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Compression driver and horn/lens assembly guidelines: |
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Once upon a time, high-efficiency speakers were mandatory. Then, transistor
amplifiers came along and with them came smaller, less efficient speakers that could
take advantage of the extreme power available from transistorized power amplifiers.
Nowadays, vacuum tube (also called "valve") power amplifiers are once again in vogue
with many audiophiles. Although these newer designs sometimes offer power comparable
to many transistor power amplifiers, more often they do not. For this reason, higher
efficiency drivers are once again of interest. Although complete horn tweeters exist (see Section 5), most high frequency and midrange horns comprise the assembly of specific compression drivers with other specific horn/lens assemblies. In this section, I summarize recommended compression drivers and horn/lens assemblies. Unlike the rest of the LDSG, this section will be oriented more toward vendors rather than specific models. Almost any compression driver can be mated to any number of good horns from a variety of manufacturers. It's beyond the scope of th LDSG to try to critique each possible combination, but it is possible to steer readers to reliable sources of well-reported components. The goal of driver/horn selection is the same as selecting direct rediator drivers - flat response and low distortion. This is complcated somewhat by some of the unique characteristics of horn systems:
Special consideration is also given in this section to coax woofers - low frequency drivers which accept a coaxially-mounted compression driver which uses the driver's cone as a crude horn. |
Compression driver considerations: |
In order to optimize your chances of achieving a good-sounding horn system, there
are a couple of things which require attention:
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Vendor guidelines - B&C: |
B&C is an Italian company which has established a solid reputation for
producing pro sound products offering excellent sound and good value. The following
drivers are suitable for hi-fi use:
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Vendor guidelines - Beyma: |
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Beyma is a Spanish company which makes primarily pro sound drivers. Several of these
have smooth enough response to recommend them for Hi-Fi applications:
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Vendor guidelines - P.Audio: |
| P.Audio is a Thai manufacturer of pro sound components, which has gained a reputation of producing high quality, high value drivers. Their horn/lens assemblies have not been equally well reported. They have two high value compression drivers suitable for home hi-fi applications: |
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Vendor guidelines - Radian: |
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Radian is a U.S. (California) manufacturer of high-quality pro sound drivers. Their
replacement diaphragms for JBL and other pro lines are very highly regarded. The
following Radian drivers have been recommended:
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Vendor guidelines - TAD-Pioneer: |
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TAD-Pioneer is Pioneer's commercial speaker division. Unlike some other pro sound
vendors, TAD only produces one driver for most throat sizes. All of TAD's drivers
are therefore the best they can build. The most notable technology TAD uses is its
beryllium diaphragms. Beryllium has the highest stiffness to weight ratio of any
metal. Unfortunately, it's dust or fumes are highly toxic, so fabricating products
with it is quite an expensive process. TAD's drivers are therefore among the most
expensive on the market. All of TAD's drivers have been recommended!
The most common recommendation names TAD as the driver of choice if someone can
afford them. Because of the throat sizes, the two TAD drivers of perhaps the most
interest to the DIY builder are: One older 1" driver, the TD-2001 is available, as are drivers with 1.5" (the TD-4003) and 1-15/16" (the TD-4001) throat sizes. |
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Vendor guidelines - Visaton: |
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Visaton is a large German company with the reputation of having one of the best
development labs in Europe. They sell several lines of drivers covering high-end,
hi-fi, and pro (PA, stage, and sound reinforcement) drivers. They sell one horn
driver suitable for demanding applications.
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Horn/lens considerations: |
| There are so many horn styles available that trying to create a definitive list of recommended units would be largely futile. Instead, the LDSG will only list vendors. For further background information on materials used to fabricate horn/lens assemblies, see Appendix B. The vendors listed here are those whose horns have been recommended. Obviously, performance of a horn system may be optimized somewhat by mating drivers and horns from the same manufacturer. Most compression driver vendors will recommended horns for best effect with their units. However, this is hardly necessary, and good results may be obtains by mating drivers and horns of good quality from a variety of vendors. |
Vendor guidelines - B&C: |
| B&C is an Italian company which has established a solid reputation for producing pro sound products offering excellent sound and good value. B&C makes a limited line of five horns for drivers with throat diameters of 1", 1.4", and 2". All but the low-end ME10, which is made from ABS, are made from cast aluminum. |
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Vendor guidelines - Beyma: |
| Beyma is a Spanish company which makes primarily pro sound drivers. It makes a limited line of eight horns in 1" and 2" throat diameters. The least expensive, the TD560, is made from an unnamed synthetic resin, probably ABS. Of the remaining horns, some are made of rigid polyurethane foam and others of aluminum. All are OK for hi-fi. |
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Vendor guidelines - DDS: |
| Design Direct Sound (DDS) is a Seattle, WA (USA) specialty manufacturer of pro sound horns in 1", 1.5", and 2" throat diameters. All have been highly recommended. |
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Vendor guidelines - JBL: |
| JBL is one of the great names in American hi-fi, sound reinforcement, and autosound. It makes a fairly extensive line of horns in 1", 1.5", and 2" throat diamters. Not inexpensive, all have been recommended. |
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Vendor guidelines - Selenium: |
| Selenium is a Brazilian manufacturer of high-quality pro sound drivers. They also make a reasonably extensive line of horns in 1" and 2" throat diameters. Selenium's horns are made of either plastic, aluminum, or fiberglass. The plastic should probably be avoided. Of the aluminum and fiberglass horns, most received lukewarm recommendations - certainly not the best available, but good values. |
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Vendor guidelines - TAD/Pioneer: |
| TAD-Pioneer is Pioneer's commercial speaker division. As with its compression drivers (see above), it's horns are considered by many to be among the best available. Also like its drivers, they are quite expensive! TAD makes a limited line of three horns, two in wood. |
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Vendor guidelines - Visaton: |
| Visaton is a large German company with the reputation of having one of the best development labs in Europe. Visaton makes only two 120° exponential horns for use with its DR45 compression driver (see above). One is made of MDF and the other of beech wood. |
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Coax woofer considerations: |
| Coax woofers offer the DIY-er with the opportunity to create his/her own custom coincident driver by mating the coax woofer with a compression horn. The method of attachment is usually by a threaded nipple on the compression driver with a bore of the same diameter as the compression driver's diaphragm. For drivers using flange mounting, adapters are available which allow them to be threaded into a coax woofer. |
Vendor guidelines - Eminence: |
Eminence makes s short, but complete line of speakers designed to mount a
coincident compression driver, all in its Beta series of stamped steel frame pro
drivers.
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Vendor guidelines - PHL: |
Respected French manufacturer PHL make one true coaxial a number of coaxial
woofers, designed with an open throat to accept a compression driver at the apex of
the cone. All are recommended.
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©1998-2007 by Bob Stout, all rights reserved
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