Turtlerock Forum

Hi All,

After successfully building a good sounding guitar cab.
I'd like to have a crack at replacing my monitors with some full range passives.

There's a few manufacturers from cheap, mid to snake oil prices... a few names i've gathered so far are as follows:

Lowther, Dayton Audio, Jordan, Tang Band, Visaton, and a few other (only included the best contenders)

Does anyone have any personal experience with full range drivers? and anything to recommend even outside of what i've listed.

Cheers,

J.

Scan speak also make full range drivers. Also the tiny fullrange drivers in the MONA tunnel were pretty awesome though I can't remember what they are.

What's the purpose for your build? If you are looking to create a high end single point source speaker then the cabinet is very important and you'll want to look at horn loaded designs or transmission line designs. If on the other hand you are trying to create a more real world sound then an excellent car speaker in a simple case might suit you better.

What are you hoping to achieve? Might help us answer s give you some pointers...

hey Myles,

I'd like a high as possible end speaker. Definately not a car style speaker...those drivers i've listed are hi fi end of the scale. It's just tricky to decide as you cant go into a show room or whatever, i've got to rely on people's experience....

I've got the ability between my self and a mate to do the proper build, so hi end build is a given.

I've never heard of line transmission design, i'll look into it. But that's my application, as good as possible a monitor.


I'd like to decide on a driver, and then design a box for that driver, etc.

I dunno if those MONA speakers were for studio applications, they are designs by the tech company that David Walsh owns, from memory.

EDIT: have u listened to a pair of DIY'd full ranges yourself myles? would like to hear your thoughts on them if you have

This should be a good starting point if you haven't already visited...

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/full-range/

I've heard a few different full ranges both DIY and commercial and you should too before you spend the time, effort and cash on a pair. They generally are built for a specific purpose, size, power efficiency, and though lots of audiophiles will rave about them I haven't heard any that have made me go wow I've got to have a set of them. I have really enjoyed a small transmission line 3" driver set but that was for bedroom listening driven by a 4 watt valve amp. Was great to go to sleep to with the glow of the valves and a gentle recording sounding very close and personal but I would never have used them to mix on. That being said I've done a number of sound art installations with a variety of single and twin cone single drivers that have worked really well and have been happy in a variety of odd places, inside pvc pipes, hidden up chimneys, under floors, inside gramophone horns, hanging from lighting rigs without cabinets etc.

In professional terms there are the auratones and all their equivalents and then the tannoy concentrics (which aren't single driver) but other than that I can't think of one professional single point source speaker used for critical listening which makes me think that it's not really a good idea.

One day i'd like to check these out - http://www.wilmslow-audio.co.uk/k100-cabinets-62-p.asp

Unless I win the lotto and can try a real pair of ATC's.

bored at work so I've been wandering the audiodweeb land, how about these?

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/full-ran ... u-can.html

The speakers in the Mona tunnel were made by Arthur Francis. He's nothing to do with Walsh. He makes his own speaker designs and does repairs. He's very knowledgeable. I can put you in touch with him if you wanted to quiz him on your build particulars.

ah great, yeah got my wires crossed if that was the case, thanks Trent. that would be awesome i have no idea if he has the patience for such a nubile like myself...but i wouldn't mind at all!

Cheers,

J.

He's like any other tech guy you know when it's all they do. Slightly odd manner. Very nice like most good techs. Always been happy to talk to me about whatever I had to ask him. I'll pm you his number

I recall that at one stage VAF were making kits available, but not sure if they still do so.

http://www.vaf.com.au/index.asp

hi rob, thankyou, i just emailed them. Their website doesnt suggest drivers are availavble, but i'll ask about the drivers.

Wes components in Sydney do some kits with Vifa drivers in various sizes and configs if I am not mistaken.

nice Steve, will contact today!

Jamil

"Full Range" generally = compromised bass, or at least "expect to use with a sub cabinet". I really like my Jordan's (you heard 'em after doing the Mandala CD) but they really only do about 50Hz up to 30kHz. For the low stuff, I need to add a sub. That said, the spacial imagery of these things is scary. The soundstage wraps around you even though the drivers themselves are at 60 degrees-ish. And very good freq response within their limits. And they can do like 60W apiece, plenty for monitors. Let me know if you want to try them out.

will let you chris, for sure! cheers for chiming in.

Hi, have you seen this?
http://www.greatplainsaudio.com/two_way.html
I am seriously tempted to try the 12" Duplex. Very good price!
Crossover included.

damn, that looks awesome, i'd go the 15" if you have the spasce, and budget!!
We (the guy i was researching this project with) decided on Alpair 12 Gold speakers. Which are 6" full range drivers. after testing....reports are excellent. the only drawback is the soundfield is narrowish. but the frequency response on the low end is phenomenal, easily pushing 25hz, etc

using strict golden ratio plans provided on their website its a pretty good solution if you'd like full range monitors

Hi Jamil, I already have Altec 604g's in massive boxes. They are incredible, the soundstage and sense of realism is like nothing I've heard from any other speaker, including Tannoys, which are great too.
I would love another pair for the live room.
I thought the 12" version would be perfect for home use or a smaller control room. And they are nearly half the price of the 604's.
Those Alpairs look very interesting, how much did it cost to put your system together?
Point source really works! It's curious that this kind of approach has started to come back into hi end speaker designs. I guess modern materials and computer modelling have given new life to these ancient but very good ideas.
Cheers,
Paul

yeah, cost? and how much do those Altecs cost?

Hi Myles, the 604 15' are around $950 per driver including crossover.
The new 12" version is only $540 per driver inc crossover.
That is outstanding value whichever one you choose.
The only downside is that they require BIG enclosures and a biggish room.
Cheers,
Paul

from memory, the alpair gold was 200 or so dollars per driver....18mm mdf for the enclosure you can get for under $40 (im being conservative) , some cutting on a table saw (free) and some glueing and screwin, and you're prob looking at $400-500 for a pair.

It's a ported design btw.