Best one way driver full range question!

[K-High-Fi]

Hello to everyone,

I would like to know brands make very high quality and performance for one driver full range without crossover (without cabinet). I know there is Lowther but I would like to know if there is other brand with better performance. My budget can go up to $2000 for each driver.

If anybody have idea please let me know.

Cheers.

[3LB]

ooh ooh (raises hand)

Talk about synergy...I just happened to look at this forum for the first time in a long time...how fortuitous for you ;)

Only problem is that I'm on my cellphone and can't post links.

Anyhoo, there's Fostex (I've heard them and they're great). Tangband just intro'd their first 8" FR driver. Tangband sells a wide range of FR drivers. They're available thru Parts Express online. PE also carries other brands like the famous Pioneer BU20 8" driver. Take a peek at their website and serch under 'fullrange'.

Also parouse the SingleDriver website anf look the fullrangedriver forum. Search also the project forum (I have a project posted there). Lots of talk about open baffle designs there. I'll try to post links later.

What kinda project do you have in mind?

[audio amateur]

Wow, that's quite a budget! Do you think you need to spend that much money? There are quite a few options under that budget, which Im sure would sound very good.
I believe SEAS make some expensive fullrangers. You should check out their website.
Fostex are likely to be well under that budget.

Are you looking at using them in an Open Baffle configuration?

[Feanor]

Hello to everyone,

I would like to know brands make very high quality and performance for one driver full range without crossover (without cabinet). I know there is Lowther but I would like to know if there is other brand with better performance. My budget can go up to $2000 for each driver.

If anybody have idea please let me know.

Cheers.
Lots of people make (supposedly) full-range drivers.

The classic "purist" full-range are Fostex and Lowther but there are lots of others.

Possibly (?) the best full- or near-full-range speakers is the Manger MSW Transducer: check out here (http://www.manger-audio.co.uk/manger-speakers-transducer.htm) or here (http://www.soundlabsgroup.com.au/p/MGR-MSW/Manger+Bending+Wave+Transducer).

A convenient place to look for availability and price is of various optins is at the Solen website, (here (http://www.solen.ca/pub/cms_nf_catalogue_manuf01.php?q=Jm5pdmVhdTE9MSZuaXZ lYXUyPTEmc2VjdGlvbj0yJnNvdXNfc2VjdGlvbj0xJmZ0PW5m) ). Check out these marques that specialize in full-range:

Audience
Jordan
Electo Magnet
Fostex
Mark Audio
VeravoxCheck out PHY speakers, (here, (http://www.madisound.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=144) at Madisound)

Personally I'm not conviced that "full-range" is the way to go given that there is no such thing which doesn't also have a lot of compromises built in.

[3LB]

The single driver concept is a great hobby. There are certain types of music that sound better than others in that kinda set up (IMO). Those going for high volumes will be disappointed, because even the best FR drivers break-up at higher spl.

I prefer the term 'wideband' over fullrange, because it just isn't possible to design a driver that will do both frquency extremes, i.e. a driver that is good at bass production isn't designed to produce high frequencies, and vice-versa. You have to settle for a happy medium. But when you do, there is some great listening experiences to be had. Myself, I hear more details and nuances when listening thru FRs. I've studied the concept for decades and have had good success. However, I likes me some bass. My fave designs are the ones the use a wideband driver, with "helpers" in the bass and treble regions. I won second place in the Pugent Sound speaker meet two years ago with a three way that uses crossovers well out of the mid range (400hz-10khz). My ultimate setup is to have an FR that covers a wide enough spectrum that I could integrate with a powered subwoofer that plays music well.

$2000 budget...heh heh...I missed that the first time. The Tangbands I mentioned come in two different styles, one designed for conventional enclosures and one with a higher Qts for infinite baffle. Given your budget, they are "dirt cheap" at $184.00us.

Feanor mention Audience - they have a 3" listed in Parts Express as well, claiming a 40hz-22khz frequency range. Take listed specs like that with a grain of salt.

The halmark of a great FR is how flat the response is in the midrange. Many whizzered designs have nasty peaks in the upper mids, but everyone hears differently. Some people love the sound of Lowthers, but on a response graph they look peaky as hell, with poor bass (reletively speaking) which is why many people use them in back-loaded horns, not open baffle. I know a few FR enthusiasts who can't stand them, saying they're too "shouty" (I agree).

[K-High-Fi]

Thank you all for great inputs. Ok I will tell you the project I have in my mind:

I want to build large wood cabinet approximately: 80 wide, 20 deep, high 30, all in inches. And I want to make section to put left, center, and right speakers in horizontal shape and put grille. I might add one or two driver as LF, so the total fronts could be up to 5 drivers. The rear cabinet is fully open. TV placed above them. So the speaker’s unseen inside the cabinet and serves as front’s channels for Dolby surrounds. Surrounds speakers can be placed in the rears. So the cabinet look normal not as speaker enclosure but as home furniture. :) :)

I could think I might sacrifice the sound quality but hope not too much, that’s why I asked for very high quality single driver. To be honest, Im annoyed about many fronts speakers: L, R, C, and one or two subs!! They take so much space and they look ugly in home too (TV as well). So I was thinking: by this way I’ll keep the living room look very beautiful and hope same thing with the sound.

[3LB]

I just noticed Poultrygeists post with the Tangband OB...I'll give you some links to the Fullrange driver forum as well as the DIY website where there is a long running thread about these here drivers of yours.

Have you heard of Audio Nirvana drivers...they have 10" and 12" FR drivers (again, sorry no links). I read rave things about them.

People who haven't delved into diy speaker are missing out on a lot of fun. I've heard some amazing stuff. I'll never buy a brand new manufactured set of speakers again.

http://fullrangedriver.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=2

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/full-range/ - this one has a wealth of info and pics regarding fullrange design. Do a search and you'll have months of reading.

Here's a first place entry in 2006's Puget Sound Audio Society's speaker building contest. It employs a couple of concepts, one of which is still very rare in the FR world...an passive radiator. Its a bipolar design with 5.25" drivers from Radio Shack (no longer made) and a forward firing 8" PR in a .75 ^3in cabinet. (read on)
http://fullrangedriver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=917

[Poultrygeist]

I have the Tang Band W8-1808 in OB and they are exceptional (see pics in my gallery). I love how there's no box to color the sound.

[K-High-Fi]

Woow 3LB! I was looking for something simpler but thanks very much these links are great. Probably i need some months to read them.

[K-High-Fi]

Thank you Feanor, these links are helpful. Hmm, now im bit confused which one I go for! I hear all the time Lowther but i dont know if that mean its the best one to go? Have anybody i dea if Seas are better or any general thoughts?

[3LB]

I've read about Lowthers for over a decade now, and everything I've ever read said back-loaded horn, otherwise, its far too shouty for conventional applications. I've also read that the mid-range output is the best in the world. I myself have heard Fostex in a number of applications and I can tell you that they are sublime, just effortless, and the midbass/midrange eminating from these is the best I ever heard, and I've never heard bigger than a 5.25" model. Male vocals, females vocals, its handles both superbly. I think if you mount a pair of Lowthers in OBs you are going to wind up pairing them with a powered sub.

Here's a link to Audio Nirvana (Can you believe they went and made a 15" FR?!?!)
http://www.nirvanaspeakers.com/nirvana.html

Here is a couple of website that do reviews for the kind of products that might interest you.
http://www.tnt-audio.com/int.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/planet-10-hifi/39053-planet_10-hifi.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/110583-fast-fun-inexpensive-ob-project.html
http://www.michaelmardis.com/start.htm

I actually met Michael Mardis (the last link above and also known as Panomaniac at DIY) and he is a great guy. Smart and talented in the area of do-it-yourself audio, he never tries to beat you over the head with how smart he is. He has a great way of explaining things so that a casual observer could understand.

[Poultrygeist]

The eBay seller below seems to really like the Tang Band W8-1808 in a large but simple bass reflex enclosure. These of course have no parasitic crossovers or filters.


http://cgi.ebay.com/Floor-standing-FULL-RANGE-speakers-NEW-HIGH-END-AUDIOFI_W0QQitemZ260546550263QQcmdZViewItemQQptZSp eakers_Subwoofers?hash=item3ca9c8d9f7

[Feanor]

The eBay seller below seems to really like the Tang Band W8-1808 in a large but simple bass reflex enclosure. These of course have no parasitic crossovers or filters.


http://cgi.ebay.com/Floor-standing-FULL-RANGE-speakers-NEW-HIGH-END-AUDIOFI_W0QQitemZ260546550263QQcmdZViewItemQQptZSp eakers_Subwoofers?hash=item3ca9c8d9f7
At $3900 the cabinets must be hellishly nice because the Tang Band 1808's are only $168 each at Parts Express (http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=264-894) and there are no crossover components to buy.

http://www.parts-express.com/images/item_standard/264-894_s.jpg

[3LB]

^That's a beautiful driver ain't it?^

[K-High-Fi]

3LB, thank you very, very much for your inputs, very hlefpul. Feanor, and Poultrygeist same thing. Thanks to all.

:)
Cheers.