I wanted to just see how people responded to this question and what people chimed in with.
I am looking for opinions (of what is READILY AVAILABLE NOW) on what 6.5" mid-woofer folks esteem to be the highest performing/best value at the present based on personal use and listening and why. This could include off-sizes at 6" and 7".
Very curious to see the different responses. Thanks.
I am looking for opinions (of what is READILY AVAILABLE NOW) on what 6.5" mid-woofer folks esteem to be the highest performing/best value at the present based on personal use and listening and why. This could include off-sizes at 6" and 7".
Very curious to see the different responses. Thanks.
Member
Joined 2003
This type of question can usually be answered by searching...
Seas ER18RNX is very popular these days, Peerless 830883 offers similar performance.
Seas ER18RNX is very popular these days, Peerless 830883 offers similar performance.
been looking at this over the last few months;
contenders (Can't remember exact part codes)-
Usher - not readily available in Aus,
SB & SEAS - more expensive than Peerless,
Peerless 830883 - best value/distortion profile,
a wildcard - Wavecor - distortion data not available
contenders (Can't remember exact part codes)-
Usher - not readily available in Aus,
SB & SEAS - more expensive than Peerless,
Peerless 830883 - best value/distortion profile,
a wildcard - Wavecor - distortion data not available
Member
Joined 2003
There's always the Dayton RS180, and the Fountek FW168 for metal cone drivers. Both are very good options for a low price.
Member
Joined 2003
Picking a crossover point before picking drivers is poor engineering. Crossover point should be chosen after drivers have been chosen, and layed out on the baffle. Then you will have phase relation between the drivers and can find a good crossover frequency.
The OP did not mention the application for the drivers, but is asking for an overall good driver for a reasonable price. For a 6.5" driver, if it cannot be used up to 2kHz I would not consider it to be good. Ability to be used with a standard 1" tweeter is a prerequisite for a driver of this size, IMO, as this is the most common application.
The OP did not mention the application for the drivers, but is asking for an overall good driver for a reasonable price. For a 6.5" driver, if it cannot be used up to 2kHz I would not consider it to be good. Ability to be used with a standard 1" tweeter is a prerequisite for a driver of this size, IMO, as this is the most common application.
I have been looking at these. Not yet used in a completed design as far as I know. DIYCable.com : Intro » Home » Exodus Subwoofers »
I always liked the Vifa P17WJ, but its sadly not available any more. Too bad that Tymphany purchased Vifa, Peerless, ScanSpeak and screwed it all up.
Member
Joined 2003
Scan-Speak is separate from Tymphany now, no longer "screwed up". 😉
They took some drivers with them too when they left. The XT25 and Peerless HDS are now Scan-Speak products.
They took some drivers with them too when they left. The XT25 and Peerless HDS are now Scan-Speak products.
Great replies thus far. I had not considered the Fountek or heard much on it; it appears to be a very good value. Anyone have experience with this driver? In particular, anyone build the Fountek two-way kit offered at Madisound? I can't believe the price. But I have to say I would be a bit apprehensive toward the ribbon tweeter as I have not used one yet nor compared one side by side with a trusty dome.
And of course the Seas and Peerless woofers mentioned I have heard very good things about as well and am also curious to know if anyone has any personal experience with them. One woofer that I have been interested in using for a long time, not mentioned here, is the Seas P18RNX/P. Are there any good DIY designs or kits out there that use this mid-woofer?
And one last woofer...an "unusual suspect," the JM Lab 6VE3251B Woofer offered at Zalytron. Looks like a very interesting mid-woofer indeed at a price that can't be beat. However, again, a little apprehension as not much is known about it other than the published specs which look great on paper.
I have not decided if this is going to be a two-way floor stander or a three-way tower speaker. Both would be MTM configurations up top, I am not sure which woofer I would put on bottom but it would most likely be a single 10" in each cabinet. For tweeters I have it narrowed down between the Hiquphon OWII and the Seas 27TDFC. Would not be able to go as low with the Hiq of course, but my tastes tend to prefer a higher crossover point anyways (between 2-3K). Both are great tweeters, although they are completely different animals.
Any other mid-woofers out there that folks have really enjoyed working with? Maybe some surprises or less well known woofers?
And of course the Seas and Peerless woofers mentioned I have heard very good things about as well and am also curious to know if anyone has any personal experience with them. One woofer that I have been interested in using for a long time, not mentioned here, is the Seas P18RNX/P. Are there any good DIY designs or kits out there that use this mid-woofer?
And one last woofer...an "unusual suspect," the JM Lab 6VE3251B Woofer offered at Zalytron. Looks like a very interesting mid-woofer indeed at a price that can't be beat. However, again, a little apprehension as not much is known about it other than the published specs which look great on paper.
I have not decided if this is going to be a two-way floor stander or a three-way tower speaker. Both would be MTM configurations up top, I am not sure which woofer I would put on bottom but it would most likely be a single 10" in each cabinet. For tweeters I have it narrowed down between the Hiquphon OWII and the Seas 27TDFC. Would not be able to go as low with the Hiq of course, but my tastes tend to prefer a higher crossover point anyways (between 2-3K). Both are great tweeters, although they are completely different animals.
Any other mid-woofers out there that folks have really enjoyed working with? Maybe some surprises or less well known woofers?
Wow, pretty efficient woofer with great looking specs and an even better price. I have heard some other woven wool mid-woofers and they do amazing things, but the speaker designer told me he had to "work on them" in the crossover section to get them to sound just right, more so than usual.
Anyone have personal experience working with this Silver Flute woofer?
Yes, that P17 made a lot of people happy for a long time! I wish we still had access to it. It just makes me sick when such high quality products like this get pulled for no other reason than an acquisition. I too have noticed other great drivers in the DST family (high value Peerless drivers in particular) that have been assassinated by Tymphany since they took over. Makes my blood boil. If it aint broken don't fix it.
Member
Joined 2003
I haven't used the Fountek, but I think the measurements at Zaph's site speak for themselves. For the price, it's a steal. What it lacks compared to more expensive similar drivers (Seas L18 for example) is venting behind the spider, and likely a more simple motor. It probably won't compare quite as well to the more expensive models at high power, but that extra performance always comes at a cost...On the other hand, the impedance profile of the FW168 leads me to believe there is some strategically placed copper in there, so maybe it is really just an excellent deal.
The speakers I've been using for the past few years use the big brother of the Peerless 830883, the 830884 8". It's one of the best I've heard at any price, but keep in mind that implementation has a lot to do with the resulting "sound" of a speaker. I also use the 830883 in a center channel, but the implementation is not very "standard", so I wouldn't want to comment there. Looking at the data, I would expect similar performance from the 8" and 6.5" Peerless HDS as far as the characteristic sound.
If going for a 3-way, I would recommend moving to a 5.25" driver or even a 4" if you find one that can handle the low end well. In an MTM center-to-center spacing should be as short as possible so the smaller drivers will be beneficial, and the extra bass capabilities of a 6.5" driver would be going to waste, IMO.
If building an MTM, I would not recommend the Hiquphon driver, since it is 3/4" and will benefit from a higher crossover frequency. I think it would be okay if using a smaller driver, because then you can increase the crossover frequency and still end up with a good polar response, because the driver spacing will be less than with larger 6.5" drivers. For an MTM, you will want to keep the crossover frequency as low as possible, to maximize the "frontal lobe". 😉
Good luck with your project!
Good input and suggestions on the mid-woofers. However, I have always been very partial to the voicing of 6.5" woofers over 5" or 4", even in MTM and MTMW designs when the designer knew what they were doing with the crossover. I realize this is just my own personal taste. I have noticed the sound is much more live and the sound-stage broader. And again, I did not notice any lobing at all (credit goes to the designer there). I have also been partial to speakers that are crossed over at a higher point (between 2,500-3,000khz). Again, my ears just like the way the mid-woofers are handling those higher voice octaves than the tweeter. True, the tweeter will have better dispersion of those frequencies, but again, that live sound which I seem to crave seems to be created better by the higher crossover point.
Back to the mid-woofers consensus again...I'm wondering if anyone has had good luck with the SB acoustics SB17NRXC35 mid-woofers. I have not seen too many projects that use them but they appear to have very good characteristics at a very good price. The idea that one can have a Scan Speak quality driver at a fraction of the cost (under a different name mind you) is indeed very attractive.
Member
Joined 2003
I would not recommend a 3kHz crossover for most 6.5" speakers, let alone for an MTM. That is usually pretty far into the breakup region and will be hard to pound into shape for the desired roll-off, the SB17NRX especially.They may be good value, excellent build quality, but that breakup mode is intense which makes them hard to work with IMO. But hey, since you seem to like the higher crossover points, maybe the cone breakup is the sound you like. 😉
When I started researching loudspeaker design, looking at polar response, cone breakup, distortion profiles, off-axis behaviour, etc. it became quite clear to me that the lower the crossover point the better. The key is to find the lowest usable frequency for the tweeter, so it does not become over-driven when you ask your speaker to play loud. As a general rule of thumb, I would say keep the crossover frequency less than the wavelength that equals the piston diameter. That would be around 2200Hz for a 6.5" driver.
Looking for affordable scan-speak quality. Look at the new Discovery line. Those fibreglass drivers are very attractive to me, as well as the price.
When I started researching loudspeaker design, looking at polar response, cone breakup, distortion profiles, off-axis behaviour, etc. it became quite clear to me that the lower the crossover point the better. The key is to find the lowest usable frequency for the tweeter, so it does not become over-driven when you ask your speaker to play loud. As a general rule of thumb, I would say keep the crossover frequency less than the wavelength that equals the piston diameter. That would be around 2200Hz for a 6.5" driver.
Looking for affordable scan-speak quality. Look at the new Discovery line. Those fibreglass drivers are very attractive to me, as well as the price.
I'd just like to revive this usefully titled thread to ask if anyone has experience of the new Wavecor speakers - well reviewed in the German press. Used in Amphion Helium 520, which got a best buy in Hi-Fi Choice, and also Audio Physic.
Mid-woofers
Andy
Mid-woofers
Andy
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