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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

Showing 2 responses by larryi

larryi
3,715 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).
larryi
3,715 posts
 
I also find high frequencies to be tricky with full range drivers.  It is not just the case that the top end is limited, so one does not get that bit of sparkle on top and the sense of natural note decay, that lack of top end makes the upper midrange sound ragged and peaky.  Put a tweeter on top and the sound smooths out appreciably. 

I've heard 12" and 13" full range drivers in open baffle cabinets and they have decent fullness and midbass, though lacking in deep bass, and what they need is a tweeter on top more so than a woofer below.

In back loaded horn systems with a full range driver, I often think that a tweeter might help to add a little bit of sparkle on top (not needed as much to smooth the frequency response).  
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