On 18 Nov 2006 15:38:33 -0800, "Andy Evans"
wrote:

For years I've been using a single driver now (Monacor 130AL, aluminium
cone like a Jordan). Of course it's not perfect - bass is only just
there and treble could be better. That's the deal. But nevertheless I
add ribbon tweeters (Decca) and take them away. Yes, the ribbon sounds
better but the crossover doesn't.


Not entirely sure what you are saying here - do you meant he sound is
not good around the crossover region? You do understand that this
isn't going to work simply by bolting a tweeter alongside a single
full-range driver; you need to get a proper bass unit that isn't
trying to operate up in the treble region.

You should also know that the full-range driver is in fact a myth.
They are all dual cone devices with some sort of mechanical crossover
built into the junction of the cones. Obviously they can't be designed
and configured anything like as cleanly as one implemented with and L
and a C.

So, what do you guys feel rocks your boat? Are you in the camp of full
frequency response or that of total integrity (or whatever words you
feel describes a single driver)?


I do have a system that provides full frequency response with the
integrity of a single driver - my Stax electrostatic headphones.

As a reference, the best speakers I know are panels like Magneplanar or
even better Apogee - yes they have crossovers but the sound remains the
same top to bottom in terms of delicacy, so you have the "feel" of a
single driver.

That is because they (the panels) have been designed and developed to
be that way. They probably had a very disjointed sound in the first
model they built; it would have taken many iterations to refine the
design to the point where it all joined up nicely.

d

--
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com