Let's hear it for Big speakers

[Bigun]

I've designed and built speakers of different sizes. I like them all. I have some desktop speakers (Martello), some small floor standers (Martello-2), a pair of MA10.3 Pencils, several Foster FE127 Onkens, and a big Open Back Box with an audio Nirvana 15". I've got a few commercial speakers too.

But after years of exploring my options, I gotta admit, the big speakers just seem to do things better.

My favourite: The Big'un - A Large Mono Loudspeaker

I define a big speaker as something with at least an 8" driver, preferably 12" to 15". It won't fit on a desk, it won't fit on a stand, it needs to sit on the floor. It needs no supporting subwoofer. You probably had to treat your spouse to a fancy restaurant dinner to even broach the subject of installing it in the house. Your friends are jealous of it. And the driver is mounted in a baffle that is of order 2 foot wide by 4 foot high, maybe even larger. It very likely has good bass and strong dynamics. It might be OB, a Horn, a TL or a Baffle - but it is a Big speaker

 

[sreten]

Hi,

Big fullrange drivers are pretty awful, in all respects, except bass.
Some are better than others, given generally they are dreadful.

rgds, sreten.

 

[chris661]

My best are a pair of 15" two ways. Beyma 15P1200Nd, crossed to EV DH1a compression drivers at 1.2kHz, LR4.
Cabinet is ~70L tuned ~45Hz.

Dynamics to die for, and enough detail to keep me happy. Not technically a single-driver full-range, but not exactly small.

Chris

 

[wesayso]

I'll count my arrays as 16" full rangers, so I prefer big. (also not a single driver full-range)

 

[freddi]

I've literally well over a ton of speakers - maybe a couple - lets hear it for headphones and portable players - some headphones do poorly on today's bass heavy genre.

 

[OffGridKindaGuy]

I like big speakers.. And, Cabinets too! Gives me a place to stack stuff..

 

[phivates]

I'll find space for them in my shop or my basement or my buddy's shop or basement but NOT in my, or his, house, as we have the spouse in the house. That's where the tidy little boxes go. Can't hardly notice 'em. Stands look good though.

 

[sippy]

Planet10 'EmKens' with Eminence Beta12lta.
The 12lta is a 'wide-ish range' cheap PA unit and needs a tweeter, the driver cab combo does its very best with bass but really could do with some support 'down low', though finishing the internals of the 'Kens should come first, which will lead to more tinkering with the drive units........
I've had them a couple of years now and I still enjoy their virtue of No Crossover

 

[xrk971]

Horns, the bigger the better!

Here are the Trynergies - full range tractrix Synergy.

 

[PBNAUDIO]

You had to ask


Good Listening


Peter

 

[gvasale]

40 tall x 36 wide x 24 deep.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/levelwind/5457328552/

Sorry it's a link, original was lost in a HD crash.

A wizard could bring in the jpg.

This is not the first time they have been mentioned on DIYAudio

of course, not FR

 

[perceval]

Here comes the wizard...

 

[ewollowe]

Hi,

Big fullrange drivers are pretty awful, in all respects, except bass.
Some are better than others, given generally they are dreadful.

rgds, sreten.

Why don't you let us know what you really think?

 

[Kiriakos]

My limit when defining BIG is 150W RMS per Channel.

 

[chris661]

Is that minimum, or maximum power?

 

[gvasale]

Bigun: big'uns reminds me of Al Bundy's remarks about the content of his "girlie" magazines. Perceval: Thanks for playing wizard.

Those are operated with a passive -biamp @ 500hz with 80wpc setup for each. Woofers are parallel wired.

All "dated" perhaps in terms of what is considered to be essential today, but they aren't going anywhere 'till I drop dead. Hope for at least another 20+ years. Then let my daughters fight over them... (wishful thinking)

 

[xrk971]

Here comes the wizard...

Is that a huge cast aluminum radial horn? What does that weigh? Nice...

 

[gvasale]

Altec 511B cast aluminum sectoral horn... close enough to be called 18lbs


mouth is 10 5/8 x 25 5/16...

808-8a hf driver, 416a woofers.

 

[Godzilla]

I like big speakers too! They move more air and simply satisfy. Big speakers provide audible as well as tactile enjoyment. In my experience, it's not about hitting the lowest note rather getting most of the notes right.

 

[Scottmoose]

I don't necessarily think in terms of big or small speakers; rather what will be a realistic set of compromises for a given set of requirements. Assuming all other things are equal, bigger is better; trouble is, all other things rarely are equal unless you can throw huge engineering resources at the problem, as Olson was able to do 60 years ago. So, back to those compromises again & which you're willing to make.