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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

Showing 2 responses by dekay

dekay's avatar
dekay
5,715 posts
 
Bennett:

Still using that old amp (thought you /killed/buried it)?

If the listening room is medium/large I'll suggest that you look into more sensative speaker designs.

For starters you may find the following site interesting.

http://f18.parsimony.net/forum31999/

There are always exceptions to the general watts/efficiency guidelines (I have ran a few with success), but with the trial/error factor of DIY I imagine that there aren't many.
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,715 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.
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