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Re: 1-Pi/2-Pi [message #61674 is a reply to message #61673] Tue, 05 January 2010 18:36 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18787
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

It really does boil down to the bass, the character below 100Hz. The electro-mechanical parameters of the Alpha 8 are very different than they are in the Alpha 10. Those parameters are largely responsible for bass response. Above 100Hz, the drivers are similar, but below 100Hz, they're very different.

Of course, in all things, there is a balance of priorities and the difference between them is manifested in the cabinets required. The Alpha 8 is happy in small boxes but the Alpha 10 really needs a pretty large cabinet. As an example, The one π cabinet at 1.0ft3 is plenty large enough for the Alpha 8, which can be used in vented boxes from about 0.75ft3 to 2.0ft3, tuned to 55-60Hz. The two π cabinet, on the other hand, is about 1.5ft3, which is right at the bottom end of what can be used for the Alpha 10. It should be put in vented boxes from about 1.5ft3 to 5.5ft3, tuned to 35Hz-40Hz.

What this means is the Alpha 10 can provide quite a bit more bass, but it needs a larger box to do it. That kind of goes without saying but the point I want to emphasize is that the Alpha 8 can be put in a a cubic foot box if you can sacrifice bass and it will still sound nice. The Alpha 10 can't, because in an undersized box it will become underdamped in the midbass and sound kind of thumpy, without any real bass. Such a box would cause voices to sound overly throaty, and stringed instruments will be artificially heavy sounding but without any real bass. On the other hand, if you have a box larger than around three cubic feet, the Alpha 10 is fine but the Alpha 8 won't be, at least it won't make any real bass.

 
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