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General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

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RE: Best Mid-Bass of All Times!

Posted by Thorsten on July 11, 2012 at 06:47:36:
Hi,
You may wish to peruse the attachment.
There are a number of non-linearities in speaker drivers that are fundamental.
All else being equal having a lower excursion for a given SPL (meaning a large cone/diaphragm surface) lowers one group of these non-linearities and lower signal (current) for a given SPL lowers the other group.
So, given identical LF extension the driver with the larger diaphragm and higher efficiency will generally have lower distortion, given competent design and correct assembly of both.
As for the Scan Speak Revelator, they are quite commonly covered in the German DIY Speaker press. If you looked you would find that the 5" Revelator produces over 10% Distortion (Harmonic) for 95dB/1m/100Hz.
Hardly state of the art or low distortion.
No-one seems to have thermal compression data, but looking at voice coil and magnet assembly I would be very surprised if it was less than 4dB at rated power and 2.5dB at halve power (which equates to 95dB/1m). Combined with the very low efficiency you almost certain to run into thermal compression.
If we take (for lack of data for the JBL D130) the JBL 2226 as Benchmark (this in copies and original) as it is a readily available modern 15" "Midbass", we find that it offers less than 1dB compression and less than 1% Distortion (100Hz) for 112dB/1m and much less for 95dB/1m!
So I cannot for the life of me see what recommends the Scan Speak as acceptable "HiFi" Driver, given it's gross distortion and compression.
Of course, I find some people actually prefer severely distorted and compressed music to the real thing... So if that is your goal theScan Speak "Revelator" may indeed be just what is wanted.
So if you like it, enjoy it...
But before you decide to declare it the "Best Mid-Bass of All Times!" you should at least make sure you have a foggy notion what else is out there that may aspire to the title...
Ciao T