metal FR drivers that don't need a tweeter/correction circuit..

[Bill poster]

..etc looked at FR88/89, Daytons, TBs etc and some opinions are that most seem to need some kind of help, either breakup or other issues

Just thought to compile a proper list would be beneficial to those looking to choose because to me a big point of the 'full range' driver is simplicity and/or lack of components in the signal path etc.

Seems like the Alpair 6 is smooth

so I will put forward these two

Alpair 6
Jordan JXR6

 

[MisterTwister]

you can use acoustic filter.
just attach piece of dense foam in front of the driver.
adjust thickness of the foam untill you like the sound.

 

[planet10]

Alpair6 can be used sans woofer help, JX6 needs helper woofer for sure.

dave

 

[Bill poster]

planet 10 I'm sorry, should have made the thread starter clearer- ie its purely about top end issues, whether they need bass support etc was not my criteria.

Its just odd that so many small metal wide bandwidth drivers are being released but virtually all have issues at the top end in some way and benefit from a circuit or a tweeter.

 

[BudP]

Alpair 7eN, mounted in a correctly sized resistance loaded box, does not "need" a sub woofer. However, correctly mated to something as fast and with as much textural ability as the 7eN has, provides a startlingly good system. The only portion missing is the "weight" of upper bass, from 100Hz to 400 Hz. This points to having a larger diameter Mark Audio driver if that FR is important to you.

The Alapair 7eN has no issues anywhere and flat to 30K does indicate it's ability to resolve inner information within tones and transients.

Bud

 

[rjbond3rd]

Whether a circuit is required is not really a function of the driver, but of the whole driver / cab geometry / boundaries / room / listening position.

If you want to avoid a circuit, just use two drivers Or do a cab that provides enough gain to offset the step loss, and then measure how many degrees off axis yields a flat-ish response.

 

[Bill poster]

Its purely about how a driver measures.. sans room effect, little piece of foam or jar of water in front of cone etc.

 

[MisterTwister]

here is an example how foam affects FR.
block of foam placed in front of a Neo-8 driver.

 

[Dave Jones]

here is an example how foam affects FR.
block of foam placed in front of a Neo-8 driver.
View attachment 202491

What kind of foam, and how thick? Do you have pictures?

 

[MisterTwister]

I don't know what kind of foam it is. It is pretty dense and soft.
It's from discount hardware store.
Here are some more pictures
Twisterspeakers DIY loudspeaker projects: Neo8 planar transducer in a waveguide

 

[fakeout]

Have the new Mark Audio CHR-70 3rd gen, Alpair 7.3 and Fostex FF85WK evolved enough to avoid the need for a tweeter, etc.

 

[KyleinCowichan]

I thought the upper end of the CHR70 was very satisfying to listen to, though maybe a little harsh on the ears with the odd song. Acoustic guitar and vocals were great. In a large box there was satisfying LF as well. I may try and build a set in a sealed box with a helper woofer this summer.

KM

 

[planet10]

Have the new Mark Audio CHR-70 3rd gen, Alpair 7.3 and Fostex FF85WK evolved enough to avoid the need for a tweeter, etc.

None of these, IMO, need a tweeter. CHR needs some taming of the top, A7.3 is well balanced. FF85wk (and the very good, but not as good FF85k), can be thot of as a high end tweeter that can be XOed below 400 Hz or used down to below 100 Hz (with limitations in dynamics & ultimate levels)

dave

 

[larryldspkr]

I've been very happy with CHR-70.3 sans filters! I've used many different 4 inch fullrangers and these continue to impress and are my current favorites. Smooth well balanced tone and descent extension at both ends. For the dollars spent these are a tough act to follow!!

Larry

 

[chrisb]

I've been very happy with CHR-70.3 sans filters! I've used many different 4 inch fullrangers and these continue to impress and are my current favorites. Smooth well balanced tone and descent extension at both ends. For the dollars spent these are a tough act to follow!!

Larry

when you feel flush, try the Alpair6M (personally I prefer the 6P), but this thread is about metal coned drivers

 

[larryldspkr]

Actually Chris I'd like to try the 6P with a 4 ohm Scan Speak 18cm woofer series connected with only a zobel on the woofer to give a little top end roll off! I've experimented with this set-up using different drivers with very good results.

Larry

 

[inrank]

IME, the Bandor 50mm and Veravox 3/Omnes Audio BB3.AL dont need a tweeter and very smooth in the treble.
Got the Fountek FE87 atm but not had enough of a listen, on first impressions they are not as smooth as the two others mentioned.

 

[tuxedocivic]

Every driver has a break up. It's a matter of whether or not it's audible. Even a 1" dome tweeter does. Though probably around 25khz or something. So whether it needs a correction circuit or not depends if you can hear it.

Why not a paper cone? The only metal FR I've been able to tolerate was the Alp7.3, though I haven't heard the Alp6m and many others. I didn't like the FR88, despite really thinking I would.

 

[larryldspkr]

Designing and building a 4 inch driver with a nice tonal balance, credible bass and top end with reasonable efficiency and power handling is an incredible task! Mark Audio Alpair drivers seem to have the upper hand in this department! Cheers to them!!

Larry

 

[Kevin Warne]

The tonal balance will depend alot on the front baffle of the enclosure. Design a nice flat response driver in an infinite baffle arrangement and put it in a normal box and it will sound bass weak. Design it to have decent bass extnsion in a small box, change the box size and it will sound bass rich and uneven.

The upper limits are not just efficiency and power handling - actually a range of drivers are good at these, it's also to do with sound dispersion. You will either end up trading off coherence or dispersion - a way around this has not yet been invented!