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Opinions on Full-Range/single driver speakers

I am considering a DIY project to build a pair of single driver speakers. My current idea is to put Jordan JX9s into Transmission line cabinets. I am a competent woodworker and there are lots of plans on the internet.

I do really value the opinions of you audiogon members out there with lots of listening experience so I am curious what your opinions are on single driver speakers. If you can also comment on wide-baffle versus narrow baffle designs, that would be helpful.

My front end is a Monarchy tube DAC 25 with Matsushista tubes and DIP Classic, coupled to an AYRE DX7E, all interconnects and cables are DIY magnet wire. I am currently using Green Mountain Europa's and a modified Paradigm subwoofer.

After enjoying GMA's and experiencing time/phase coherent sound, I started looking at other options for coherent systems. It seems the simplest design is a good full range driver (no whiffle cone) in a TL or QWL cabinet.

So your opinions are appreciated. I would prefer if you did not advise me to purchase your favorite speaker as that is not the type of information I am seeking.

Thanks in advance for your time!

Drew.
drewh1

Showing 3 responses by audiokinesis

audiokinesis
2,755 posts
 
"So your opinions are appreciated."

"I would prefer if you did not advise me to purchase your favorite speaker as that is not the type of information I am seeking."

So you want my opinion, but don't want to know what my favorite fullrange drivers are?

Duke
dealer/manufacturer/nope I don't sell any fullrange speakers
audiokinesis
2,755 posts
 
Thanks for clarifying; I mis-took the phrase "that is not the type of information I am seeking" to be referring to our favorite speakers.

My favorite fullrange driver is the 8" Supravox field-coil unit. One feature is that you can fine-tune the magnet strength to your specific application (lower voltage to the electromagnet = lower efficiency, more bass, and less highs; and vice versa). Some of the best if not the best imaging I've ever heard was from a pair of these speakers in the factory recommended folded reverse-taper line, and they weren't a one-trick pony either; timbre was beautiful and coherence predictably superb.

Now I have not heard the new Seas alnico-magnet fullrange drivers, but a manufacturer I respect a great deal, John Kalinowski, is very impressed with it.

I worked with the Jordans you're contemplating but in the end concluded I was more likely to get the results I wanted from a two-way system.

Wide-baffle vs narrow baffle is a tradeoff of disappearing act vs tonal balance. I lean towards wide-baffle speakers, but my priorities may be different from yours.

Duke
audiokinesis
2,755 posts
 
Drew, one of my very best friends walked away from a career in a rock band to become a woodworker.

My first commercial model was an "augmented fullrange"; that is, I used a Fostex fullrange driver in a sealed box with a built-in subwoofer to help below 100 Hz and a supertweeter to help in the top octave.

Anyway, my suggestion for a less expensive alternative to uberdrivers like the Supravox and PHY would be the alnico magnet Fostex F200A, imported by Madisound.

Duke
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