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Cogent horns

Count me among those who have to say that the Cogent field-coil horn system is the single most realistic (and satisfying) speaker system I have heard. The system at RMAF 2006, powered by Welborne 45 (top) and 300B (bass) SETs, was *literally* jaw-dropping (for me).

(For whatever reason - I was not impressed to the same level the next year, in the very large conference room. Perhaps there is something about near(er) field listening these things. By all rights the Welborne room was *way* too small, but they sounded fabulous to me and many others.)

They are far beyond my price range.

How do the Classic Audio speakers with field coil drivers compare? And how come I see no mention at all of field coil options on Classic's site, including no pricing info? (I'm sure they're beyond me as well but just curious.)
paulfolbrecht
audiokinesis
2,749 posts
 
Macrojack, to the best of my knowledge there is no direct link between moving mass and flux modulation (though there is a link between voice coil inductance and flux modulation). Now it well may be that higher moving mass makes the effects of flux modulation more audible, but I simply don't know whether or not that's the case.

Duke
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,935 posts
 
Field coil speakers have always been more expensive to make. When permanent magnet speakers became available, the industry moved to them quite quickly due to the fact that they were cheaper.

Like a lot of things in audio (tubes to transistors, LP to digital), the move from field coil to permanent magnets was fueled more by cost motivation than performance. Field coils are a rising star these days in loudspeaker technology. Although more expensive, they are otherwise an easy way to get the speaker to sound more transparent.
macrojack
1,303 posts
 
Ralph - I have large horns and a 2 inch compression driver. Where should I look for a field coil driver that can replace my B&C DCX 50?
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,935 posts
 
Macrojack, right now field coil drivers are custom affairs or at the least, pretty pricy. I know Classic Audio Loudspeakers modifies a certain JBL compression driver- seems to me by the time they are done there is very little left of the original driver.

Either way I would contact either CAL or Cogent- its likely that they are the major suppliers of compression drivers right now.
johnk's avatar
johnk
1,976 posts
 
Such a large cash outlay for a small persevered benefit that I have not been able to hear or measure when I compared FC versions of dynamic drivers to alnico. Never tried FC comps. But with all things YMMV. I will stick to optimizing other aspects of front horn design for going FC for now. Still Cogent makes a cool horn loudspeaker I say more power to them. We need more horn loudspeaker designers on the bleeding edge. Maybe someday FC comps will be readily available and I will give them I try.
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