https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.c...agnetic-arc-oxidized-full-range-matched-pair/
Given the small size, nice FR as posted and decent sensitivit, I’m considering trying them as midrange drivers in a three way. Just looking for anyone’s personal experience with them. Thx
Given the small size, nice FR as posted and decent sensitivit, I’m considering trying them as midrange drivers in a three way. Just looking for anyone’s personal experience with them. Thx
Color me surprised that no one has tried these yet…..on paper for a 2.1 near field setup, they seem to be about the best FR driver I’ve come across. Would also make for a fantastic mid tweeter in the same application with a helper woofer.
Screw you guys….i just ordered a pair anyway…..convinced myself! Lol
Screw you guys….i just ordered a pair anyway…..convinced myself! Lol
For $277 US a pair they better be good. That's a lot of dough for measly 87dB before the baffle step.
They might do OK in a 3way, but the small size limits them to a rather high-sh xo point.
They'll definitely do better in a WAW design as a mid-tweeter, although I don't like the low impedance.
So all in all they might turn out as great performers in a particular application, value for money is too low.
Just keep us posted with your experience please.
They might do OK in a 3way, but the small size limits them to a rather high-sh xo point.
They'll definitely do better in a WAW design as a mid-tweeter, although I don't like the low impedance.
So all in all they might turn out as great performers in a particular application, value for money is too low.
Just keep us posted with your experience please.
Actually the 87dB figure is a 1m/w efficiency value rather than the 1m/2.83v sensitivity figure you'd use for system & crossover design. The MAOP5, using the 0182A data Madisound publish as an example, is actually about 90.64dB 1m/2.83v, or slightly higher than the equivalent-impedance Scan 10F/4424 (one of my own favourites) & over 4dB higher than the 8ohm 10F/8424. If anybody wants to check take 1m/w figure then +(10LOG(8/Re)).
MAOP5 has a narrower coil and a smaller Sd than the 10F, so power-handling is lower, although it has about 14% greater Xmax with the same nominal derivation & similar plated motor designs; which is more relevant will depend on how you're using them.
MAOP5 has a narrower coil and a smaller Sd than the 10F, so power-handling is lower, although it has about 14% greater Xmax with the same nominal derivation & similar plated motor designs; which is more relevant will depend on how you're using them.
See my "Maevan TLonken" Alpair5.2 in 3.75L Evansound thread; add bonus points for more natural less metallic sound, maybe subtract a little bit dynamism. I did rescue a pair of new but hurt MAOP5 drivers but haven't boxed them yet. I think the issue is, brand new drivers will not or should not play loud for hundreds of hours. Be patient and run them in.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...rkaudio-alpair-5-2-in-evansound-3-75l.393909/
I might pair the 5 with 7 in LX-configuration, or with Alpair10. Missed the chance to try MAOP10.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...rkaudio-alpair-5-2-in-evansound-3-75l.393909/
I might pair the 5 with 7 in LX-configuration, or with Alpair10. Missed the chance to try MAOP10.
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I tried the MAOP5 as a midtweet. It works well for those purposes. Compared to the Alpair7ms, the MAOP5 has a more rounded & relaxed sound with excellent clarity, whereas the Alpair7ms has a more contoured sound with better transients . I'd say piano and percussive instruments sound better with the Alpair line whereas vocals sound better with the MAOP line. I haven't tried it, but I think they should both well as mids in a three-way, with a slight edge probably going to the MAOP. Depending on how low and loud you want the mid to go, the MAOP7.2 would be a step up if budget allows.
The cones on those Markaudio drivers are incredibly light and easily damaged, so be careful with them. I ended up denting the cone a little bit and then donating the pair to Burning Amp last year.
I love Scanspeak (in general) but for my taste the MAOP drivers outperform the SS discovery series.
For the build I was working on, I ended up using the EAD Sweden E60HD mkii, which is cheaper than the MAOP, better built (die-cast Al frame instead of plastic) and sounds great. My favorite mid is still the Eton Arcosia 4-318 but that one is very pricy and sometimes hard to procure. I've also been itching to try Bliesma's M offerings (their tweeters are amazing) and the Purify 4".
As others have mentioned, the MAOP is a good driver, but the bang/$ might not be there. If budget is a concern, I'd rather go with EAD drivers or perhaps the SB CAC line. In a "no-compromise" build, I'd rather go with Arcosia/Bliesma/Purify. So it is in the "no-man's land" of price/performance for me. Still, if you fancy trying it out I think you'll be happy with it.
The cones on those Markaudio drivers are incredibly light and easily damaged, so be careful with them. I ended up denting the cone a little bit and then donating the pair to Burning Amp last year.
I love Scanspeak (in general) but for my taste the MAOP drivers outperform the SS discovery series.
For the build I was working on, I ended up using the EAD Sweden E60HD mkii, which is cheaper than the MAOP, better built (die-cast Al frame instead of plastic) and sounds great. My favorite mid is still the Eton Arcosia 4-318 but that one is very pricy and sometimes hard to procure. I've also been itching to try Bliesma's M offerings (their tweeters are amazing) and the Purify 4".
As others have mentioned, the MAOP is a good driver, but the bang/$ might not be there. If budget is a concern, I'd rather go with EAD drivers or perhaps the SB CAC line. In a "no-compromise" build, I'd rather go with Arcosia/Bliesma/Purify. So it is in the "no-man's land" of price/performance for me. Still, if you fancy trying it out I think you'll be happy with it.
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IIRC Eton have more or less pulled out of the DIY market, which may explain why you find them difficult to find. Good cones on them, usually, but their motors don't tend to be great. They're also 3x the price of a Scan 10F or MAOP5, and like SB (in their CAC range anyway) Purifi and Bliesma, the smallest they offer is a 4in so it's not an ideal comparison.
At these sizes, other than looking pretty (and Emilia Clarke a driver basket ain't, whatever it's made from), agreed, it's not. The reinforced polymers tend to have better self-damping, and the rest is largely a case of the profile, relevant venting where needed etc. MA have used a cast basket for the new 8in, but that was purely because a poly would cost too much and when you hit that size, you need to start going quite large to provide the necessary rigidity -it would have been roughly equivalent to what would usually be seen on a 10in.
That’s the quandar as both drivers are similar in size and use case limits…..it’s going to come down to both design and cone material i believe. I currently use the SS 10f in a pair of mix cubes which I sometimes test mono mixes with as well.….they can’t play that loud of course and I’ll put the MOAP drivers in those boxes first to get a feel for them.
I use MAOP5.1.
It is a very nice driver, although it has the disadvantage of not being very loud and having weak bass.
It is a very nice driver, although it has the disadvantage of not being very loud and having weak bass.
I just purchased the Mark Audio MA200 to be used as a woofer and I saw on their website plans, including crossover and box prints with dimensions, and they were using the MAOP5 as a Mid/tweeter and the MA200 as a woofer in a 2-way stand mounted configuration.
I think the MA200 is not going to work for my initial project so I was thinking in doing that instead. https://www.markaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/MAOP5MA200M-standmount-.png
I think the MA200 is not going to work for my initial project so I was thinking in doing that instead. https://www.markaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/MAOP5MA200M-standmount-.png
How do you find them?
Do you feel that the top end is lacking and will benefit from XO with a smaller wide-band driver?
Do you feel that the top end is lacking and will benefit from XO with a smaller wide-band driver?
I had them playing for about 30 hrs.
I really don’t like them. They’re too bright and not enough lower frequencies. Maybe they need more brake in time. Maybe 200-300 hrs. I was anxious to listen to them. Or maybe the 30-liter cabinet it’s too small. Tomorrow I’m going to disconnect them and let them play in the garage for 10 days non stop and see how they sound then.
I really don’t like them. They’re too bright and not enough lower frequencies. Maybe they need more brake in time. Maybe 200-300 hrs. I was anxious to listen to them. Or maybe the 30-liter cabinet it’s too small. Tomorrow I’m going to disconnect them and let them play in the garage for 10 days non stop and see how they sound then.
Please do share your run-in results, though I wouldn't expect a miracle. I was the first to buy them in China and listened for a couple of weekends straight, totalling about same as you have done. After a few hours very high frequency came in (sound opened up) but otherwise the mid-to-high wide range had the characteristc (likely intented for no-toe-in) Mark Audio hump ~7-14khz. By pointing them up toward the ceiling I got a natural, tonally flat response, omni-directionally. Off-axis 30-45° flat to 15khz was confirmed by umik-1/REW. So maybe try no toe-in at all. As for bass, 30-hour run-in was not enough, but the MA200 reached down to produce "basic requirement" 42hz in my 17L TLonken (6.25:1 tapered 1.5m-line effective quarterwave resonance ~40hz). Just listened -- audibly deep though "dry" rather than "full" sounding bass. Your 30L ought to do better loudness-wise, if made into a TLonken (folded tapered ML-TL).
(edit: I then became enamoured with MAOP10 and set aside the MA200. As for WAW, I like to use the same line so they sounded seamless -- suggest Alpair5.)
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