Single driver full range SPL
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twiiii
Lunatic Member
What the lowest frequency you looking for. A 12" speaker would have to move 0.25 inches to produce 40 hz at 110 db in an anechoic chamber. So a full range 8" Altec 755E thats rated around 94 db with a max of 30 watts with a range from about 55 to 13,000 hz would be limited to 108 db. I would look for an Altec Bi-flex. They had a 12 and 15 " version that could reach lower with authority and about the same hi-freq with higher sensitivity and a touch more power handling. Maybe 35 to 13 or 14,000 hz handling 35 watts rms with 140 watt peaks. No crossovers. But you'll need a nice 6.5 to 8 cu ft box that has a tuned port.
Personally I would have a UREI 813 or 811 as I remember. They use an Altec 604 Coax with a special horn and a time aligned crossover to be able to produce a square wave. With 100 db sensitivity and a range from below 35 hz to 20,000 hz they are a great point source near field monitor speaker. All you would need is 10 watts to [produce 110 db. I believe the Urei with just the 604 was rated around 75 watts. If it had an additional 15 inch woofer it could handle much more. The urei speakers deserve investigating. Also read about JBL's 4430. Its a fantastic 2 way speaker that is aligned with in 500 micro seconds.
Personally I would have a UREI 813 or 811 as I remember. They use an Altec 604 Coax with a special horn and a time aligned crossover to be able to produce a square wave. With 100 db sensitivity and a range from below 35 hz to 20,000 hz they are a great point source near field monitor speaker. All you would need is 10 watts to [produce 110 db. I believe the Urei with just the 604 was rated around 75 watts. If it had an additional 15 inch woofer it could handle much more. The urei speakers deserve investigating. Also read about JBL's 4430. Its a fantastic 2 way speaker that is aligned with in 500 micro seconds.
One must account for compression though, which can be drastic at higher power levels, and not many speaker makers give specs on that.
Buttercup
Well-Known Member
I have not picked out a driver yet... still reading and trying to soak in as much info as possible.
Okay, this makes a bit of sense and should be usefull when comparing drivers. Thanks.
If you want high volumes consider Lowthers, they'll get very loud with very little power. They're expensive and thus not talked about much on AK. Supravoxes will get loud too and IMO sound <very> good but they come dear too.
Buttercup
Well-Known Member
Yep, I'm aware of this, I still want to know what to expect; 90, 100, or 110db max volume from a given driver.
I listen to lots of rock and roll, folk, bluegrass and country... real mainstream stuff. My hearing is changing and my present high wattage setup is sounding more and more harsh in the mids, so I'm exlploring options for something a bit more refined. So while I don't need to shake the foundation I still want to feel the kick drum.
Buttercup
Well-Known Member
I guess my JBL's qualify as "some such speaker"
High output single drivers combined with the proper sub can give big bass tone and feel. But by themselves it's difficult. The old EV Wolverine 12" wide range driver gets pretty loud and in a simple open baffle makes surprisingly robust bass, perhaps the best I've heard from an unassisted single driver.
Buttercup
Well-Known Member
I am interested in the Audio Nirvana super 12 driver, but maybe I wouldn't be satisfied. I don't know... I mostly want to minimize the mid range squawk while maintaining the sparkle when enjoying Andrew Bird and I also want to pump up the volume on a little Wilco and feel the thump from time to time... I want it all!
Buttercup
Well-Known Member
Do you mean any single driver in a 1.5 cubic ft. Cabinet or just any bookshelf period?
Buttercup
Well-Known Member
The L112's in the photo have gobs of bass, no need for a sub.
I believe they reach down to about 40hz -3db.
I guess this is the problem when discussing sound, I think you and I are defining "thump" differently.
Son-of-Vere
Super Member
single driver speakers excel at soundstage. Tone, not so much. Sweet spot is really narrow for most. And with smaller for the most part being better, high dB just doesn't work well.
You should try a 2 way horn.
You should try a 2 way horn.
PR Audio
Super Member
What is your need? What room size? My opinion and experience with single drivers, especially the larger diameters is that though most are great with mids, they can not be as good on the low's or the high's. The ones that are good in all freq. are expensive. A TL enclosure will help you with the bass extension and control.
You probably can't get what you think you want in the footprint of the speakers you are now using, but if you are able to take out the half shelf next to the speakers, you have quite a lot of room. You do need room since full range speakers tend to need to be in large enclosures -- the heavy cone needed for low resonance which allows small enclosures means little high frequency extension. But you could fit a pair of Lowthers in Acousta enclosures there, or maybe even something the size of EV Marquis cabinets, which will give decent low end, if a little light. You can tell yourself (and probably be correct in saying so) that you are only missing resonances and overhang.
As an example of what you might gain: when I first got my Lowthers, I was alarmed by what I thought was distortion in the bass parts in the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis on the William Boughton Vaughan Williams CD. What it was, though, was the actual sound of the string basses -- strings and wood vibrating and air moving rather than a monochromatic bass note, which is often what you get. Is this worth giving up thumpa thumpa big bass for? If it isn't, get a subwoofer.
As an example of what you might gain: when I first got my Lowthers, I was alarmed by what I thought was distortion in the bass parts in the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis on the William Boughton Vaughan Williams CD. What it was, though, was the actual sound of the string basses -- strings and wood vibrating and air moving rather than a monochromatic bass note, which is often what you get. Is this worth giving up thumpa thumpa big bass for? If it isn't, get a subwoofer.
PR Audio
Super Member
Tom, wouldn't this become less of an issue with a TQWT or TL enclosure?
I have a set of AN 12" (just installed them this weekend). so far i like them a lot. very revealing, detailed. however, i suspect they need large cabinets or wide open baffles to work their magic. i have mine in vintage allied-knight catalog cabinets--very big. i'm getting nice bass.
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