I feel the same way, these smaller drivers ain’t efficient...
You need to look for a 6-8 inches.
Don't know about Sup 165. Was not impressed by 5" floorstand TL. However, a version of the vintage 215 was my purchase-of-the-year, best HF whizzer I've heard. What happened to specific requirements no whizzer, modern driver, and still in production so can be sourced in quantity??
A version of the 215? Any measurements?
ill go back to my initial requiements. Ive never enjoyed a fullrange with whizzer, i wont try to convince myself into another failure no matter the asking price. Voxativ and lowther are both out
supravox 165 measurements are so far the nicest ive found… but i dont think i can even find one independent measurements!
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check out the Lii audio 8" 10" and 15" FR drivers. Very efficient. they supposedly don't have that Lowther/Fostex tilted up shouty response.
I have used the W5-2143 and the RS100p-8 in wideband duty, I really like both of them. The RS100p is a bit low in sensitivity but used in a 3way as a midrange it will get a bit of bandpass gain. I've used the W5-2143 in a 2way with a 10" woofer crossed at 280hz and it was absolutely fantastic!
No measurements. Mine are a "vintage" special edition used in an active monitor prob. servo feedback down to 20hz so certainly useless to you. Alas I only have the drivers and can't find any more info on the servo (for the several-hundred-ohm extra coils).
Beginning of the year I caught the vintage bug and listened to several hundred audio clips on idlefish (China's eBay). Three pairs stood out and I bought two of them then. The Supravox, I had to save for six months but in the mean time used the clip (through headphones) as a gold standard for speakers diy.
Anyway, after the release of 5 and 8" mid-end speakers about a dozen years ago, Supravox has been quiet (as far as I know). Maybe brand ownership dispute, search diyaudio...
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I always appreciate project photos. A few photos of the journey along the way is really cool. When building, I've run into unexpected issues more than once, and the imagination to cure them can bring challenges of its own.
My system is an open baffle with bass support and I have the top baffle which holds a full range and is easily removable so I can alternate between drivers. I really enjoy, so far the 8” Betsy, the 8” JBL LE8T and the 12” Zenith 49CZ852.
Whenever I put a small driver, well, it feels like they’re not efficient enough for my needs and the sound is just ok. With the bigger more efficient drivers the sounds is powerful and effortless, I don’t feel I’m going to damage something.
I also have a super tweeter connected just in case.
I really like the LE8T alot as a fullrange, plus it goes down pretty low in the correct enclosure.
About 10 or so years back, I did an experiment with a pair of Eminence Beta 8A. I cut several holes around the VC perimeter of the cone, creating a softer coupling between VC and cone to act as a LP. I covered the holes with the thinnest foam gasket tape I could find and coated the patch with thinned silicone RTV. I removed the dust cap and replaced it with a thin aluminum one from a JBL LE8 recone kit and treated the inside pole piece cavity with some sheeps wool felt. I ended up with something very special by accident, which sounded better than an LE8T. The off axis response was great thanks to the decoupled cone. It was also very efficient and it raised the Qts a bit for better bass in a sealed cab. The reason I chose a Beta 8A for this was the low VC inductance, giving it a better chance at sufficient top end potential, plus it was a cheaper driver and also very durable. I made the dumb mistake of letting a "friend" borrow the finished product and never saw it again. It was the best accidental design I've ever came up with. I may try this again. Just need to remember how big the holes were and how many I cut. I recall using a spot weld cutter of about 1/4" dia. I also removed alot of the glue that was used to cover the VC lead in wires around the dust cap.
Edit - just remembered it was an Eminence Alpha8A I used, not a Beta8A.
About 10 or so years back, I did an experiment with a pair of Eminence Beta 8A. I cut several holes around the VC perimeter of the cone, creating a softer coupling between VC and cone to act as a LP. I covered the holes with the thinnest foam gasket tape I could find and coated the patch with thinned silicone RTV. I removed the dust cap and replaced it with a thin aluminum one from a JBL LE8 recone kit and treated the inside pole piece cavity with some sheeps wool felt. I ended up with something very special by accident, which sounded better than an LE8T. The off axis response was great thanks to the decoupled cone. It was also very efficient and it raised the Qts a bit for better bass in a sealed cab. The reason I chose a Beta 8A for this was the low VC inductance, giving it a better chance at sufficient top end potential, plus it was a cheaper driver and also very durable. I made the dumb mistake of letting a "friend" borrow the finished product and never saw it again. It was the best accidental design I've ever came up with. I may try this again. Just need to remember how big the holes were and how many I cut. I recall using a spot weld cutter of about 1/4" dia. I also removed alot of the glue that was used to cover the VC lead in wires around the dust cap.
Edit - just remembered it was an Eminence Alpha8A I used, not a Beta8A.
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I'm curious if you have ever heard the SB Acoustics SB20FRPC30-8 FR w/whizzer driver and how you think it compares to the Betsy?
I prefer the 8" drivers in general, but that also depends on what is being called an 8" driver. The difference in cone size for example is quite different from a Mark Audio P12 and an Audio Nirvana 8" super. Never mind the mounting diameter of each.
Maybe I got it wrong but the Mark Audio Alpair 12P driver is listed as 8" at Madisound. Yes, I did misstate the model as P12. I do that sometimes.
Yeah but the actual cone is a 6.5”
not sure why madisound dont fix this after almost 10 years
as for the thread, ive decided to begin the project with the FE108ez. Ill build a cabinet that allow me to swap the wideband sections to experiment with different drivers.
B&C p100 at 94db should mate well with the fostex.
And, here is my next question>> Before I purchased the 12P, I used the 10P. Don't remember exactly, but I would say that the cone size is nearly identical. I should measure just for heck of it, but actual cone size on these drivers measure about 4 1/2". Of course, that may be the actual measurement of a 6 1/2" driver. Never measured the actual size of the Audio Nirvana, as it was believable just looking at it.
Now, it is almost taunting to have the Scan Speak driver marketed as a 7" driver (not to mention the unusual holes for mounting). Sure, why not? I'll just make another adapter ring.
But in reality, I find this latest Scan Speak to be the best in my cabinet so far.
Now, it is almost taunting to have the Scan Speak driver marketed as a 7" driver (not to mention the unusual holes for mounting). Sure, why not? I'll just make another adapter ring.
But in reality, I find this latest Scan Speak to be the best in my cabinet so far.
I should maybe one day try borrowing one of the MA drivers just for fun, the only one I heard was the EL70 by CSS and it’s been collecting dust...maybe I should give them another try.
