Single driver speakers - opinions

Mrjsark. I have used small BLHs from Johnk and the later upgraded to a Madison (double mouthed BLH) from Carder sound. I’ll never ever go back to a multi-driver speaker again.

I use low(ish) powered SET/SEP amplifiers, and the benign impedance curve that a single driver presents allows my amplifiers to work at their very best. The sound is totally effortless and dynamic; I really get the feeling that the amplifiers are idling even at high volume levels.

The dynamic quality and speed of a single driver is so addictive that a multi-driver speaker simply puts me to sleep.

Sound staging is out of this world. The double mouthed horn of the Cardersound throws a huge soundstage, not unlike what I experience at the opera, yet it can be very intimate and gentle as a recital.

I see a few post that make stereotypical (excuse the pun) criticism of single driver speakers, but they are all pure ignorance. I think if anything, it’s a matter of taste. We simply don’t all appreciate or like the same things.

I think your comment, “awesome speakers when done right” is spot on.

Regards
Paul

Have to agree with JohnK on this one. I have both Fostex 126E and 206E speakers, and there is no way the 126E gives a better soundstage – granted in my case the 206E is in a much more expensive cabinet but the 206E provides better delicacy, detail, soundstage, bass etc. The 126E is simply outclassed.

John, what is your opinion of Lowther drivers? I am sort of toying with the idea of trying an 8" Lowther (EX4), mostly due to its higher sensitivity and that I can obtain then with a nominal impedance of 15ohm.

Thanks
Paul

TBone, the curve also seem to indicate a 10db drop from 90Hz to 50Hz, but in reality my Madisons are very strong in the bottom. I can easily compare them with my HT speakers which are Meadowlark Shearwaters which are rated -3db at 34Hz.

Obviously my ears aren’t SPL meters, so it may be that the attenuation at the bass, and the dips you refer to, are present and I am not hearing them. To my ears the Madison are some of the very best speakers I have heard bar none.

But then I am biased as I own a pair :-).

Regards
Paul

T_Bone, the bass compares favorably with that of my Meadowlarks. The Madisons need no bass reinforcement as mine are 6’-7’ from the walls.

Soundwise, the Meadowlarks now put me to sleep. They sound so terribly slow compared to the Madisons that I had to relegate them to HT duty. (And I really did like them a whole lot before)

As I mention, I cannot hear any dips, but I suspect we are not sensitive to dips in sounds as we are to peaks. My room is heavily treated so this could possibly give me a flatter curve than the one posted. It’s difficult to say - I go by ear alone and don’t let measurements drive what I like or not.

Regards
Paul