[roymail]

I'm looking for a 5" mid/bass driver 90db > efficient that I can use with no coil or a small value coil.  The tweeter will also use either a single cap or a series small value coil.

Should I post this elsewhere?  I wasn't sure.  Thanks!

[JohnR]

I've not used it, but is this the kind of thing you mean?

http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/approx-5-midrange/scanspeak-15m/4624g-discovery-5.25-midrange/

[Æ]

I'm looking for a 5" mid/bass driver 90db > efficient that I can use with no coil or a small value coil.  The tweeter will also use either a single cap or a series small value coil.

Should I post this elsewhere?  I wasn't sure.  Thanks!

4 or 8 ohms?

How much do you want to spend?

A crossover coil is properly known as an "inductor." An even older term was "choke" because it choked off the higher frequencies.

You can pretty much run any midbass driver without a crossover, basically just use it as a full range driver. What are you trying to achieve? Small midbass drivers aren't very efficient to begin with, it kind of depends on how much bass you are willing to accept. More bass less efficiency, less bass more efficiency.

It would help if you described your intended application, give us some details about your enclosure, placement and amount of amplifier power.

[Æ]

I've not used it, but is this the kind of thing you mean?

http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/approx-5-midrange/scanspeak-15m/4624g-discovery-5.25-midrange/

That ScanSpeak is more of a midrange than a midbass, look at its fs.

[JohnR]

Oh, I thought the question was for a mid...  well, I doubt there are any 5" midbasses with efficiency higher than 90.

[Tyson]

I doubt a mid bass will be efficient - with a 5 inch driver you can have bass, or you can have efficiency, but not both.  If you are open to a larger size, then you can have both.  Small size, efficiency, bass, you can have 2, but not all 3

[roymail]

Thanks for the posts so far.  I'm not experienced at this although I've enjoyed building some 2-ways in the past with decent sounding results.

It would help if you described your intended application, give us some details about your enclosure, placement and amount of amplifier power.

I'd like to do something similar to a Triangle Titus 202 with an outcome of 90db>.  The Titus 202 uses a single inductor on the bottom and a single cap on the top.  I like the idea of a minimal crossover although I realize that not everyone agrees.  I'd like to keep the width of the cab to around 7".  The other dimensions are not that significant.

I have a 50wpc amp but have plans to acquire at least 125wpc or more sometime after the holidays.

I have several larger drivers including a nice pair of vintage 8" Altec alinco drivers.  Just want to build some smaller speakers.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Æ]

Thanks for the posts so far.  I'm not experienced at this although I've enjoyed building some 2-ways in the past with decent sounding results.

I'd like to do something similar to a Triangle Titus 202 with an outcome of 90db>.  The Titus 202 uses no inductor on the bottom and only a single cap on the top.  I like the idea of a minimal crossover although I realize that not everyone agrees.  I'd like to keep the width of the cab to around 7".  The other dimensions are not that significant.

I have a 50wpc amp but have plans to acquire at least 125wpc or more sometime after the holidays.

I have several larger drivers including a nice pair of vintage 8" Altec alinco drivers.  Just want to build some smaller speakers.

Thanks for any suggestions.

I can think of several small two way designs, all of which use more than just a single capacitor.

Nothing wrong with a minimalist crossover, nothing wrong with a fully tailored crossover either.

Go over to Zaph Audio and you can compare some 30 different 5.25 inch drivers. From the most expensive to the least expensive. http://www.zaphaudio.com/5.5test/

As several of us have already told you, you'll trade off bass for efficiency. If you want efficiency you'll get little or no bass. That driver in the Triangle Titus 202 looks like more like a midrange driver than a true midbass driver and it is 4 ohms, so it isn't really that "efficient." Sensitivity was increased by lowering the impedance, if referenced to 8 ohms, it would be 87dB.

Have you considered using a 5 inch full range driver instead of a midbass?

[Æ]

Here are some links to an exceptional two way build that I've listened to. It uses a very good Peerless midbass driver. Not the crossover you are looking for, but this design offers quite a lot and because it is DIY it is very affordable.

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?t=216912

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?t=214873

[Æ]

Here is something you might be interested in.

http://mcmelectronics.com/product/MCM-AUDIO-SELECT-55-3595-/55-3595

[srb]

Here is something you might be interested in.
http://mcmelectronics.com/product/MCM-AUDIO-SELECT-55-3595-/55-3595

This full-range driver has a frequency response to 10KHz, and on the same page is a link to an aluminum cone woofer with a frequency response to 17KHz.  This makes me wonder how accurate any of the specs might be.
 
Steve

[roymail]

I can think of several small two way designs, all of which use more than just a single capacitor.

Nothing wrong with a minimalist crossover, nothing wrong with a fully tailored crossover either.

Go over to Zaph Audio and you can compare some 30 different 5.5 inch drivers. From the most expensive to the least expensive. http://www.zaphaudio.com/5.5test/

As several of us have already told you, you'll trade off bass for efficiency. If you want efficiency you'll get little or no bass. That driver in the Triangle Titus 202 looks like more like a midrange driver than a true midbass driver and it is 4 ohms, so it isn't really that "efficient." Sensitivity was increased by lowering the impedance, if referenced to 8 ohms, it would be 87dB.

Have you considered using a 5 inch full range driver instead of a midbass?

Thanks AE for all the helpful information and links to follow up on.  Looks like I've got some more reading to do.

I had given some thought to using the Fostex 126en, but there are other options.

I understand the trade off between efficiency and bass.  There are several ways to add some natural lower end without using a boom boom box.

Appreciate the help. 

[Æ]

This full-range driver has a frequency response to 10KHz, and on the same page is a link to an aluminum cone woofer with a frequency response to 17KHz.  This makes me wonder how accurate any of the specs might be.
 
Steve

It says frequency response, but doesn't show an actual frequency response graph, which I'm sure would look pretty nasty in the upper octaves.

Any metal cone driver is going to have some serious and I mean serious breakup way before it reaches its frequency limits. Regardless of how much treble it is capable of, it will also start beaming at a much lower frequency.

The above reasons are why you have to use a steeper crossover with a metal cone midbass.

[Æ]

There are several ways to add some natural lower end without using a boom boom box.

The only real way to get anymore bass with the limited low end of a 5.25 inch midbass would be to use a subwoofer.

One can always try and squeeze some more bass from a small driver, but that requires a significantly larger enclosure and some equalization/BSC. You are still limited by the drivers mechanical and thermal limits, otherwise you'll get gross distortion.

I've been looking at these---> http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G16420
Actually I've already used a pair, in the rear deck of my small car. Plenty enough bass for me. They seem to be more suited for use as a home woofer rather than a car woofer, but I haven't critically evaluated their midrange performance yet.

[pecker]

Strictly speaking it's a 5.1" at 89.9dB...
http://gr-research.com/m130woofer.aspx

[S Clark]

Strictly speaking it's a 5.1" at 89.9dB...
http://gr-research.com/m130woofer.aspx

I can vouch for the M130  as dozens of my students have used it in their 2way projects over the years.  I don't think there is another mid/woofer that is easier to use and cross to a tweeter.  And it's at a good price.

Scott

[JoshK]

I doubt a mid bass will be efficient - with a 5 inch driver you can have bass, or you can have efficiency, but not both.  If you are open to a larger size, then you can have both.  Small size, efficiency, bass, you can have 2, but not all 3

Echo Tyson....Hoffman's iron law.   Most shed bass more than the specs claim.

[Æ]

I can vouch for the M130  as dozens of my students have used it in their 2way projects over the years.  I don't think there is another mid/woofer that is easier to use and cross to a tweeter.  And it's at a good price.

Scott

I surfed around looking for more information and opinions on the M-130. I found both positive and negative comments. Apparently it (needs) does benefit from a higher order crossover.