single driver speakers
This article from Nelson Pass is a must read for those interested in this subject. It addresses many of considerations around matching amplifiers with the single driver speakers. http://www.firstwatt.com/pdf/art_cs_amps.pdf |
I like full-range drivers, but, I particularly like them as extended range drivers in multi-driver systems. The Jensen/ERPI M-10 field-coil driver with a tweeter, as an example, makes quite an extraordinary system. I also heard a two-way system using the Japanese GIP-4165 field-coil driver (Western Electric clone) and that was killer good too. As for true full range, single driver systems, the best I've heard is probably the Charney with the Voxativ driver. It delivered the speed and immediacy of single driver systems without sounding harsh, nasal and peaked in the upper midrange and treble range; the primary shortcoming was a lack of high frequency extension. Voxative also makes a very good sounding full range system using its own drivers. A friend utilized a field-coil Feastrix driver in a nice custom system, but, it really needed something to boost the bass response. While I do like the immediacy and liveliness of the Western Electric/Altec 755 driver, it is WAY too colored and tinny for my taste in a single driver system. Its much rarer cousin, the 756 is a better driver, and it too, still needs a tweeter. The addition of a tweeter, even when the full-range driver is being run full-range (not being attenuated by the crossover), somehow smooths out the response and makes it less harsh and ragged sounding. |
They can do a hell of a good job due to: - much stronger magnets, especially when field coil - efficiency of driver...moves much faster and is so able to provide all needed frequencies while the other very important advantage is pin point imaging, but still wide sound stage, amazing dynamics and incredible sound coherence - cabinet construction enhances bass to sometimes incredible levels and also augments sensitivity - high efficiency leaves room for better and purer low output amps, to which such speakers remain more faithful in their reproduction of music than low efficiency drivers |
Yes, one of the best attributes of most single driver and horn systems is the ability to work with low-output amps. The only "high-powered" amp I liked a lot was a custom-built OTL amp that was massive in size; it turned out that it had an output of 30 watts. The only solid state amps I thought sounded decent were the First Watt F2 and an SIT amp that a friend built based on a First Watt schematic; both are pretty low on output. |
