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Advice and help understanding, choosing a Widebander / Single Full Range Driver speaker?

I'm considering a second set of speakers for my primary system.

I'm satisfied and very happy with my current primary speakers (Tekton Design SEs), so this isn't about a replacement speaker, but I have been looking for something that is different enough from my Tektons, in terms of speaker type and design, etc.

My current top choices being Sound Labs or Cube Audio. Horns, maybe.

Srajan Ebaen's review of the Bliss C a year ago was what first exposed me to Cube Audio and his more recent review of the Nenuphar is stellar. Both reviews are copied in my follow-up post below.

I've been 'somewhat' exposed to full range drivers (or nearly so, with augmentation) as I've owned Zu Audio and Vaughn Loudspeakers and have been exposed to Teresonic speakers and Voxativ drivers. Still, I'm a neophyte with regards to this speaker type (single full-range driver).

Would love to learn more about the pros and cons of owning a true wide-bander and issues, pitfalls, etc. I should consider before moving forward.

Leaving this very general and open. Let's keep budget out of this also (I don't want to complicate the discussion). 

More on my system and room and preferences in subsequent posts.

Thanks!

(BTW - I did search the forums and there is 1 wide bander thread and 6 full range driver threads. None apply directly, but I will review each to see what I can pull out that may be relevant).
david_ten
larryi
3,990 posts
 
The Charney system I heard with Voxativ driver sounded very good for a full-range dynamic driver system.  To me, the only short-coming is that the top end is not fully extended.

I recently heard an open baffle system using a full-range G.I.P. field coil driver--a replica of the Western Electric 4165A driver--and this was the finest sound I've heard from a full-range system.  But, the system actually has a tweeter that can be turned on and off to compare full-range to two-way.  The tweeter is crossed in very high (more like a super tweeter) with a simple resistor-capacitor network (1st order crossover) and an L-pad to adjust level).  I preferred the sound with the tweeter operating.  The G.I.P. driver is extremely expensive, but better than any other full range driver I've heard.

I also like the vintage Jensen/ERPI M-10 field coil driver used as an extended range driver (i.e., with a tweeter).

Horning makes some very dynamic and exciting systems using full range drivers as bass/midrange drivers and add a tweeter.  I like these systems too, although they are a touch bright and a little harsh sounding for my taste.  On the MUCH cheaper side, Rethm makes a speaker named the Bhaava that is essentially a full range driver augmented by a built-in, powered subwoofer; a great sounding system for the money (around $3,000).
bache's avatar
bache
521 posts
 
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/whizzer-cone-removal/post?postid=1584914#1584914  please take a look, My experience with
design loudspeakers based on widebanddrivers say ---
impossible to get good highs with whizzer cone.  The best way is not 
just understand this and  accepted or    not, Just listen i with AB comparison on the same record. What is whizzer .Is just piece of paper 
How it been compare with new technologies tweeters?  Historically
whizzer cone drivers  widely used in Pro sound starting long time ago.
in Cinema   theaters , and for some reason came up in High End.



in
david_ten OP
5,480 posts
 
@dmance  Thanks for sharing your experience with Voxativ and how you've set them up and supplemented them. My room is a normal (largish) living room so what you've done and are suggesting will definitely work.

@rodge827  Charney is a speaker builder I'd love to meet in person and visit his shop in NJ. On my list of things to do when I get up there...though the audio related list is getting fairly long...might require two trips. : )

@larryi  Thanks for the informative post on the GIF and vintage Jensen drivers; as well as the suggestion to consider Horning and Rethm. I came close to acquiring a Rethm product in the past but couldn't commit.
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
Take your friend's advice - widebanders/single driver FR all sound different depending on how the drivers are implemented, e.g., open baffle, horn-loaded, etc., etc., and more importantly depending on the partnering gear. You'll need to audition them person to decide which one you like. You may also find that your T+A gear may not be the best match for most if not all the speakers you audition. IME, albeit limited, a current source tube amplifier with a moderately high output impedance (low damping factor) tends to deliver a fuller mid/low bass from those drivers. Consider the cost of the total package.
david_ten OP
5,480 posts
 
@kalali  Well put!  I agree! And yes, I will (most likely) need to factor in the cost of a preamp and amp, plus cabling, isolation, etc. should I go with the Cube speaker, or something similar. Expense will be a factor.

I've always wanted to have tubed amplification in the chain, even while building this current system...so despite the cost, it's a worthwhile goal for me. All solid state, which I have now, happens to be new for me.

As I'm close to my original and overarching goal of having a system that can serve as a benchmark and reference (for me), it's now a matter of being patient with building something different that stands in contrast to what I have.
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