500-5k ?
Greetings !
If that's the range you are seeking (500-5kHz) why not a 2 inch compression driver on a suitable horn ?
Greetings !
If that's the range you are seeking (500-5kHz) why not a 2 inch compression driver on a suitable horn ?
agreed for the 20khz-tweeter but 5khz-midrange is not mandatory. Its more like having a 30khz-capable-tweeter.
Well, if 3 kHz is your highest target, than you don't need a midrange driver - any midbass will do.
10 octaves/3-way =
Woofer: 20-253hz
Midrange: 254hz-1667hz
Tweeter: 1668hz-20,000hz
That's the by-the-book calculation if you want to cover the commonly accepted audible 10 octaves, equally spreaded in 3 ways.
2-way would be 5 octaves per way
4-way would be 2.5 octave per way
and so on...
Of course, you can bend the ''rules'' and use one driver for 4 octaves and another for only 1.5 octave...
But in my experience it's not ideal.
4-way would be 2.5 octave per way
and so on...
Of course, you can bend the ''rules'' and use one driver for 4 octaves and another for only 1.5 octave...
But in my experience it's not ideal.
But i see your point.
For me, there is a difference between a capable-driver and a driver that excels in a given bandwith.
YES, sound will come out of most cone drivers above their comfort zone, but at what cost ? Who wants a 15's that sings 2khz ? No one.
What i like about fullrange/wideband drivers is you can slice right in the middle of their capabilities and just take what they are doing the best: midrange. Most of the time 500-4khz band.
In fact, i'm still surprised how few people uses wideband/fullrange as a midrange. Like if the thing were to explode if you put a bandpass xover on it...
as speaker designer, i found the most challenging region to deal with is the 120hz-500hz.
Excellent midrange 500hz+ ? Plenty.
Excellent tweeters ? Not a problem.
Excellent subwoofers ? Easy.
But the missing link between subwoofer and midrange is too often a driver of compromise.
Excellent midrange 500hz+ ? Plenty.
Excellent tweeters ? Not a problem.
Excellent subwoofers ? Easy.
But the missing link between subwoofer and midrange is too often a driver of compromise.
But I don't want equal parts, starting from 20 Hz! Drivers' coverage depends on theirs electro-mechanical properties. Common midrange driver coverage is 500-5000 Hz. Tweeter coverage is from 2 (or 3) kHz - 20 kHz.
Who wants a 5" (or 6") midbass that sings 2 kHz? Everyone.
Who wants a 15" Tannoy midbass (coax) that sings 2 kHz? Everyone.
How so? I would think that's perfect for a 10-12" PA or 8-10" hi-fi woofer. Beyma 12p80nd, or the Satori 7.5" or new 9.5".
Not that I have loads of experience, it just really surprised me you find this band the most challenging and I'm wondering why?
120-500
Finding a driver for that range is easy.
Designing/developing/construction of a non intrusive/ non coloured
enclosure for said range; most challenging !
Finding a driver for that range is easy.
Designing/developing/construction of a non intrusive/ non coloured
enclosure for said range; most challenging !
a coax is not a midbass... Its a built-in 2-way speaker.
Havent heard, in my whole life, a single driver of a nominal diameter of 10in.+ that excels at 2khz.
Best/biggest i heard were always 8's fullrange/wideband.
I'd've thought a pair of (say) Volt BM251.3s would be ideal, particularly if you can use a mid with similar sensitivity like the Audax HM100Z0. Not that that's vital if the system is active of course. As you say, there's plenty of other good midrange units. What are you looking for that the Volt doesn't do?
i have a pair of the BM2500.4 and it gave me satisfaction for years (still do) but i sure know very well their limits as i've tried almost every crossover points possible, with various mid/tweeters.
Bottomline: they start to be out of their ''excel'' zone from 700hz, but still very manageable until 1,100hz... then they decline fast.
Bottomline: they start to be out of their ''excel'' zone from 700hz, but still very manageable until 1,100hz... then they decline fast.
that being said, i'd make 2-way monitors with them without problem. But that would be full of compromises and certainly not worthy of ''World's best''
Maybe in the PA, yes. Maybe.
I have the specs in mind of what i'd look for, but it's not that easy to find. It's either the match with the subwoofer will be tough... or with the midrange.
So far, the most tempting is the Volt 3153
Volt Loudspeakers | RV3153 (12″)
33gr Mms for a 12'' ? Seems promising.
either dual 12s per side or 1x15
but i'm not sure any 15's will give me a decent match with my Vox 1.6
but i'm not sure any 15's will give me a decent match with my Vox 1.6
Well, i'm dealing with a 4-way reality and i'm not ready (don't want) to jump into the 5-way nightmare, nor do i want to go back to 3-way config... So once you analyzed the possibilites offered with a 4-way config, it's pretty clear that you'll have subwoofers and super-tweeters or ''semi-super'' tweeters (crossing points 3khz+).
Then you're left with 2 ways in-between and the battles begins.