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Opinions on Full-Range/single driver speakers

I am considering a DIY project to build a pair of single driver speakers. My current idea is to put Jordan JX9s into Transmission line cabinets. I am a competent woodworker and there are lots of plans on the internet.

I do really value the opinions of you audiogon members out there with lots of listening experience so I am curious what your opinions are on single driver speakers. If you can also comment on wide-baffle versus narrow baffle designs, that would be helpful.

My front end is a Monarchy tube DAC 25 with Matsushista tubes and DIP Classic, coupled to an AYRE DX7E, all interconnects and cables are DIY magnet wire. I am currently using Green Mountain Europa's and a modified Paradigm subwoofer.

After enjoying GMA's and experiencing time/phase coherent sound, I started looking at other options for coherent systems. It seems the simplest design is a good full range driver (no whiffle cone) in a TL or QWL cabinet.

So your opinions are appreciated. I would prefer if you did not advise me to purchase your favorite speaker as that is not the type of information I am seeking.

Thanks in advance for your time!

Drew.
drewh1
audiokinesis
2,714 posts
 
"So your opinions are appreciated."

"I would prefer if you did not advise me to purchase your favorite speaker as that is not the type of information I am seeking."

So you want my opinion, but don't want to know what my favorite fullrange drivers are?

Duke
dealer/manufacturer/nope I don't sell any fullrange speakers
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
The driver must be a Tannoy. No one does signle driver better. My first speaker was a 15" single driver Tannoy, don't remember the model number but do remeber the sound which was great. Cabinet was front ported. Tannoy has come a long way from the early sixties when I had mine. Tannoy has limited distribution in the USA but I sugggest you seek out the line and find the driver. It is quite easy to order the part in the UK and save a ton of money. Final point on single driver. A few year ago I got to know one of the sound mastering engr. that does sony work in NYC. I visited his house and was surprised to find his home speaker was a single driver Radio Shack unit in a cabinet he designed and built himself. Sound was fantastic.
drewh1 OP
115 posts
 
I should have clarified when I said I don't want opinions, what I was hoping to avoid were things like - buy the magnepans, get the B&W 803's, etc.

I would like to hear opinions on drivers and especially comparisons with other systems and solutions.

didn't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers!
bpwalsh
1,195 posts
 
Buconero, Tannoys have concentric drivers (tweeter in the throat, etc.) but not single drivers. I think they share some advantages of single drivers but not all.
audiokinesis
2,714 posts
 
Thanks for clarifying; I mis-took the phrase "that is not the type of information I am seeking" to be referring to our favorite speakers.

My favorite fullrange driver is the 8" Supravox field-coil unit. One feature is that you can fine-tune the magnet strength to your specific application (lower voltage to the electromagnet = lower efficiency, more bass, and less highs; and vice versa). Some of the best if not the best imaging I've ever heard was from a pair of these speakers in the factory recommended folded reverse-taper line, and they weren't a one-trick pony either; timbre was beautiful and coherence predictably superb.

Now I have not heard the new Seas alnico-magnet fullrange drivers, but a manufacturer I respect a great deal, John Kalinowski, is very impressed with it.

I worked with the Jordans you're contemplating but in the end concluded I was more likely to get the results I wanted from a two-way system.

Wide-baffle vs narrow baffle is a tradeoff of disappearing act vs tonal balance. I lean towards wide-baffle speakers, but my priorities may be different from yours.

Duke
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