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Single driver speakers without the pitfalls?

In researching SET amps, I have learned a lot more about the sort of high efficiency speakers that they are typically paired with, including single driver models like Omega, Blumenstein, Teresonic, etc.
The advantages of these designs are well acknowledged: coherence, imaging, high-efficiency and so forth.
At the same time, there seem to be equally well acknowledged drawbacks to these designs: Limited bass response, rolled off highs, and a harshness or "shout" in the upper midrange.
Some designers, like Tekton and Zu, seem to take the approach of getting the best of all worlds by joining a wide range driver to a tweeter of some sort. (To some extent, my Reference 3AM De Capo monitors take this approach.)
What I'm curious to learn is whether you think there are any single driver, full range systems that transcend the above limitations.
Eager to hear your thoughts.
rebbi

Showing 3 responses by atmasphere

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,598 posts
 
Its pretty apparent that while single driver speakers do many things very well, that they do **all** things poorly. Put another way, if you want to get the best out of them, consider setting them up with a good subwoofer at the very least.

Getting the bass excursion off of the cone will reduce the distortion of the driver and improve the presentation.

The appeal of having no crossover and the driver do everything you need is like a siren call. -but-
Bottom Line: There are no single driver speakers without the pitfalls.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,598 posts
 
Getting a small driver to do bass is hard. Its a matter of excursion.

Getting it to do the highs is an entirely different problem! You get cancellation in the cone, which is why many single-driver speakers have a device called a phase plug the helps prevent cancellation.

Then you often get comb-filtering effects in the cabinet, which is why the midrange can get harsh (and also why many people prefer open back setups, or else really expensive cabinetry that solves the comb filtering issue...).

So you are right. Not an easy simple answer.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,598 posts
 
What's striking to me about this thread is that most people who have converted to single driver systems say it's the "distortion" of multiple drivers and crossovers etc... that they are free from that provide them a clarity and magic that multiple drivers can't match. However,the pro-multi driver guys say that the "distortions" of a single driver trying to produce ALL frequencies is like nails on a chalkboard to them. OK, so where does the truth lay?

IMO/IME it has everything to do with how hard you push the speaker. If not hard, the single driver speakers will totally deliver! I've heard them sound amazing- especially in smaller (American) rooms (in Europe and other regions where smaller rooms are common, single driver speakers can excel!). But if you like to play at serious volume levels in a bigger room, and especially if you want the bottom octave or two, then you will find single-driver speakers to fall short.

I don't think it has anything to do with how we hear. It has everything to do with setup!
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