I have had a pair of Radian 950PB (AL diaphragm) for about a year now and have been using them on a pair of Azura 340 horns. I liked what I was hearing and so I decided to upgrade to the Be version. The new drivers arrived today and the throats have a big step in them which is not present in my older 950's.
I have a bunch of compression drivers and I have never seen a big step like this in a throat.
All the other drivers I have are smoothly tapered and I always thought discontinuities in the throat/high pressure region of horns was something to be avoided.
Radian customer service says they have not changed the throat designs but the two examples I have are clearly and significantly different.
Is a step like this normal ?
I have a bunch of compression drivers and I have never seen a big step like this in a throat.
All the other drivers I have are smoothly tapered and I always thought discontinuities in the throat/high pressure region of horns was something to be avoided.
Radian customer service says they have not changed the throat designs but the two examples I have are clearly and significantly different.
Is a step like this normal ?
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The two pictures on the left do indeed show a step - or it does at least look like that. Where did you get them from ? And why didn't you just order the BE diaphragms to upgrade your existing drivers ?
Regards
Charles
Regards
Charles
i purchased them from speakersandamps.com. They were great. shipped same day and followed up with a phone call. The issue is with Radian and the design of the throat not with the reseller.
I purchased the full driver because I wanted to do an A-B comparison between AL and Be diaphragms in the same driver. I plan to sell one pair when done.
I purchased the full driver because I wanted to do an A-B comparison between AL and Be diaphragms in the same driver. I plan to sell one pair when done.
I would recommend showing Radian those pictures.
It appears to me that someone ( in assembly ) forgot to insert a piece of plastic throat expansion.
🙂
Hi Berd, yes this is normal.
I bought mine in 2012 with AL diaphragm and later installed the Truextent. This ridiculous step was there, first pic. Second pic is from internet, I made a search to verify if this "incorrect" design was normal, and it was. I cannot understand why they did two geometries of the same model.
Regards.
I bought mine in 2012 with AL diaphragm and later installed the Truextent. This ridiculous step was there, first pic. Second pic is from internet, I made a search to verify if this "incorrect" design was normal, and it was. I cannot understand why they did two geometries of the same model.
Regards.
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Abbiendi:
Thanks for sharing the pictures.
Provides another data point - 2 with the step and one with a taper.
Did you keep the drivers ?
Do you think the step negatively impacts the sound ?
Thanks for sharing the pictures.
Provides another data point - 2 with the step and one with a taper.
Did you keep the drivers ?
Do you think the step negatively impacts the sound ?
EarleK:
The contact form on Radian site does not have a way to attach pictures.
They did respond pretty quickly to my inquiry and asked if i had the right part number
I responded to their email late yesterday and forwarded the pictures.
I expect they will say it is normal.
it may be "normal" for this design but it seems crazy to have a big discontinuity in the throat of what is supposed to be their top of the line driver.
They sent a link to datasheet which show the step.
FWIW the datasheet for the 951 shows a taper but that is a 1.4" driver.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0111/0324/0254/files/950NeoBEPB-data_sheet.pdf?1117
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0111/0324/0254/files/951NeoBEPB-data_sheet.pdf?v=1593736902
The contact form on Radian site does not have a way to attach pictures.
They did respond pretty quickly to my inquiry and asked if i had the right part number
I responded to their email late yesterday and forwarded the pictures.
I expect they will say it is normal.
it may be "normal" for this design but it seems crazy to have a big discontinuity in the throat of what is supposed to be their top of the line driver.
They sent a link to datasheet which show the step.
FWIW the datasheet for the 951 shows a taper but that is a 1.4" driver.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0111/0324/0254/files/950NeoBEPB-data_sheet.pdf?1117
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0111/0324/0254/files/951NeoBEPB-data_sheet.pdf?v=1593736902
That so-called step might not be a step at all.
It could easily be the outside ring-portion of the 5-slit phasing plug that ( apparently ) the 951 lacks .
🙂
It could easily be the outside ring-portion of the 5-slit phasing plug that ( apparently ) the 951 lacks .
🙂
I have no idea if this step could affect the performance, I have no knowledge to determine this. I paid someone to develop the filter for this CD matched to an Iwata-300 horn. I attach the graphics I have. Hope you or somebody else can clarify to what extent such step impact (or not) the sound.
Regards.
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After you assemble the driver and horn, I would use Mortite ( ribbon calking ) from Home Depot and fill in that step. You will have to listen both ways and the Mortite can be easily removed without damage. I used Mortite on my horn / driver connections to make sure the connection was smoothe. without irregularities. The throat / horn connection is VERY critical, that step can cause unwanted turbulence. Good luck
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