I have been out of the loop for about a decade as that is when I built my last set of speakers. I'm remodeling my theater and it is time for some new gear! I typically like the sound of dipole or sealed subs so I'm not really interested in a ported design. IB is not an option but a very very large box(s) is.
If I go sealed, the sub will live in the adjoining basement and connect to the side of my theater room. Lets start with a sealed discussion first as that is my most likely path.
1) Driver cost is not an object within reason (not paying $15,000 for some crazy gold plated driver haha)
2) Looks are not important as the sub will not be visible
3) I'm fine with one large driver or multiple drivers, whichever performs better
4) If I need lots of power I'll make that happen
4) Low distortion is very important. I find that if a sub distorts then it becomes localized.
5) Crossover will be ~50hz 24db/octave
6) Room size is 8.5' ceiling, 18' wide, 14' deep but opens up directly to another room behind the listening position
7) I do not need to reproduce 10hz or anything like that. But a very solid 16-20hz would be great.
8) I would rather over do it than under do it. I don't have time to do this very often and like to build something high quality that will last.
Thoughts? I have found the XXX V2 drivers but have not yet found much about them.
#1- TC sounds LMS-Ultra
Since it's now unobtainium, at least for the time being...
The UXL 18 and stereo integrity HST 18 are tied for first in the 18" range. Then there's the Dayton Ultimax 18 and stereo integrity HT18 rounding off the group.
Going 21" + there is the FTW 21 or stereo integrity 24".
I don't think you'd be disappointed with any of those drivers. There are some other great drivers by Fi and Re but they aren't as popular in the DIY community.
-a very very large box(s) is an option
-Crossover will be ~50hz 24db/octave
-I do not need to reproduce 10hz or anything like that. But a very solid 16-20hz would be great.
-Room size is 8.5' ceiling, 18' wide, 14' deep but opens up directly to another room behind the listening position
-I would rather over do it than under do it.
Thoughts?
That is just screaming "build two UXL's in two GHorns".
Between 13 to 50hz, the GHorn beats pretty much very other box design that has ever been built, tested and verified, thus far... http://www.data-bass.com/systems
not sure if the difference can actually be heard between well designed ported and sealed, but...
not sure if the distortion in the frequency range you need can be heard, but...
most importantly, not sure if you have seen this: http://www.data-bass.com/systems
Are the T/S specs on the site I listed correct? Using those specs it is at a disadvantage to the UXL in the sub 20hz bass by 2db. That's with both in a 4ft3 box with 2000 watts. In those boxes the Qtc of the UXL is .5 something and the zv4 is up around .75. Even in Ricci's testing the UXL has more low end output and then again a little more on the top end. I must be missing something because the zv4 doesn't appear to be better than the UXL at all and its twice the price.
If you look at Ricci's real test data(not theoretical modeling), and look at the maximum long term output, the HST-18 has a pretty solid advantage in the low bass over the UXL, and actually has a lot of excursion left if distortion is ignored. So it will have more output well within its excursion capabilities...the UXL is hitting its absolute limits near these levels.
I was asking about these drivers a while back and someone summed it up pretty nice to me...when you look at those two drivers hitting 108ish dB at 20 Hz...the UXL is at its mechanical limits...the ZV4/HST-18 is coasting with plenty of excursion left. If they are both being pushed to say...102 dB at 16 Hz, the UXL is going to be bottoming out and making noises if pushed any harder...the HST-18 can be pushed a few more dB(50% more) without bottoming.
Again, I think they are close, and I like the higher efficiency that the UXL seems to have on the top end, since not everyone has tens of thousands of watts. As far as price....the HST-18 is $540 shipped. I doubt the UXL-18 is much cheaper outside of the group buy. Availability is also terrible if you want it in a reasonable time frame.
Here are the charts comparing ZV4 to the UXL, LMS Ultra, and HST. They are all just about the same except for the Ultra has a slightly different response. I would take any of these drivers listed. The red line is the GHorn. Charts a credited to Data-Bass.com.
The red line at 10Hz & 12.5Hz belongs to the XXX ported...
The next two points go to the G-Horn...
The next seven points go to the O-Horn 5100...
The last point is a tie between the O-Horn & twin B&C 21" sealed...
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