Single driver speakers - opinions

I have heard the Cain and Cain iBen's several times and they were just great. I heard them with some Cary Audio SLP98P and Cary low power amps (can't remember which ones) and a VPI HRX turntable, what a great sound that system made.

They had the Cain sub with them too.

Beautiful speakers too.

This is the only single driver set up I have ever heard that I liked. To me most sound very limited.

Hi there,
here is a little tease
A prototype double spiral horn

Design will be based on the double spiral horns
prototype by fellow DIYer. The actual spiral will be more advanced
Loading top and bottom of the speaker equally with dispersion wood tuned cone (mushroom). The distance between the cone(s) and the mouth can be adjustable to fine tune the bass. Driver used will be modified Fostex Fe206e .

I am hoping to have this speaker finished by the end of this year in very advanced cabinet and exotic finishes with help of few talented craftsmen and myself.

To be continue..........

Mariusz

Maruiusz........love the design. Will be interesting to see what kind of low frequency extension you can derive from it. Looks like plenty of "tuning" opportunities, but SPL is where my interest would be here. As you know, I am a big fan of the artistic approach as well as the sonic potential. This design gets high marks from me cosmetically. Love the look, and I'm glad to see that you'll be the one doing all the sanding to make that path smooth...lol. Nice creative flair, though. You'll have to bring them down so I can audition them. The reduced size is a true benefit of this design if you can come even close to the sonics on your properly built pair of Sachiko's. Thank you for sharing. Best of luck with it. I did email you to give you my contact info, as well as some pics to share.

Best,
Jeff Carder
http://CarderSound.com/

Hi Jeff,
thanks for your email.
The surrounds and center look very nice.
It is cool that you did not forget about those who might think of using your speakers for their stereo rig but still have an option to expend to 5.1 SACD or AC3.
Without a doubt, it must be a great "SD speaker" system.

Seems like you do not get to much rest lately.
It has been only a month and you've already came out with the new subs, center & surrounds.
Very impressive.

As to my prototype, well it is nothing to go bananas about.
Yes, its size is/will be much smaller then Madisons - about 54" high, 12" deep, 12" wide.
And I am not really trying to replicate the sound of the Sachiko. In fact, my biggest challenge and what drove me into this project is the idea of the single driver speaker that is:
- relatively easy to drive, including SET amps.
- manageable size
- very high WAF ( my wife loves these speakers already and gave me her blessing for this and another project)
- achieving decent low frequency response.
- source direct and omnidirectional qualities.
- but the most importantly - awesome, 3D, dynamic and huge sound that can be fit into the small to medium rooms.

There is another project that I am also very exited about.
True omnidirectional speaker with the use of the single full-range driver and horn-loaded super tweeter. But that is in the really far future.....maybe next year or so.

I will be more then happy to have you over to listen to the first pair. Sometime by the end of this year during one of the NY Raves. I am planning to host the special "Analog Rave" - with my two or three modified TT, Sachiko and Double Spiral speakers as well as RWA (Red Wine Audio) new (prototype) battery-powered phono-stage and my own Isabella battery preamp.
Should be fun.

I will try to share with the rest about the progress and the end results.

Take care and hope to see you in the near future.

Regards
Mariusz

Here are some sketches.
One is the prototype of spiral design (similar to the omni that I am working on. Except the driver will be firing upwards toward the wood-turn cone.....as well as super tweeter in the same configuration) and Sachiko with a twist:

Spiral design

and

Sachiko with a twist

I have also purchase Melody M300b mono SET amps which will be used to voice both. Should be fun.....all winter long.;)

JohnK
Thanks for the vintage RS drivers. Will use those in OB designs and another system for my daughter (9.5yo , loves music and TT)
Thanks again

Mariusz

Cheers