I've been trying to decide between these subs for quite some time and I think I've generally figure out what each sub is best for.
RS HF - Smooth, accurate musical reproduction down to 20 Hz range - good for a wide variety of music, but shines with deep instrumental music like an organ.
RS HO - Nearly double the power of the HF, but a bit less musical and less bottom end response. Good for music that doesn't go quite as deep and gives you a massive chest-pounding bass from instruments such as a kick drum and bass guitar. Not as musical as the HF, but has more power for window rattling.
UM - Massive xmax for HT use where you want a killer below 25Hz response. Musically, it almost seems on par with the HO, but still lagging behind the HF a bit in terms of clarity. For movie explosions and what not, this sub is beast. This sub can do music ok, but is really better suited for HT use. While the same sized HF driver has nearly the same low-end response, the UM wins out for xmax.
This is just a general estimate on a comparison from what I've gathered by reading the interwebz over the last couple weeks. Does this sound about right to everyone?
RS HF - Smooth, accurate musical reproduction down to 20 Hz range - good for a wide variety of music, but shines with deep instrumental music like an organ.
RS HO - Nearly double the power of the HF, but a bit less musical and less bottom end response. Good for music that doesn't go quite as deep and gives you a massive chest-pounding bass from instruments such as a kick drum and bass guitar. Not as musical as the HF, but has more power for window rattling.
UM - Massive xmax for HT use where you want a killer below 25Hz response. Musically, it almost seems on par with the HO, but still lagging behind the HF a bit in terms of clarity. For movie explosions and what not, this sub is beast. This sub can do music ok, but is really better suited for HT use. While the same sized HF driver has nearly the same low-end response, the UM wins out for xmax.
This is just a general estimate on a comparison from what I've gathered by reading the interwebz over the last couple weeks. Does this sound about right to everyone?
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So you haven't actually built with any of these, or listened to them?
What would be the point of this exercise? Why not just simulate?
What would be the point of this exercise? Why not just simulate?
I currently run 4 subwoofers, 2 TC Sounds 12s and 2 Ultimax 15s in big bass reflex cabs, tuned right around 16 cycles. They're all driven by the 4 channels of a Behringer NU4-6000, which gives...somewhere around 800w for each driver at 4 ohms.
I have to say that I don't share the impression that the Ultimax drivers should be pigeon holed into "the LFE channel driver" as I find them absolutely musical, probably for the simple reason that even when playing music at "realistic" levels, they can move so much air that their levels can be kept well, well down in the linear range.
Don't get me wrong, they're capable of infrastructure threatening levels when asked to do so for a movie or to get a friend with a thumb drive full of rap to grin, but I don't think excellent performance in that area automatically means a driver doesn't know how to do the first octave of a piano.
Well, you can't hear a simulation. This post is to see if my general consensus based on reviews and simulations is correct before I spend tons of money buying each one and building a cabinet to see which one I like better.
I've heard the UM series is really good for music too. I just wonder if the HF line might be a tiny bit better for clarity is all. It's like a Porsche 911 vs a 911s. The 911 isn't bad by any means. It's just that the 911s is a tad better. 😀
I've heard the UM series is really good for music too. I just wonder if the HF line might be a tiny bit better for clarity is all. It's like a Porsche 911 vs a 911s. The 911 isn't bad by any means. It's just that the 911s is a tad better. 😀
These drivers are fairly reasonably priced, but I guess "tons of money" is differetn for everyone.
The Reference series is slightly more musical than the UM series, according to one of the Dayton reps.
Has anyone measured the THD (or 2nd and 3rd components) of an Ultimax vs Reference HO? Preferably 10's. 😀
I would be interested also in THD measurements of UM12-22 vs RS315HF in sealed enclosures. I just recently realised how bad it was for my current driver bellow 30Hz. Was blaming filters, half bridge class-d amp, until did some better scope and mic measurements...
Looking at the 10" HF vs HO, the HF has a lighter cone/coil and stronger magnet. It looks like the real difference in the two is a beefier voice coil on the HO that can handle more power. The HO only has a little more xmax than the HF. For music, I would absolutely recommend the HF just based on MMS (less energy storage in the moving cone should translate to better cone control).
HF
MMS: 120g
BL: 11.4Tm
HO
MMS: 161g
BL: 9.4Tm
HF
MMS: 120g
BL: 11.4Tm
HO
MMS: 161g
BL: 9.4Tm
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