Actually, I think some (or all) of the M-L hybrids meet my last description.
Marty |
Here's a vote for the Silverline SR 17.5. |
The Merlin VSM mentioned by Pubul uses active eq to set what is IME the standard for extention/definition from a reasonably neutral, smallish 2 way box. There certainly could be a non eq'd 2 driver, 2 way out there that can match the VSMs, but I definitely haven't heard it.
OTOH, if you want parlor tricks -and can abide more deviation from neutrality - the original Red Rose mini monitor skillfully gooses the midbass to enhance its already impressive low end output (for a tiny box) and generate a better illusion of bass than anything I've heard remotely near it's size.
The Gallo Ref3 series uses 3 drivers in a 2 way configuration (the tweeters run full range) and allow use of a 2nd amp to "co-drive" the woofers on a second pair of voice coils. These may be the champs per your specifications.
Finally, as a technical matter, you could mate a subwoofer(s) to a single driver speaker and meet your description. To give some perspective, I get flat resonse +/_ 3db (relative to 80 db) from 25hz to crossover from a pair of Velodyne SPLR 8" subs run through an SMS -1 cross/analyzer/PEQ. I use a number of different mains, but I haven't yet tried a single driver. I'm also told that the Magnepan MMG wall (which can be stand mounted) and some electrostats also operate without a crossover. This set-up will win hands down!
Marty |
The problem of bass is that it requires a large driver and a large box. The
problem with midrange is that you need a small driver to produce this
properly - that is without "beaming". You can get prodigious bass
by adding ports to a small woofer but it won't be musical - mostly one note
bass. To get decent bass you need critical damping. To get decent mids you
need proper dispersion (not beaming) and a dome tweeter would be good for
dispersion but it can't handle the excursion necessary to crossover low
enough to a big woofer.
This is all physics.
Given the constraints - there are several ways to go about it.
1) A large driver with a whizzer cone - the draw back is distortion and a
bumpy frequency response in the mids.
2) A small but very powerful woofer (6 inch) in a sealed box with a large
phase plug or dome to control dispersion better in the mids. (You still won't
get much bass but mids will be better and what bass you get will at least be
accurate)
3) A large driver for bass and with a single horn for mid and tweeter. This
allows you to
crossover low down so you can avoid beaming from a big woofer. You get
good bass and great mids with a gentle roll off in the highs. All round pretty
good except you now have your crossover in a rather critical range (700 to
900 Hz)
Thats pretty much all folks - only so many ways to skin a cat. You can play
with TL and bass extended ported designs until the cows come home but
IMHO you will never get the "best" bass response that way.
Although to many people "best" may simply mean "prodigious" - in which
case anything is possible. |
The original Large Advent has bass appeal I've never heard bettered. If units sold is a valid measure of most successful, these are da bomb. |
Usher BE-718 tiny dancer. Excellent bass qualities on this speaker. Check reviews for more details. |
Aspara Acoustics HL1 have lovely bass. |
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Twoleftears:
Bass extension and response depends so much on the listening room size and what's in it. Thick carpeting makes a huge difference over even thinner commercial grade carpet. Drapes and upholstered furniture helps tremendously. A first floor room on a slab (vs say a wooden floor with a basement underneath) is a more difficult environment for bass production. The same two way speaker can sound so fantastic in a smaller room with the right treatments vs even a slightly larger room without the right "bass traps" inside. Adding a 2nd powered subwoofer and bass traps are excellent suggestions.
Having said this, I would say a two way speaker with a mid-range/bass driver in the 7" to 8" diameter area vs the more popular 5" to 6" size will produce more bass ext. The Focal 807V Chorus 2-way speaker for example has a 7" mid-range/bass driver with a low frequency point of 41hz. Just a suggestion. |
Merlin VSM-MXe with BAM, incredible bass quality for a two-way. |
This was meant more in the spirit of a "best of" list, rather than as a consultation regarding a specific system.
Recently I briefly heard a diminutive Sonus Faber speaker (not sure which model) putting out prodigious quantities of bass, driven by a Simaudio I-7 integrated, though ultimately it struck me as tending more to the one-note variety.
BTW, I'm surprised to see no votes yet for the Mani-2. What else are the heavy-hitters in this field? |
The cone of a loudspeaker "breaks up" well below the frequency where it quits making sound. "Breaks up" means that different parts of the cone vibrate at frequencies that have more to do with the cone's mechanical caracteristics than the music. In other words, noise. This sound is undesirable, and should be eliminated by use of an electrical crossover of one kind or another. Output at the desired music frequencies aproaching breakup also exhibits large dips and spikes, also undesirable.
Some cone drivers are better than others. Exceptionally good ones are called "full range". They experience cone breakup too, but the spurious sound is of a pleasant nature that some people like. |
Why not add a couple of small, but very good subwoofers behind the speakers you have now? This give you a three way design, without the internal crossover complexity your trying to stay away from....and, including bass flexibility gains overall.
30hz should be more than fine for music, subs with 10-12 drivers are good for this.
A little off topic maybe?....but thats the way I would fill your needs (if I were you of course :-))
Dave |
Don't forget Audio Note AN-E/SPe HE with the new Hemp 8 " driver. Possibly my next move for new two-way for "The Office."
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"most successfully plumbs the depths, that provides the best full, but "tight and tuneful", bass, with good pitch definition, without completely messing up the higher registers?" In your room ... Bass Traps correctly placed could help deliver those qualities your looking for |
Reference 3A DeCappo has much the same setup with an 8" woofer. Wonderful speaker. |
Gemme Tanto V2. No crossover on the woofer and only a single cap on the tweeter, very sweet sounding speaker. |
