FWIW I've built a few more portables based on this form factor and bass driver, I hope it's okay to link that thread from here: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...boxes-3x-complete-another-in-progress.388333/
Did you ever find out what was the issue with the Dayton drivers?
I came across something similar with the 8" variation of that driver. Turned out that the 3/4" baffle that I used for the build was causing the terminals to be pressed in a little when the driver was installed, which in turn loosened the wires. Trimming the back of baffle a bit where the driver terminals were located solved the problem.
I came across something similar with the 8" variation of that driver. Turned out that the 3/4" baffle that I used for the build was causing the terminals to be pressed in a little when the driver was installed, which in turn loosened the wires. Trimming the back of baffle a bit where the driver terminals were located solved the problem.
@Brian Steele Thanks for asking; no I never figured out if both drivers were bad, or I had unrealistic expectations for them, or a little of each. I was on a schedule (someone else's) so I rushed through with a replacement (the ds18) and never fiddled with them afterward. I do have a dayton 25 watt plate amp which may pair better with one or both of those, if they aren't bad. Since then I've just been building the portables with 8" sd215's, other than one dual kicker box for someone's trunk.