I would Just keep braking the drivers in at low volume on till 100 hours if I remember correctly. I use old theater radio with mostly talking during the night time. Then I turn it off when I wake up keeping track of the hours they are breaking in. I use a mini D amplifier and make sure I bearly can hear the voices out of the speakers being broken in and the cone is bearly moving as well.
Thanks for that Jeffery. Better safe than sorry. The cone isn't even 'barely moving' but I can hear the music even though it is small.
So, the volume was 'ludicrously low' for the first 20 hours. I have turned it up to 'ridiculously low' for the next set of time. Maybe it's just me but they sound a little louder.
Kind offer thank you, but I have already purchased the 12PW. They are desirable drivers that is for sure.
Hi do you have the Alpair 12P or the Alpair 12PW for sale? Also are they brand new or used? Thanks Jeff
They could be getting louder as break in happens. Too bad you don’t have a DB meter or a measurement microphone. Then you could measure the sound pressure (loudness) coming off the drivers cone or measure the DB’s of this driver. (I hope I said this right?). Jeff
Nah,
I have moved the volume every now and then. Always low, but sometimes lower. Got maybe 30 hrs so far, so we will see how things might change. I have had very good experiences with the 10P, 12P, and likely the 12PW. If I were to guess, these seem to have more mid bass. Thelonious Monk is one of the artists that I have in cue right now, and even at this low volume, I can really hear the lower notes in focus. That was my hope.
I have moved the volume every now and then. Always low, but sometimes lower. Got maybe 30 hrs so far, so we will see how things might change. I have had very good experiences with the 10P, 12P, and likely the 12PW. If I were to guess, these seem to have more mid bass. Thelonious Monk is one of the artists that I have in cue right now, and even at this low volume, I can really hear the lower notes in focus. That was my hope.
Been using my Blusound Vault on repeat. I turn it off at night, but then continue for another 8-10 hours the next day. I am really liking the interaction that I hear with my Manley Stingray. I didn't feel the same way with the previous drivers and went SS for best sound.
Since it is made certain to point out that these drivers need to be broken in at low volume, has anyone ever quantified that level? I was going with 50dB just out of what I consider low volume to mean. Maybe I am also asking what would be the maximum 'low volume' in dB?
Depends on what you are playing. You want to minimize the driver excursion at the start. I just watched the driver.
Start out low, 50 dB is very low and slowly ramp up over 100 hrs or so.
dave
dave
Thank you, Dave, for an understandable number/reference. I have been doing pretty much just that.
I what did you think of the 10p compared to the 12p? The 10p I believe has a center dimple in that driver. I wonder if it makes any difference's in sound?
I used the 10P in a DNA rear loaded cabinet. Although I enjoyed most of the music it produced, I found the bass to be more of a one note affair. I blame this on the cabinet itself and not so much the driver. It has been too long ago that actually heard the 10P to compare it to the 12P. I will say this though>> That dimple means absolutely nothing for the sound of the driver. How could it?
The 12P in a larger DNA2 rear loaded cabinet did not produce the needed bass that I had hoped. Now comes the 12PW, and though I can't speak with certainty, it seems so far that at low volume it has a balance from top to bottom. I should add that 'top' is not much above 10Khz. That will likely not be an issue for me given my present hearing.
The 12P in a larger DNA2 rear loaded cabinet did not produce the needed bass that I had hoped. Now comes the 12PW, and though I can't speak with certainty, it seems so far that at low volume it has a balance from top to bottom. I should add that 'top' is not much above 10Khz. That will likely not be an issue for me given my present hearing.
Effects the HF, the HF dispersion, and changes the resonant behavior of the dustcap.
My experience with the A10p and the DNA horn was burn it or give it away.
dave
Dave,
I have had the same conclusion... almost. If this 12PW combination doesn't bear fruit, I will be building the miniOnkens from the plans that I bought from you. As much time and money as I have in these DNA2 cabinets, I just have to try them first. FWIW, they do sound much better than the smaller original DNA cabinets.
By saying that the dimple affects the HF dispersion, and changes the resonant frequency of the dust cap, is this something that can actually be heard? If that is the case then it would seem the 12P and other drivers would be incorporating such a useful feature as well.
I have had the same conclusion... almost. If this 12PW combination doesn't bear fruit, I will be building the miniOnkens from the plans that I bought from you. As much time and money as I have in these DNA2 cabinets, I just have to try them first. FWIW, they do sound much better than the smaller original DNA cabinets.
By saying that the dimple affects the HF dispersion, and changes the resonant frequency of the dust cap, is this something that can actually be heard? If that is the case then it would seem the 12P and other drivers would be incorporating such a useful feature as well.
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