Titanium Voice Coils - where to get best price?

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Why? You do realize that titanium exhibits extremely low electrical conductivity, don't you?

@tsacremento,  I think @btlancaster24 means Titanium voice coil formers. 

@audiokinesis Thanks for clarifying. That is entirely different from what he asked and makes much more sense.

@audiokinesis Do you happen to know where to get the best price for Titanium voice coil formers?

@btlancaster24, no I don't.  I use either off-the-shelf drivers or factory-made custom drivers; I've never sourced my own voice coil formers. 

There is a publication called "The Loudspeaker Industry Sourcebook" that lists sources for loudspeaker parts.  I doubt that titanium voice coil formers are listed in a category of their own, but that publication will probably give you some companies to contact. 

Here is a link to an online copy of the 2023 edition:

So..... what is it about Ti formers in this particular speaker that got the OP so interested??

And why just the former but not the diaphragm for instance?? Is there such a beast already?

@ditusa 

Sorry, of course I'm familiar with Ti based formers, but when I ask for "such a beast" I'm asking if the OP has heard or seen of the same model speakers having different drivers.

What got him thinking that taking this model of speaker and swapping out the voice coil alone was a good thing?

@erik_squires I actually just read something in a thread about titanium voice coils and wanted to try it out with hopes to improve SQ with my speakers for less than replacing them.  Btw, where is DIY audio?

@tsacremento I read somewhere that titanium voice coils would improve SQ and wanted to try it before considering new speakers.

@audiokinesis thanks!

OP:

DIYaudio dot com

OK, so you first need to know something about why all drivers are different, require different cabinets and crossovers, impedance curves, etc.

It's very rare that you can find a drop-in replacement for a driver and I've never heard of a case where a manufacturer has the identical driver, except with Ti voice coil. 

I mean, of course you can find woofers with Ti voice coil formers, but all the other speccs are different so you are really talking about building an entirely different speaker.

I suggest that instead of attempting a hack like this you build your own from a kit first.

I agree with @erik_squires, that you’re unlikely to find an off-the shelf replacement for your woofer that is functionally identical except for the voice coil former.

I think you’re also unlikely to find a recone kit for your woofer that has a titanium voice coil former.

Replacing the voice coil former itself is not for the faint-hearted. The voice coil will be glued to the voice coil former. And the final assembly needs to be round and sized within fairly tight tolerances.

Unless you have a very special set of skills, you might want to look for a speaker recone shop that can undertake what you have in mind. And you may find that it’s just not practical after all.

Getting back to Erik’s suggestions, building your own speakers (ideally starting with a kit) puts you on track for a lifetime of enjoyment of this hobby from a whole new participatory angle. Your interest in titanium voice coil formers implies that you are detail-oriented, and amateur speaker-building is very detail-oriented. It was my gateway drug to becoming a dealer and eventually a speaker manufacturer.

Duke

@erik_squires Actually, I have no experience or desire to build my own speakers.  Currently, my kg2’s are at the local repair shop getting recapped.  This is also something I’ve never heard of or had done prior to having it recommended by a salesman at a pro audio shop.  Honestly, I’m just trying to optimize / tweak the equipment I have now in ways which would be applicable for long term use if / when I ever invest in new components.  
@audiokinesis  Thanks for your input.  I really appreciate it.  Like I told Erik, my speakers are at a repair shop now and the technician (owner) told me that he could replace the voice coils with Titanium.. but after what both you and Erik have shared .. I think I’m probably better off looking for new speakers if / when the time comes to invest in new equipment.  I inherited the kg2’s from my Dad along with a Denon DRA-25 Receiver.+ Denon CD player.  So far I’ve had them both recapped and the solder refreshed.  This made a big improvement in SQ.  My main source for music is a Bluesound Node 2i streaming from TIDAL through Roon.  Otherwise, I’ve not changed anything else except new speaker cables from Blue Jeans Cables.  I’ve tried some Audioquest RCA cables connecting the Node 2i to my receiver and also a set of Shunyata Venom RCA’s.  But am now using the stock cables that came with the Node 2i because the AQ & Shunyata didn’t sound any better to my ears.  I’ve considered adding a LPS to the Node 2i.  But that’s something I’ve never tried before and from what I’ve read - my set up is a “mid-fi” stereo.  And been told that in order to make any worthwhile upgrades in SQ I should just start over.  Anyway, thanks again for your feedback.  I appreciate it.