That seems to need MB115/B (horn loaded sub) for bass,
starts to get complex and expensive.
Complexity isnt a problem, it makes it more interesting. If ultra high sensitivity (100db and beyond) is achievable without spending a huge deal more then I might go that route, I wouldn't mind just building a mono speaker to half the price and complexity.
horn woofer makes most sense (front loaded as it most resembles a standard sealed woofer),complicated but more doable on the cheap, the relaxed requirement for bass extension works to it's advantage.
3 way seems mandatory, a wide range compression driver that could provide enough treble extension and meet the horn down where it rolls off either doesnt exist or would be very expensive.
OTOH lots of compression tweeters can be found reasonably cheap, if compression midranges are a common thing and they are similarly priced then the whole thing isn't really out of reach.
The woofer would need at least 106db sensitivity up to baffle step (~500Hz), there might already be cheap cone midrange that can do 100dB (or 103dB for 8ohm)
Or even staying with the 10FE200 and 3FE22, maximising their sensivity with front horns and finding a cheap tweeter to match. Knowing nothing about horns that might not be realistic, but some small drivers like TC9F do seem to work in them and high SPL is not the goal.
starts to get complex and expensive.
Complexity isnt a problem, it makes it more interesting. If ultra high sensitivity (100db and beyond) is achievable without spending a huge deal more then I might go that route, I wouldn't mind just building a mono speaker to half the price and complexity.
horn woofer makes most sense (front loaded as it most resembles a standard sealed woofer),complicated but more doable on the cheap, the relaxed requirement for bass extension works to it's advantage.
3 way seems mandatory, a wide range compression driver that could provide enough treble extension and meet the horn down where it rolls off either doesnt exist or would be very expensive.
OTOH lots of compression tweeters can be found reasonably cheap, if compression midranges are a common thing and they are similarly priced then the whole thing isn't really out of reach.
The woofer would need at least 106db sensitivity up to baffle step (~500Hz), there might already be cheap cone midrange that can do 100dB (or 103dB for 8ohm)
Or even staying with the 10FE200 and 3FE22, maximising their sensivity with front horns and finding a cheap tweeter to match. Knowing nothing about horns that might not be realistic, but some small drivers like TC9F do seem to work in them and high SPL is not the goal.
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This combo can get you pretty low in the treble while still being quite sensitive:
Peerless by Tymphany DFM-2535R00-08 Compression Driver | audioXpress
Peerless by Tymphany DFM-2535R00-08 1" Compression Horn Driver 2/4-Bolt 8 Ohm
Eminence SST1 1" Constant Directivity Horn 90x40 2-Bolt
You could do an MTM with the 10FE200 and including baffle-step compensation reach about 97 db from 150 Hz up to 14 kHz.
Peerless by Tymphany DFM-2535R00-08 Compression Driver | audioXpress
Peerless by Tymphany DFM-2535R00-08 1" Compression Horn Driver 2/4-Bolt 8 Ohm
Eminence SST1 1" Constant Directivity Horn 90x40 2-Bolt
You could do an MTM with the 10FE200 and including baffle-step compensation reach about 97 db from 150 Hz up to 14 kHz.
I think at some point you might want to clarify why you want to go high efficiency or high sensitivity? Is it because of the sound they produce or because your favourite amp is a 2A3?
If it is for the sound, they produce, then you shouldn't overdo it. Things starts to be compromised. Just using the drivers that exhibit the qualities you want is good enough. For example just using a good dome tweeter or a compression driver. They sound different. Can't really say I am fond of the compression driver sound. Because of their incredible efficiency, they tend to be underdriven in a home environment. Power going into one of these at low volume at low listening level could only 1mW. While using line array will boost sensitivity, it means power per driver is reduced and IMHO, drivers that are too under driven don't sound nice. And quite often not using high efficiency drivers.
I think the proposal for the 10FE200 and 3FE22 sounds really good. I might try it myself one day... with my 8FE200.
The other thing you might want to consider is building it as a modular system so you can swap things around. Horns, domes and 3FE22.
Oon
I have never heard something like this so I am curious about the sound, but the primary reasons are
1. to get more output with less load on the amplifier
2. get more output from less voltage to reduce the amount of voltage gain required, ideally loud enough to work with 2Vrms input and no gain stage at all, but that heavily depends on how 'enough' is defined.
I realised a short while ago there is actually a big conflict within these reasons.
To get more voltage sensitivity I thought to use 4 ohm versions, but it turns out that same power into 4ohm will generate far greater amp distortion (almost 5 times in rough simulation of my own amplifier) compared to 8 ohm so there is nothing free with 4 ohm driver, actually it is a much greater cost.
A completely different approach is to forget about voltage sensitivity and instead use the 16 ohm faital drivers for an easier amplifier load.
There are already near identical 16 ohm versions of 3FExx and 4FExx drivers, the 3'' dont even show increased inductance compared to 4 ohm.
Their only low cost option for a 16ohm woofer is the 6FE200 but it will conveniently get better extension than the 4 ohm version when sealed, still not enough but with a much smaller and lighter cone yet still a stronger motor than the 10FE it will be worth working around this.
modularity for tweeter is a good idea, especially with 6FE, I like the 3FE because it is already 16 ohm with the right sensitivity.
Despite having 4 times lower voltage sensitivity it should still be slightly more sensitive than my current full range speaker on paper. Better power sensitivity into 16 ohm load has got to mean a lot for amp performance.
1. to get more output with less load on the amplifier
2. get more output from less voltage to reduce the amount of voltage gain required, ideally loud enough to work with 2Vrms input and no gain stage at all, but that heavily depends on how 'enough' is defined.
I realised a short while ago there is actually a big conflict within these reasons.
To get more voltage sensitivity I thought to use 4 ohm versions, but it turns out that same power into 4ohm will generate far greater amp distortion (almost 5 times in rough simulation of my own amplifier) compared to 8 ohm so there is nothing free with 4 ohm driver, actually it is a much greater cost.
A completely different approach is to forget about voltage sensitivity and instead use the 16 ohm faital drivers for an easier amplifier load.
There are already near identical 16 ohm versions of 3FExx and 4FExx drivers, the 3'' dont even show increased inductance compared to 4 ohm.
Their only low cost option for a 16ohm woofer is the 6FE200 but it will conveniently get better extension than the 4 ohm version when sealed, still not enough but with a much smaller and lighter cone yet still a stronger motor than the 10FE it will be worth working around this.
modularity for tweeter is a good idea, especially with 6FE, I like the 3FE because it is already 16 ohm with the right sensitivity.
Despite having 4 times lower voltage sensitivity it should still be slightly more sensitive than my current full range speaker on paper. Better power sensitivity into 16 ohm load has got to mean a lot for amp performance.
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Not exactly low cost @ $312 but will get you were you want to be -
Audax PR330M0 13" Professional Woofer
Audax Professional Line 13" Woofer - PR330M0
"This 13" woofer offers hi-fi quality along with professional characteristics, such as high efficiency (98dB); large magnet with a vented pole piece for high heat dissipation; and a heatsink designed Zamak chassis. The flat copper copper wire voice coil is wound onto a fiberglass reinforced Kapton former for exceptional power handling (150W). Ideally suited for strong bass response down to 40Hz using a C4 alignment."
The following is a Hi-End commercially available Hi-Fi horn loudspeaker utilizing the Audax PR330M0 (perhaps the better minds can help you clone it) -
hORNS Symphony loudspeakers by Mike Wright
Audax PR330M0 13" Professional Woofer
Audax Professional Line 13" Woofer - PR330M0
"This 13" woofer offers hi-fi quality along with professional characteristics, such as high efficiency (98dB); large magnet with a vented pole piece for high heat dissipation; and a heatsink designed Zamak chassis. The flat copper copper wire voice coil is wound onto a fiberglass reinforced Kapton former for exceptional power handling (150W). Ideally suited for strong bass response down to 40Hz using a C4 alignment."
The following is a Hi-End commercially available Hi-Fi horn loudspeaker utilizing the Audax PR330M0 (perhaps the better minds can help you clone it) -
hORNS Symphony loudspeakers by Mike Wright