Your favorite 4-5” midrange driver?

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mayhem13

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Joined 2008
#1
Looking for folks experiences with 4-5” drivers used as dedicated midrange/midwoofers…..doesn’t matter if it’s a commercial speaker system or DIY effort. Purely subjective of course……since it’s covering the most important part of the frequency spectrum, to me…..that’s all that matters.

I‘ve been eyeballing this guy for use as a mid

https://www.parts-express.com/pedocs/specs/292-662--visaton-b100-spec-sheet.pdf
 
#3
Be aware, that Visaton driver noted is NOT a 'four-inch driver'...those big stylistic flanges while making for easy installation, cut down on actual radiating cone size...making this driver an actual 2.9 inch driver.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rick...
 
#7
Perhaps I should retest at more extreme SPL, but I'd be very surprised to see it fall apart at 10V. I tested at the 8 ohm model at 7.8V with typical 3.5kHz LR4 low pass, performance is "very good", overall THD in the 0.5% range, 3rd harmonic at 0.2% at 2-3kHz.
1704054816255.png


Hificompass tested the 4 ohm model up to 8V, which would be equivalent of 16V into the 8 ohm model, and quite loud 96-98dB@1m, still no struggle shown:
https://hificompass.com/en/speakers/measurements/wavecor/wavecor-wf120bd03

Anyway, I'd also be surprised if you find the magic in B100, the only test I find of it online make it look a fair bit worse that WF120, especially at 2kHz range:
https://www.dibirama.altervista.org...-visaton-b100-full-range-4-8-ohm-60-wmax.html
 
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#8
I haven't heard it so can't call it a favorite, but would expect the Purify midrange to be a top performer. It's a 6.5" driver though.
On the small side, the 3" Bliesma domes also seem great drivers. Haven't heard them either.
 
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#12
DcibeL said:
Perhaps I should retest at more extreme SPL, but I'd be very surprised to see it fall apart at 10V. I tested at the 8 ohm model at 7.8V with typical 3.5kHz LR4 low pass, performance is "very good", overall THD in the 0.5% range, 3rd harmonic at 0.2% at 2-3kHz.
View attachment 1253751

Hificompass tested the 4 ohm model up to 8V, which would be equivalent of 16V into the 8 ohm model, and quite loud 96-98dB@1m, still no struggle shown:
https://hificompass.com/en/speakers/measurements/wavecor/wavecor-wf120bd03

Anyway, I'd also be surprised if you find the magic in B100, the only test I find of it online make it look a fair bit worse that WF120, especially at 2kHz range:
https://www.dibirama.altervista.org...-visaton-b100-full-range-4-8-ohm-60-wmax.html
Click to expand...
I don’t suspect the B100 is any better……..just sharing my interest on the little bugger. For the $$, the Wavecor is certainly the better bargain. Sadly, I’ve never owned the Scanspeak 10f…….looks great on paper and folks subjectively seem to love it. sensiticity doesn’t crush the system either.
 
#14
I'm using a Focal 5K013L from ~ 80hz to 1650hz in a small aperiodic chamber that vents into a transmission line, and it's been a wonderful driver for more than 30 years in that application. It's well made, dynamic, and extremely clear and coherent through the vocal range. Too bad they stopped offering it.

IMG_2722.jpg
 
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#15
For pure mid-range duty 320 Hz-2560 Hz (3 octaves), I have had great results with the SB Acoustics SB12MNRX2-4
https://sbacoustics.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/4in-SB12MNRX2-25-4.pdf
I have compared it to most of the other 4" mid-woofers in the SB non-Satori production. The changes to make it a mid specific driver are subjectively very worthwhile provided it can be high-pass crossed over relatively high. I use it in a 4-way
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/active-4-way-with-reaction-cancelling-woofers.402645/
 
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#17
Midbass, can be used as midrange: Faital Pro 5FE120 (or 125), unbeatable for the price, IMO.

Dedicated midrange: B&C 5NSM38, IME it measures flatter in the intended working range than it's datasheet suggests (I measured lower sensitivity in the 1-7 kHz range) and have wider dispersion up to 3+ kHz than a typical 5" (or even 4") cone but best to use approx 500 Hz and up.
SEAS MCA15RCY, easy to filter passively, can be used with shallower slopes.
 
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