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Just how big is that driver?


hi All,

I'm wondering just how to measure drivers physical dimensions. Are drivers measured only to the surrounds inner perimeter? Or, in other words, are they in fact measured to the overall extension of only the material making up the cone itself, and NOT the surround/supportive construct?

Or, in fact, is it�s actual dimensions, the whole overall exposed, structure, right out past the screws holding it to the baffle?

To my way of thinking, a cone or dome driver's size is just that part up to but not including the surround, if any, regardless the actual materials being used.
blindjim
undertow
1,033 posts
 
Most 10" drivers are at the outer most part of the frame measured(a bit deceiving for sure), normally the surround and cone make up only about 8.75" to 9" of it actually. And yeah they still consider them 10's commercially.. some european drivers these days seem to fess up and call them 9" drivers instead.
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
This is a good quest as my Silverline Audio SR-11s have a woofer specified at 4" while my Usher S-520's woofer is specified at 5". Why do I mention this? I've measured the woofers in both speakers and the Silverline woofer is actually bigger. They are both very close to 5 inches if the driver's frame is taken into account.
unsound
7,362 posts
 
Blindjim, are your serious? If so, I couldn't disagree more.
mags5000
73 posts
 
Unsound, are you serious?
blindjim OP
3,092 posts
 
Unsound
Well, yes, and no.

I'm serious as to the figures a maker uses for the products they sell which have other makers drivers in them.... Why should a given driver's specified dimensions then differ from those of the provider of the driver being used in the first place?

For example, If I go about building speaker systems... and am able to buy for instance, drivers from Vortex for ex., and Vortex says the drivers I want to use are 9inch, 5inch, and 1 inch drivers, should I be then compelled to say the Drivers in my speaker system are 10 inch, 6 inch and 1 inch?

Or merely pass along the orig drivers specs? this latter approach seems prudent and wise.
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