Single driver speakers - opinions

If you want a full range and ability to be dynamic with very good response at extremes. You will need to look into very costly full ranges. Some will need large BLHs to produce low bass. These can sound very good not limiting as some think. Many try the wee cheap drivers then find them lacking. You get what you pay for in transducers cheaping out will always sound cheap. Your asking for a driver to do it all and this requires great cost to be done right. Sure this depends what your expectations ar some like the 3-6in afordable full ranges but seems the above 2 poster might not;) I do know of 2 Full ranges that don't need massive BLH for bass. These are Fostex f200a, SEAS exotic. F200a does best in large ported cabs. SEAS in AS about BBC monitor size. Full range benefits point source, phase time correct no crossover. Once you hear a proper designed full range driver loudspeaker with quality drivers you understand why folks who own such like them so.

I can use the same types of test equipment as the large manufacters. Its realy not a issue. This gear is available at a fair price. I use UVW test facilitys and Madisound plus my own. Still what matters is sound quality in home. And you can test all you want wont tell you much about the sound quality in room unless somethings amiss.

Cdc just how many 8in full range designs have you've owned? And slapping a coating on a cheap driver doesn't make it better this kind of so call modded drivers will have reduced performance if one really understands transducer or cone design. Paying so much for a driver that's worse than stock is one of the big rip offs in audio today. More weight on cone might lower bass but would reduce treble, midrange, reduce peak SPL ,driver is now slower. These mods dont address the cheap stamped frames, cheap surrounds, cheap magnets, small cone area that fe126e sports. After all f200a has a massive powerful alnico magnet a milled basket as good as they can get, goes stamped or plastic= cheap, cast or injected metal basket= better, milled from solid block at massive cost but much more stable = the best type, also f200a has far more advanced cone material over fe126e And since its 8in can play much louder and lower, fe126e hits break up far before any 8in, trebles far better on f200a if used with no filter proper cabs, than fe126e. Most any loudspeaker manufacturer or designer can have a transducer company proper mod drivers or build driver as complete custom. Average DIY types using coatings on cheap drivers than pricing such up. Is almost as bad as the polished rocks and magic clocks.. Better to buy a more costly original equipment driver than let any self proclaimed expert muck one up so. So CDC a c37 or enabled 4 1/2in better than f200a, SEAS exotic, PHY ,fe208e sigma fe168e sigma. AER Lowther ya right I got some swamp land for you enabled guys its c37 treated. Ever priced a c37 treated Lowther talk about no resale value. And if such tweaks do make drivers so much better than anything else Fostex or anyone else offers don't you think the transducer designers who brought you banana pulp hyperbolic perabaloadal cones hd surrounds t500amk2,triple Alnico mag t90aex,w300a2, w400a 2, fe206esr or yes even the lowly fe126e would know that a bit of old c37 would so greatly improve fe126e besting all there work....This modded drivers just a way for a schmuck to make a buck...A way for manufactures to offer cheaper drivers while telling everyone there fe126e is so much better than anyone elses thus the cost. And the f200a sounded poor because of its notch filter....You may take this as a attack but its honest advice. I design with most all full ranges as well as many other transducers. c37 been around a long time guys been treating cones for the worse since the 60s. Nothing new. Ive built 6 designs for fe126e alone. And yes Ive heard enabled thus my post. And the wee 4 1/2in do 1 thing better than the larger full ranges of quality they cost far less so if you paid more for c37 you got took. Many who can not afford the good stuff delude themselves into thinking what they purchased is better. Good for the ego but bad for others when this wrong info gets passed about as fact. Face it when most hear wee 4 1/2in full range loudspeakers they dont like them why most of the posts saying full range performance is weak no bass or treble can only play simple music at low volumes are from folks who experienced the small wide bands. I do disagree with them a fe126e can make for a wonderful loudspeaker in its price range. But its not the ford escort that bests the Mercedes super car. Would be great for all in this hobbie if this was true but its not and just saying its true doesn't make it so.

The 4in are not even close to quality 8in drivers in performance. If they where I wouldnt offer a 8in full range only 4in. The 4in drivers are very limiting the 8in like lowther pm4a dx4 SEAS exotic Fostex f200a fe208esigma, PHY etc all are far far better than any 4in;) And Gawdbless I was the 1st to offer f200a loudspeakers. I worked hard to keep fostex from discontinuing f120a f200a. For 6 years I imported almost all the f200a that came to US. Still offer f200a as a custom built. But the new SEAS drivers a good step up from f200a so this is the 8in full range I offer now.

If you need the sensitivity and impedance of near 16ohm. Lowthers are a good way to go. If you don't need both SEAS exotic is amazingly good. For lowther pm4a new cone sounded best to my ears.

Cdc You've decided that 4in c37 are the best. Why do you need any more info, I gave you enough. And you want me to show you how something sounds? This can not be done. I suggest since you can afford it, you try out[listen to in home]to these many different designs with larger drivers and get back to me in a few years. I use these drivers, design for many full range drivers, work with manufacturers of such. I do have a bit of knowledge about performance. And I gave my opinion as did your all encompassing comment you said no 8in is close to 4in in performance and this is wrong. Other way round for me buddy. Ive tried them you have not. For 2 years I even offered a fe126e design. You can read in what you want. Seems you like to add things never said but imagined. I was just trying to help you out. But time is wasted on those with such faith. You say I am a know it all, well, know one knows it all but I seem to have a bit more experience than you. If this is arrogant to you, nothing I can do about how you feel. Oh never said you are a schmuck unless your the modifier. You take other generalizations as posts about you personally, well that's ego man;) Happy listening

Does seem a few manufacturers don't credit nagaoka. But KCS is not one. Think its well known I am a Nahaoka fan boy. Even my fe206esr cab was 4 generations up from nagaoka original design and again hes mentioned even in my review. All our cabinets are optimized from nagaokas and we still mention as do we fully disclose parts etc. Do other manufacturers? I could list many who no longer list origin of design parts etc. But KCS is no longer offering any BLH models except large bass horns but will custom build if asked. For now KCS is offering 1 full range driver loudspeaker a SEAS exotic equipped AS cab. And did I get up on the wrong side of the bed. No Ive got a SEAS exotic in my bedroom system I smile as soon as my eyes open. 1st thing I do is turn on tunes. I go to bed as they play;) No things are good for me I just seem surly for I am not a gifted tech writer or linguist. And I come across as short and a know it all. Seem forums are not my thing. Will stop posting. Spend more time with my boy sales for KCS are good. No worries except autism and politics.

And Cdc if you want a great plan for a TL fe126e. Email. Will send it out, build is not so hard. Sorry if things are taken wrong. As I said not a gifted writer. If I seem short or rude its just the way I post, in real life I am tall and rude;)

Glad you can use them. I have much stuff about. Nice for someone to enjoy it. Not into hording;) One of my friends is is homes filled with TT, Tone arms, NIB Lenco TTs. Little goat paths run through the tall piles of kit. Have more maybe I should have a audio rummage sale;) And invite my TT bud. My Piles start at 1890 to modern. Love the vintage but I don't use just collect. Might be time for someone else to enjoy it.

I have. Its OK. Good in small system or rooms.Ive built with Jordan and 1 of my friends really explored the same design CAD uses. Tried many small drivers of quality. If you want some thing special check out fe138esr its a 5in the best small wide band Ive heard. Works great in TL designs.