Which PA drivers are considered top tier sound quality wise?

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d3l

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Joined 2025
#1
Hello all,

First of all, excuse me and I know the question is a bit wide and there is no such measurement as 'sound quality'. However I would like widen my knowledge about drivers that combile high spl output, good specs and are considered to be top quality.
 
#2
Top quality for....? In which range? Dispersion? PAX? Budget range?

Without a use, purpose or requirements you can't say it is the best or even good. It's the same for a car, it's easy to say "Ferrari" but you're sh*t out of luck if it goes to a rally or off-road.
 
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#7
ICG said:
Top quality for....? In which range? Dispersion? PAX? Budget range?

Without a use, purpose or requirements you can't say it is the best or even good. It's the same for a car, it's easy to say "Ferrari" but you're sh*t out of luck if it goes to a rally or off-road.
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Hello,

Budget is not relevant (yet), just trying my best to get an idea if there are some brands that are generally considered really good quality. Im sure the budget will play a role at some part of the project but I would like start from the top and then crash down little by little.

General idea would be to design and build a stack for around 150 pax venue that could be possibly scaled up with time. It would mostly sit still but built in boxes that could also be transported if needed. Would love it to sound good on all kinds of music but have the ability to blast out dance and bass music with the needed intensity without feeling constrained.

Initial idea would be to use a front end of a few studio pieces and do the processing in DSP and use D-Class modules for the amplification. For drivers, I'm looking into the possibility of using some 'HIFI' drivers for the highs / mids IF I can find something that could deliver the needed SPL in some formation that would be implementeble and somehow doable budget wise.
 
#8
zzy said:
B&C drivers have been/are used by many high end PA speaker manufacturers, including Danley, L’Acoustics, PK and others and they have many models that could very safely be considered top quality.
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Thanks! I was gonna ask this but thought it might be too much to start with enquiring what others use. Danley, L'acoustics and Lambda are the ones I really like from the established brands
 
#10
I've used a few Faital drivers: 18XL1800, 10FH520, 10HX230. All good at what they do.
IMO, it's less about which manufacturer you choose, and more about choosing their top-end models. Then, you have to use those drivers well.

I run a selection of amps from the Powersoft T-series line, which has a lot of useful DSP.


Chris
 
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#12
I like Faital woofers because they tend to have smoother breakup regions than other manufacturers. That's nice if you are doing a standard two-way with a crossover that depends on using the narrowing dispersion to match a horn. But it comes at the cost of lower Xmax (and the word is their Xmax specs are a bit overstated.) I also like Faital compression drivers because they offer many models with polymer diaphragms which I prefer to titanium, once again there is a noticeable smoothness to the response. Together these attributes can make for a sweet and non-fatiguing midrange that doesn't get nasty when pushed hard. I've built several cabinets with 12PR300/320 and HF10AK/HF108 on a constant directivity horn and get a lot of positive feedback from listeners.
 
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