SEAS CA12RCY vs. W12C003

[roderickvd]

A 3"-4" driver will have both severe breakup and severe beaming at high frequencies. FAST is an option for enthusiasts that are able to set aside these sorts of issues. Here is an example of the typical directivity.

What about the 4" SEAS FU10RB? While the response isn't exactly flat, it does remain +/- 3 dB up to 10 kHz at 30 degrees off-axis. That seems appropriate for a center speaker. On-axis however there's +6 dB beaming between 7-8 kHz. That's not very pretty. The 4" MU10RB fares a little better but is 4Ω again. There may be others worth investigating.

I realize that this is a suboptimal solution, but at this point everything seems to be so when confined to 14 cm height. With regards to the 3" woofer MTM, I'll soon look for a small, low-crossing tweeter that can be placed above the woofers. A quick look-around tells me that this won't go much lower than 2-2.5 kHz.

 

[5th element]

I still think the SEAS L12 Coax is one of the better options. No it wont go crazy loud but it will keep the directivity issues a non issue.

By far the biggest concern with centres is keeping speech intelligibility and overall clarity high for everyone sitting in the room. The coax does this beautifully and then some. SEAS also have a crossover for it, which while not perfect for your situation would be far better than something random.

What amplifier are you using? Most 6-8 ohm only receivers are quite happy with 4 ohm loads providing you don't turn it up too much.

 

[roderickvd]

What amplifier are you using? Most 6-8 ohm only receivers are quite happy with 4 ohm loads providing you don't turn it up too much.

A Marantz NR1602. It's reported to go into protection fast, though I've never tried myself.

 

[andy19191]

What about the 4" SEAS FU10RB? While the response isn't exactly flat, it does remain +/- 3 dB up to 10 kHz at 30 degrees off-axis.

It looks to be 3dB down at 5kHz to me which is pretty much what you can expect for a 4" driver. Full range drivers are strictly for full range driver enthusiasts that can set aside their obvious shortcomings. Unless you are in that camp it is unlikely you are going to like what you hear compared to a high fidelity speaker.

I realize that this is a suboptimal solution, but at this point everything seems to be so when confined to 14 cm height. With regards to the 3" woofer MTM, I'll soon look for a small, low-crossing tweeter that can be placed above the woofers. A quick look-around tells me that this won't go much lower than 2-2.5 kHz.

There is no such thing as a small low crossing tweeter. You need big to cross low like the 1.5" tweeter you are using in your mains. Possibly a 2" if you can live with the loss at the high frequencies but a 3" or 4" tweeter makes no sense.

In 5.5" you can place a 3/4" tweeter above a 2" upper midrange crossing at 3-5kHz and then cross at 600-800Hz to the 4.5" midwoofers. This will not sacrifice significant sound quality but with the subwoofer it will be a 4 way and so not exactly cheap and simple. Or the variation mentioned above of a 1" tweeter above and between a pair of 3" midranges which will allow the crossover to the woofers to be lowered to 500Hz and to increase the SPL. You could also then use small woofers that cannot reach a tweeter rather than the midwoofers in the title.

The small height is a strong constraint which significantly limits your options but there are still one or two that could give good sound quality if you get the balance right.

 

[mondogenerator]

I agee with Andy on a few things:

Double 3" mids or wide range drivers as a mid, and tweeter may be a good way to go.

I have a 3-way almost planned out. I have a 3" ribbon, 3" TB fulltange (wishing I had double so I could do MTM).

Haven't decided on woofer (8-10" perhaps) and I had considered that to keep up with a 10" woofer, id need to cross to the midrange higher than I wanted initially

So I considered Audax HM100ZO, due to greater SPL/W and if I was going to be forced into a XO @500 Hz or there abouts, then what the hell!!!

Trouble is Id still like to use the 3" ers....

C-C would be better, sensitivity lower, better for an 8" to match...

Crunchy mids at the occasional party volume setting moment (I have short parties)...

Well that's more annoying than rattling car boots lids (trunk)

So...im still undecided (and I really do like the sound of HDA) but I cant be buying more drivers...

 

[Bill poster]

Bump
Re the Nextel mids- top ends don't get much better than that, fairly easy x/o
Wd be nice if Seas made a neo version like it's bigger brother www.audioexcite.com SEAS E0044 W12CY003