Posted by FredT [ 24.175.120.40 ] on December 01, 2005 at 07:23:42:
In Reply to: NSB/PT2 Line Array posted by FredT on November 30, 2005 at 13:34:12:
As I re-read my "advice" post it occurred to me that some might conclude I was suggesting a line array built for under $1K wouldn't sound good. Not so. Even an array like the one I'm building with $3.99 woofers will sound better than much of the stuff you hear at Best Buy. The issue I was addressing is: At what price level is it better to build a non-array speaker using better quality drivers than you could afford to incorporate into a similarly priced line array?
Instead of talking in generalities I'll offer two examples of exceptional under-$1K two way monitor designs, the Selah Audio SA-1 and the Ellis Audio 1801B. The Selah kit incorporates a 7" Vifa XT series woofer and a Fountek ribbon tweeter and sells for $595 with deluxe crossover parts. The Ellis kit uses a 7" Seas Excel magnesium cone woofer and a Hypquphon dome tweeter with deluxe crossover parts and sells for $750. I have heard the Vifa/Fountek combination in another speaker and the difference between these drivers and all the under $30 drivers I have heard is HUGE / ENORMOUS /AWE INSPIRING. I have not heard the Seas/Hyquphon combination, but I would expect it to be even better.
So assuming I know I will be using a good quality 50 watt or greater tube amp or a 100 watt solid state (eliminating the need for a high sensitivity speaker), would a line array or one of the two monitor speakers offer better bass control, midrange clarity, soundstage, imaging, resolution, musicality, air, PRT, or whatever criteria I use to define "high end"? At the $600-$750 price point a quasi line array would offer greater sensitivity and dynamic range plus a larger soundstage, but I still believe either of the two monitor speakers (linked below) would be the better choice for my listening preferences.
http://www.selahaudio.com/id46.html
http://www.ellisaudio.com/1801.htm
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