@john1 Most music doesn't reach frequency extremes. There are notable exceptions like orchestral music. Now, objectivists will pretend to exclusively listen to orchestral music in an attempt to make fullrange drivers look awful (unintentionally). You can't fault them for seeking the most versatile system in absolute terms.
However, if you're looking at speakers below $2k (arbitrary number) you'll see that many models have poorly matched woofers and tweeters with badly designed crossovers. But they measure really well on a frequency response graph! They have sufficient bass and treble on top. Everything seems fine. But subjectively I find the midband/vocals veiled and the bass is slower (it's not a dealbreaker).
Now I'm not gonna pretend to be the most knowledgable person in the room. It's quite the opposite. Anybody who evokes fullrange drivers in a positive light is a dunce in the objectivist crowd.
The experiment of listening to mutliple 'affordable' speakers in a showroom (fullrange drivers VS 2 way crossover) is informative. I value vocals, acoustic guitars and bass guitars highly because I listen to mostly indie/folk/alternative music. So fullrange drivers were my choice. But if you listen to prog metal and orchestral music you'll probably prefer multiple drivers with a crossover. Either solution sounds great. I am not picking winners here.
I evoked the issue of price. Amazing speakers which command a high price should have well designed crossovers with properly matched drivers. So they should exhibit the same positive characteristics we expect in fullrange drivers.
Sacrificing the frequency extremes with such ferocity (extraordinary determination if you like) is an acquired taste. At a minimum, but certainly an entirely different mind set then almost any norm. That’s fine of course, but some pretty complicated psychological things are going on with passionate adherents. Pointing to the trade offs either way doesn’t get you closer to understanding those deep unconscious impulses that in turn, either rationalize or especially, intensely focus on the positives. Which are there, but not nearly as much a the negatives for any real breadth of music - at least objectively. None of us listen to music wholly objectively however. We can’t if we’re going to enjoy it. There’s a good deal more subjectivity mixed in with single driver systems - just as it is in certain other aspects of our hobby. You can’t easily convert someone to it. They have a visceral inclination towards it - or not. The Freudian, Jungian etc. complications involved would be mesmerizingly interesting to be sure, but accurately ascertaining it probably borders on the mystical.
I dont understand why so many folks like single drive LS, (SDLS). It got following issues, Bass- low bass can fixing to add sub, but still missing upper bass 100-300hz- sound still weak and no full body, Whizzer cone got very poor characteristic to compare hi end Tweeter, We design all my speakers included demonstrated at CAF and NY audio show -- wide range driver with no crossover like SDLS but with accompanies one or two woofers plus high end supertweeter , If you not far from Brooklyn, we have show room working 6 days in week, no appointment need it
I have Closer Acoustics OGY speakers (EMS LB5 fullrange driver + transmission line the size of a cereal box) powered by a fully-restored Continental Edison PA9109 amp and I couldn't be happier. You'd expect the OGY to lack bass and sound lean/dull. That is far from the case. The bass is so fast and tight with some extension. But manage your expectations considering the size. They don't play extremely loud however, so they're ideal for a small room like mine. Most other speakers just sound veiled to me, especially for movie dialog.
I also have a REL T5x sub, but I don't think it makes a huge difference at low/moderate volumes.
I’m also with the direction of observations stated. Accepting a system presents only an impression of musical performance —think “illusion engine”, to borrow from Dick Olsher’s article of something like that title— then minimal is what has worked for me (Moving Iron cartridge requiring no step up, TVC, SET, and fast 8” single drivers mated sufficiently well to a cabinet (or open baffle) design and supported by a fast sub. I have had success with a handily small yet fast and potent KEF KC62 which completely transformed my previously lean listening experience. This system gives a very high level of transparency that projects the beauty of sound and detail in and around music (air and space) I value hearing most.
Funny you should ask. I`ve wanted to tryout fill range single drive for a while now so, about 2 months ago I purchased a used set of TangBand W8-2145 8" drives and went about building cabinets. Finished last night and did a serious listen. WOW. These things image like mad and soundstage is WIDE. Bass was pretty weak but I was expecting that. Once I activated my dual SVS sub's everything became even more focused and present. I'm sold. Searching now for even higher end drivers. Wish I could attach a picture, I'm quite proud of them.
I wish Charney would return to Capital Audiofest. For the two years they were at the show I thought they had one of the best sounding system there and for a relatively decent price. I heard the Companion model with Voxativ and AER drivers. I liked both drivers (I did not hear them with Lowthers), perhaps the AER a bit more because of its top end extension. Either way, a remarkable system. I preferred the Charney over the Cube Audio Nenuphar full range system at the show (smoother, more natural sounding frequency balance), but, it would be interesting to hear them against the Cube Audio Nenuphar Basis which employs a built in powered woofer with their full-range driver; this was a terrific sounding system I heard a bit more than a year ago at Capital Audiofest.
I have a pair of Charney Maestros with Voxativ drivers which I picked because I needed something relatively compact intended for corner placement (i.e., not Klipschorns). Great bass for the listening I do/my preferences, and I can only notice the very lowest of the lows missing on a couple of reference tracks. And they go way louder than I could ever want or need on 8 watts of 300b SET power.
I don't have experience with other single driver speakers.
I bought a pair of Charney Companions with Voxativ drivers last February and I like them better than anything I heard at the Capital Audio Fest last month. They have a liveliness and presence that is better than any other speaker I have heard.
In some respects, co-axial driver speakers, like Tannoys, have similar sound as systems employing full/wide range drivers—a vivid, lively sound. But, most full/wide range speakers have higher efficiency, making them better suited for use with low-powered tube amps (the best sounding amps), and tend to be better at low volume. Still, a Fyne F 1 coaxial is a speaker worthy of serious consideration.
They use the Jordan JX92 driver's, I absolutely love them. Fast, detailed, superb imagery, and good to look at, (which means the wife likes them.
They are compact for a floor standing design, quite wide but the cabinet is just 4" deep, so very room friendly.
Bass from the 4" driver with its folded labyrinth is plenty for my needs, but my listening room is only small. 11' x 11', so may be an issue in larger rooms
Single driver speakers can be quite nice in the right conditions. Think small monitor speakers. Can't expect room shuddering bass or loud listening. But they typically have GREAT TIMING and IMAGING. Good dynamics. BEST in nearfield / small room or nearfield far from room boundaries. Cone breakup can be problematic in some drivers.
I have tried several systems using Mark Audio drivers in Pensil enclosures and CSS drivers in other arrangements.
I’ve had Pearl speakers for over 6 months and was surprised by the clarity and amazing soundstage detail of these "point source" speakers. I find the "realism" and detailed soundstage quite amazing compared to any of the many speakers (most far more expensive) that I have had over the years... The terrific base quality is also noteworthy. I highly recommend them. But not for very large rooms or front row rock concert sound levels. I'm in the San Jose area if anyone wants to hear them just PM me.
I had the exact question. I would love to hear them. Have you seen "Real World Audio" youtube? Check out Janos who talks a lot about Voight Pipe speakers which are single driver. Pearl offers a 30 day in house trial but you have to pay for the return trip shipping. If you are close to Indiana I would split that cost to hear them!
I have been using Pearl Acoustics Sibelius speakers for the past year and a half. Room size, 20x20'x9' ceilings. System, Audio note Oto SE signature, TUBADOUR III SE Nonoversampling Tube DAC, Zestos Andros 1.2 phono preamp, VPI classic 3 with Koetsu Black cartridge. Using Morrow rsa cables and Silversmith Fidelium speaker cables. I would consider my system to be mid Highfi at around $15k not including speakers. I have been a big fan of Fritz's speakers Rev 7 SE and Carrera speakers for their authentic and natural sound. There are numerous reviews on his Bookshelf Speakers. I also had REL subwoofers to compensate for the 50Hz and below sounds. But I was tired of the space required for speakers and lack of seamless coherent sound stage. I did my research on a speaker that was authentic in design and neutral in sound, also no crossovers but still gave me a full range loudspeaker. I am extremely pleased with the sound, more impressed with the best customer service. Just Google or utube the reviews. Oh and I am happy to demonstrate the sound qualities if you are in the northern NJ area. These speakers can easily and realistically go down below 50 Hz.
Not sure I will be going back to multi drivers as there are just too many components and why do you think some audiophile purist still lean towards SET systems?? Because sometimes simplicity in design translates into listening to the music in the format it was recorded in. I hope this helps.
some are top notch, some are good, and i imagine some are no good. theyre as good as you wish to purchase. lotta folks buy tannoy cox and never buy another speaker. ive got a really good pair of halford margaritas (halfordloudspeakers.com) using some small fostex drivers.
I am not familiar with PA but have used the Audience 1+1 for years. Single driver speakers eliminate one of the most vexing problem that designers encounter when putting a system together: the crossover network. Passive network are almost impossible to get right on a budget. Without the crossover and with the right driver, the midrange purity can be addicting in a single driver system. But like everything else in life, you can’t get it all. The bass might need help depending on your music preference. Your might need to add subs if you want it all.
Single driver speakers can sound amazing. For example filed coils to me are exceptional. Matching to the right amp also helps. 845, 45, tubes amps and some 1 watt amps make such speakers sound amazing. Uping the price the horning speakers are also a consideration if you got the scratch.
I have not heard the Sibelius but I did own a few single driver speakers, mainly using Lowther drivers. I think Bache's design of using a modified single driver to cover the range from 500 - 8,000hz, augmented by a super tweeter and woofers is a better way. The crossover is a cap for the tweeter and a coil for the woofers. The midrange has directly connected to the amps. It's more balanced than when I was using a Rel subwoofer with a pair of Rethms.
I've heard only a few truly single driver speakers whose overall performance was pretty good with all types of music. One is the Charney Companion speaker with the AER driver, the other is a Voxativ speaker. I also recently heard a Songer single driver system that sounded very good, but, I did not hear them enough to decide whether the Songer single driver or Songer full-range with woofer model was better (amazingly, they are the same price).
But, I've heard many truly excellent systems that used full-range drivers in multiway systems. I recently heard a Voxativ two-way that sounded really good, I like the Cube Audio Nenuphar Basis (10" full-range plus a built in subwoofer), and I like the bid Dolce Vita system with an 8" full-range driver plus a tweeter. I've heard a few custom-made systems that also ultize a full range driver with a tweeter or woofer, and liked them too.
I built a pair of those using a Fostex driver and they were pretty darn good. That Pearl Acoustic speaker is based off the Mark Audio Pencil speaker which has been around a while.
I wouldn't use them in a big room nor is it "loud and proud" type of speaker.
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