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World's Largest Subwoofer Driver?

70.46.7.90

thetubeguy1954

I'm not sure if it was here on the High-Efficiency forum where just a while back we were discussing the worlds largest subwoofer which led us to talking about Tom Danley's monster and the other monster by Royal Devices in Italy.
However for those who don't already know it. MTX made a 60" driver that was capable of 6 inches peak to peak under full-tilt output!!! Believe it or not but this monster was installed in a vehicle. Unfortunately, they didn't realize just how much acoustical power the sub could generate, and didn't build the vehicle to contain it appropriately. Even at less than 1/2 output, the doors were blown off the tracks, and the entire vehicle ballooned in and out several inches!!!
The motor is capable of producing 6,000+ pounds of linear force, which is necessary when considering the very large surface area and displacement volume required to produce high SPL levels and the output displacement is comparable to 160+ ten-inch woofers! There's 3 nice photos at the link you can click on below.
This link provides more info but, less photos: http://www.thetechzone.com/photo/computers.php?photo=13813

Nice Photo's Of The 60in Subwoofer (Open in New Window)

Edits: 07/28/08

Follow Ups:

Neither the largest nor a true driver - jpvs 10:05:32 07/29/08 (0)
That MTX driver has become a legend, but not for the reasons one expect of a subwoofer driver. Underneath that orange cowl is supposed to be a fairly conventional DC motor, not a voice coil, that was only capable of one frequency at one level for less than a quarter-second of operation. Word has it that the first DB drag race it was shown at (competitions to see who can make the loudest one note, fraction of a second burst) it only achieved an unofficial 166dB inside the van (comparable to other's more extreme attempts) for one very brief burst before the plywood cone disintegrated.

If you want what is truly the world's largest single subwoofer driver that was capable of actual musical performance, then look to the Diatone (Mitsubishi) D-160 . Built for the 1985 Tsukuba Science Exposition as a proof of technology the 160CM/1.6M/63" driver claimed the title of largest driver and when powered by its associated 3kW amplifier showed quality bass performance that was flat to 8Hz.

With the relative success of this demonstration piece, the folks a Diatone decided to make a compact version that was only half the size, the D-80 . You can see how "tiny" this driver was when pictured next to an adult woman:

Briefly, this subwoofer was made commercially available in 1988 as the D-80M making it, as far as I know, the largest conventional subwoofer driver that anyone could purchase domestically (and professionally with the D-80S ), ever.

Were I a rich man, I'd love to get my hands on a stereo pair if only for the novelty.
Here's an interesting alternative: - sherod 19:35:18 07/28/08 (0)
http://www.eminent-tech.com/RWbrochure.htm
- http://iar-80.com/page142.html (Open in New Window)
Edits: 07/28/08
After listening to their smaller sub's. - GTF 13:17:44 07/28/08 (2)
:-(

I want music not boom ,boom, boom, thud.
That's what too many people want now a days.
QUANTITY over quality.
- actually.... - Presto 14:31:39 07/28/08 (1)
  Most car sub makers (like MTX) make drivers that have incredibly good excursion (xmax), low distortion and very good looking BL curves.
  I have used car audio subs for home audio applications in the correct size box and with clean power, they can deliver amazingly tight, fast and distortion free bass - especially when used for music at more "conventional" levels.
  The only reason car subs are associated with "boom boom boom rattle rattle" is their use in common car audio applications which feature way too much power for a confined space, and massive overcompensation for car volume with an absurb overemphasis of the low bass and subsonic region of the audio bandwidth.
  This does NOT mean the car subs are of poor quality - au contraire. It just means that car fans are often into what would be considered "excessive bass" by most philes.
  I had a very large 15" Visonik car sub in a very large ported box powered with a QSC MX2000a amp (2000W/ch RMS into 4 ohms mono, coils in series). The thing could pound, alright. But what impressed me the most is how bass that low would quickly STOP. It seems to me that "stiff" subs that have very high power handling and high xmax seem (to me) to provide tighter and "faster" bass compared to "looser subs".
  I bet there are philes in these parts who could change your perception of car audio products with what they have done in a home environment.
  No question that the "boooooom boooooomo rattle rattle" car audio sound is totally not for me. Don't shoot the car audio sub makers - they're just giving their target market what they want in spades.
  Cheers,
  Presto
  
  Edits: 07/28/08
  - Here, Here. I have a JBL 1220 12" Car subwoofer in a home cabinet - fin1bxn@msn.com 15:18:54 07/28/08 (0)
    It has dual voice coils and It can run flat from 28 to 200 in the cabinet I built using free Winis beta speaker building software. I bought a Quality 250 watt plate amp and I can dial this sup with all types of speakers and music.

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