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What's a single driver? [message #56127 is a reply to message #56124] Wed, 02 March 2005 12:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
akhilesh is currently offline  akhilesh
Messages: 1275
Registered: May 2009
Illuminati (3rd Degree)
My single driver setup has evolved to a 3-way, with the wide range driver doing the honors from about 80HZ to about 3500 HZ. The systems sounds a lot cleaner to me that way (of course I am also using active xover).

If I had a fostex, I might stretch it to 5 K. But in my experience, the highs get muddied if you ask the same driver to do all the work, as well as the lows of course.
In my opinion at present, single driver speakers are best used as wide band drivers, covering 5-6 of the 10 octaves. Usually from 80 Hz up to about 2500 to 5000 HZ.

Of course this will depend on the drivers.

My wide range drivers are vintage and go for around $350-400 a pair,
Not cheap! My sub right now is a $89 sub I got for $40 (incl shipping) and my tweeters are vifas taht cost me $60 the pair (incl shipping). So maybe I am cheap!
-akhilesh


Re: What's a single driver? [message #56128 is a reply to message #56127] Wed, 02 March 2005 17:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Martin is currently offline  Martin
Messages: 220
Registered: May 2009
Master
Hi akhilesh,

"If I had a fostex, I might stretch it to 5 K. But in my experience, the highs get muddied if you ask the same driver to do all the work, as well as the lows of course."

I have two Fostex systems.

The FE-164 ML TQWT does a good job over the whole frequency range and only really falls a little short on loud bass passages. But it is only a 6" driver so I can forgive that weakness.

The FE-208 Sigma does much better in the bass but maybe runs out of steam at the very top. I have thought about a super-tweeter but have never tried one. I would say this driver is marginal at the very top.

Most of the Fostex systems I have heard do a good job of being truely full range. Maybe a little help at the very extremes is warrented for some recordings, but even without help the speakers sound very good all by themselves.

"In my opinion at present, single driver speakers are best used as wide band drivers, covering 5-6 of the 10 octaves. Usually from 80 Hz up to about 2500 to 5000 HZ."

I have not really felt the need to add a tweeter at the top for my Lowthers.

The bigger magnet models do a very good job of the mids and highs, they could use a little help at the bottom. I am hoping my back loaded horn design will solve the bottom without going to a multi-driver set-up.

The smaller magnet Lowthers have more bass punch but at the exxpense of a little high end. In both cases I can easily live with the Lowthers running full range with the type of music I enjoy.

Part of the challenge is to squeeze everything out of one driver. So it is a technical enclosure design issue as well as a can I enjoy the music issue.

"Of course this will depend on the drivers."

Absolutely true!

Martin



Re: What's a single driver? [message #56129 is a reply to message #56128] Thu, 03 March 2005 05:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
akhilesh is currently offline  akhilesh
Messages: 1275
Registered: May 2009
Illuminati (3rd Degree)
I've never heard a lowther, Martin... and it cerrtainly seems like they do well on the highs. THe vintage trusonics 80FR I use suck on ths highs...:-) so my comment was somewhat biased based on that. They do have a very nice midrange though.


I'd love to hear your speakers someday.
-akhilesh



Single Driver speakers asre like an old sports car [message #56130 is a reply to message #56117] Thu, 03 March 2005 05:54 Go to previous message
akhilesh is currently offline  akhilesh
Messages: 1275
Registered: May 2009
Illuminati (3rd Degree)
May not have the best specs, but it may "involve" you better.
Don;t ask me to define involvement.
-akhilesh

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