless TG9FD-10-04 (harder to get now)
Peerless NE123W-04 (harder to get now)
Fostex FF85WK
Fostex FF105WK
Dayton ND64-4
SB Acoustics SB65WBAC25-4
Other brands I tested that didn't make the top spots included Fountek, Visaton, Tang Band, and Aura. That doesn't mean they were bad, just that they didn't impress me for covering roughly 300 Hz to 20 kHz in a nearfield scenario without a bunch of EQ.
Both can be improved by a fair amount with somesimple tweakage. Except maybe the spots on the dustcap. Takes away some of the problem areas at the source.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/opinions-on-mods-to-ff85wk.365756/post-6480912
dave
At the budget end I used a pair of Visaton W100S that I felt put in a good performance.
For later iterations I used the Monacor MSH115HQ and SPH135KEP and was also happy with those.
Unfortunately I don’t have a good reference to compare them with, other than they were miles better than my previous 2 way speakers.
In all cases I used them from 300-3.5KHz.
For later iterations I used the Monacor MSH115HQ and SPH135KEP and was also happy with those.
Unfortunately I don’t have a good reference to compare them with, other than they were miles better than my previous 2 way speakers.
In all cases I used them from 300-3.5KHz.
Yeah, IME anything Fostex + the usual 'FR' driver tweaks is a 'no-brainer' choice for me with only a compression driver on a large WG trumping (more like beating the crap out of) it.
Tang Band W3-1364S is good through 300-4,000hz. I like paper, papyrus, and bamboo. I haven’t heard the W-1878. I expect it sounds very good, but it could simply be the ‘neat-o man!’ factor. OP there are so many 3” drivers out there, this makes it very hard for us to find one that you might like.
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"Favourite"? The cheapest because they don't cost me much [$20- each] when gifting to the kids or grandkids.
The 4" I consider the best isn't made anymore and that was the Vifa PL although the P-11 and M-11 were almost as good
The 4" I consider the best isn't made anymore and that was the Vifa PL although the P-11 and M-11 were almost as good
As mid 600-4k mu10rb, can be improve because it has edge cone resonance. Good clarity of the sound.
As mid-tweeter 600-20k or tweeter 3k-20k maop5 or A5.3 These drivers can play loud without the feeling of yelling, very impressive. As tweeter, they work as good as my SEAS tweeters. Maop5 is more neutral.
Note the integration in a system is the key of success.
As mid-tweeter 600-20k or tweeter 3k-20k maop5 or A5.3 These drivers can play loud without the feeling of yelling, very impressive. As tweeter, they work as good as my SEAS tweeters. Maop5 is more neutral.
Note the integration in a system is the key of success.
The W3-1878 was okay running full-range in a build I heard a while back, but I think the driver would have been even better taking the bass out of the little fella. That said, the W3-2141 is a driver with the same cone, an underhung motor, a better surround, and lower cost. I find that paper cone is great at midrange as it's also the same bamboo material used in the upper tier coaxes. The TB W3-1364, IIRC, is under a large MOQ now and basically NLA.
Since you said 4" or smaller....
I would also recommend the W3-1797, as those flat aluminum honeycomb have great sound and fantastic off axis response.
The SB12CAC25S-4 is the smallest of the CAC line, and mids are super clear.
PRV 4MR60-4 glass fiber sounds great from 200-4k, and is higher sensitivity.
The Alpair CHP-90 looks very good on paper.
Lots of good drivers in that size range....
Since you said 4" or smaller....
I would also recommend the W3-1797, as those flat aluminum honeycomb have great sound and fantastic off axis response.
The SB12CAC25S-4 is the smallest of the CAC line, and mids are super clear.
PRV 4MR60-4 glass fiber sounds great from 200-4k, and is higher sensitivity.
The Alpair CHP-90 looks very good on paper.
Lots of good drivers in that size range....
