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Driver suggestions for DIY project

I'm getting ready to build a set of monitors and need fairly effecient drivers for my Cary 2A3 15 wpc push-pull amp. I'm considering an MTM configuration with 5" or 6" mid-bass drivers. I don't need drivers with low base for this set-up. What I want is wide dispersion in all the drivers with efficiency of at least 89db.

I have decided on the Hiquophon OW1 tweeter but need mid base driver suggestions, or at least want to know what graph or Thiel-Small parameters I should look for to compare drivers. Others on this board have suggested that dispersion is mainly a function of driver size and crossover frequency. I'm designing the system to crossover at 2500 hz.

I have heard good things about the Focal mid-base drivers as well as PHL. PHL's are real efficient mainly due to to paper cones.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
bennett
cdc
1,412 posts
 
I agree with elevick to at least consider Jordan. You can get Jordan or Tang-Band from creative sound
This site also lists DIY with Jordan drivers. I use Tang-Band W3-871S and it's very nice.
dekay's avatar
dekay
2,959 posts
 
The Jordan drivers are not very sensitive (have listened to them twice in different enclosures).

I realize that some are running them with approx. 25 watt chip and tube amps, but I consider this to be about as low (in power) as I would go with the Jordans (not including low powered Wavelength, top of the line Audion or other amps of similar quality).

Based on a conversation I once had with Ronnie (the owner of Carolina Audio) 15 watts would not be enough power to do them justice and this is why I did not end up with Jordan (JX-92s) based speakers when they first became popular a few years ago.

I am also familiar with the Cary push/pull 2a3 amp and it has no more drive than the push/pull 6bq5 amp I was considering using with the Jordans @ the time.
gregm
3,021 posts
 
Bennett -- the Hiquphon's a marvellous tweet and, on the drawing board, there is an endless line of mids that you could use (limited somewhat by the Hiquphon's medium sensitivity of 89-90db). (I have no Hiquphon project in mind -- but a search could give some ideas...)
OTOH, a likely target for mid (I'd suggest a mid-bass unit) could be in the Scan speak range (say a 18w8535-00 or the Kevlar 21W8554 OR the seas/excel W21EX).

An UNUSUAL approach however, would be to try a large diametre wide-range drive unit (e.g. supravox 215gmf or 285gmf -- there are many others). Putting a lot of work (& fun!) into the design, you could approximate a very wide range speaker of exceptional musicality.
On the down side, many wide-range drivers have very high sensitivity (+6db over the Hiquphon) that will have to be matched to the tweets. You will also be able to play with a higher x/over frequency if you wish, and make the hiquphons' life easier.
Good luck!
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