So I’ve been getting the itch lately. I recently updated my DAC to an RME ADI-2 and It really made a difference to what I had. Which then lead to me upgrading my phono stage as well - and as we settle into winter, I’m thinking of a winter project.
Currently running a set of Alpair 10p in some Pensils, and since I’ve upgraded my shop I’ve been sort of contemplating putting together better boxes, which lead to me thinking about upgrading the driver…you know how it goes.
So now I’m looking at the Alpair 11 MAOP since they’re finally available here, but since they aren’t cheap, I’m wondering if maybe the Eikonas are a better bet.
Just so you all know, I’m running a TU-8600 300E amp, through the aforementioned DAC - and soon to have a big bottle phono stage for my turntable. Obviously there are much better pieces of kit out there but It’s been a reasonable investment of time and money for me so… I’d like to get the best out of it I can.
The 300 dollar difference between the MAOPs and the Eikonas is immaterial in the long run. But spending 500 on the MAOPs to see a very marginal improvement over my 10ps does matter if I can spend a little more to see a lot of difference with the Jordans.
But I see a lot of back and forth about the Alpairs and the Eikonas, and I’m wondering if the MAOP takes it up into the league of the Eikonas for frankly, a better price.
I know what Planet10 is going to say… 🙂
Currently running a set of Alpair 10p in some Pensils, and since I’ve upgraded my shop I’ve been sort of contemplating putting together better boxes, which lead to me thinking about upgrading the driver…you know how it goes.
So now I’m looking at the Alpair 11 MAOP since they’re finally available here, but since they aren’t cheap, I’m wondering if maybe the Eikonas are a better bet.
Just so you all know, I’m running a TU-8600 300E amp, through the aforementioned DAC - and soon to have a big bottle phono stage for my turntable. Obviously there are much better pieces of kit out there but It’s been a reasonable investment of time and money for me so… I’d like to get the best out of it I can.
The 300 dollar difference between the MAOPs and the Eikonas is immaterial in the long run. But spending 500 on the MAOPs to see a very marginal improvement over my 10ps does matter if I can spend a little more to see a lot of difference with the Jordans.
But I see a lot of back and forth about the Alpairs and the Eikonas, and I’m wondering if the MAOP takes it up into the league of the Eikonas for frankly, a better price.
I know what Planet10 is going to say… 🙂
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Kyngfish,
In my experience the Alpair 10P which is a paper coned driver sounds different vs metal cone MA offerings like the Alpair 10.3 or Alpair 7.3.
So I am guessing that both the Eikona and the MAOP drivers will sound different to your Alpair 10P.
Also please note that the Alpair 10P has higher sensitivity @ 89.6 dB, with the MAOP 11 coming close with 88.46 dB, and the Eikona is 85.2 dB according to respective websites.
In my experience the Alpair 10P which is a paper coned driver sounds different vs metal cone MA offerings like the Alpair 10.3 or Alpair 7.3.
So I am guessing that both the Eikona and the MAOP drivers will sound different to your Alpair 10P.
Also please note that the Alpair 10P has higher sensitivity @ 89.6 dB, with the MAOP 11 coming close with 88.46 dB, and the Eikona is 85.2 dB according to respective websites.
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I think it also boils down on what you seek to improve? More bass, better treble ( response/dispersion), better mids? The solution may not be just upgrading the driver. It might be adding a subwoofer or making it a WAW, add a crossover at 8kHz to a full tweeter, make it an open baffle.
Oon
Oon
I honestly don’t feel like the bass is lacking from my current setup. If anything the new DAC sort of opened things up and gave me “more” of everything in a balanced way. If anything I just want to open up more detail and soundstage. Especially at lower listening levels.
In that case, I think what you want is a supplementary tweeter. Maybe a small half inch tweeter, 1 or 2 uF capacitor in series or maybe a second order. It will most likely point to the back or to the ceiling making it a rear or top firing. But not to the front. This is something called ambient tweeter.
You will have to experiment but it sure is a lot cheaper. Subjective to taste, whether you like the effect or not, but worth a shot...
Oon
You will have to experiment but it sure is a lot cheaper. Subjective to taste, whether you like the effect or not, but worth a shot...
Oon
Hmm, I guess those sensitivity numbers are impacted by the enclosure, but the Eikona definitely feels low. Generally I heard I need close to 90 for the 300B.
Kyngfish,
Some DIYers have shared that the Tang Band W5-2143 sounds good to them:
Tang Band W5-2143 5" Paper Cone Full Range Driver 8 Ohm
The sensitivity is up there too. It might be slightly less bass capable than the Alpair's though; but as you have already (more than likely 🙂) heard, all speakers are compromises.
If you don't mind sharing, what are some of the musical genres you usually listen to?
Some DIYers have shared that the Tang Band W5-2143 sounds good to them:
Tang Band W5-2143 5" Paper Cone Full Range Driver 8 Ohm
The sensitivity is up there too. It might be slightly less bass capable than the Alpair's though; but as you have already (more than likely 🙂) heard, all speakers are compromises.
If you don't mind sharing, what are some of the musical genres you usually listen to?
Definitely a fair recommendation - thank you.
I think what I’m trying to find out is -
Is the 11MAOP a reasonable sized jump up in overall quality over the 10p for the money and…
Is the Eikona better still?
I think what I’m trying to find out is -
Is the 11MAOP a reasonable sized jump up in overall quality over the 10p for the money and…
Is the Eikona better still?
The Eikona and the metal cone Mark Audio drivers are very similar in sound and technology behind it. But i got a slight preference for the Mark Audio drivers and they are cheaper. Never heared the MAOP versions, but i would rather go for a 10.3 or an 11MS if i were you.
But the Eikona could also be good if you want something else. The 10P is darker sounding so if you want better top end the metal cone Mark Audio's and the Eikona can be what you want, and the Alpair 10.3 and the CHN110 are the best for that. Better than the Eikona for sure. I can't talk about the MAOP11, but as it's based on the Pluvia 11, i guess bass is also not that good as those two on bass response.
And depending on the space you're in, a 88dB driver can be enough for a small power amp. I'm running the CHN110 (another very good Mark Audio driver at 88dB sensivity, don't let the price fool you) from an ACA amp in stereo modus (2 x 7.8W class A transistor amp in this modus) and that is more than enough for the space i'm in (3.5x5.5x2.5m). I did run the Alpair 10.3 from an Sophia Electric 91-01 (300B) monoblock set for a while (i had them in consignation as the owner was abroad for a long time) and that was also enough for it.
And the TB mentioned is like all TB drivers rated to high on sensivity. They take the peak of the resonance to measure that, while the general sensivity is mostly 3 to 6dB lower. And sensivity is only one thing, the main thing about low power amps and speakers is that the speaker must have a relative flat impendance, which is mostly not an issue with fullrange drivers as there is no crossover.
But the Eikona could also be good if you want something else. The 10P is darker sounding so if you want better top end the metal cone Mark Audio's and the Eikona can be what you want, and the Alpair 10.3 and the CHN110 are the best for that. Better than the Eikona for sure. I can't talk about the MAOP11, but as it's based on the Pluvia 11, i guess bass is also not that good as those two on bass response.
And depending on the space you're in, a 88dB driver can be enough for a small power amp. I'm running the CHN110 (another very good Mark Audio driver at 88dB sensivity, don't let the price fool you) from an ACA amp in stereo modus (2 x 7.8W class A transistor amp in this modus) and that is more than enough for the space i'm in (3.5x5.5x2.5m). I did run the Alpair 10.3 from an Sophia Electric 91-01 (300B) monoblock set for a while (i had them in consignation as the owner was abroad for a long time) and that was also enough for it.
And the TB mentioned is like all TB drivers rated to high on sensivity. They take the peak of the resonance to measure that, while the general sensivity is mostly 3 to 6dB lower. And sensivity is only one thing, the main thing about low power amps and speakers is that the speaker must have a relative flat impendance, which is mostly not an issue with fullrange drivers as there is no crossover.
Thanks - this is good feedback. I didn’t quite understand the last sentence though? Are you saying that the bass is not good on the 11 MAOP because it’s based on the Pluvia?
Is the 10 MAOP based in the Alpair?
I thought the purpose of MAOP was to give the detail of the metallic cones along with the listenability of the paper?
The 11MAOP is based on the Pluvia 11, that has a slightly weaker bass response than the Alpair 10.3.
The MAOP10 is based on the metal cone alpair 10 drivers, with some parts from the 10.2 and 10.3 mixed and will have a better bass extention. It's very similar in specs as a 10.3 and can be used in the cabinets build for the 10.3 altough designing one special for the MAOP can still finetune it further as i hear. The difference between the regular and the MAOP version is the cone, that is treated in a special (expensive) way to finetune the response.
The MAOP10 is based on the metal cone alpair 10 drivers, with some parts from the 10.2 and 10.3 mixed and will have a better bass extention. It's very similar in specs as a 10.3 and can be used in the cabinets build for the 10.3 altough designing one special for the MAOP can still finetune it further as i hear. The difference between the regular and the MAOP version is the cone, that is treated in a special (expensive) way to finetune the response.
