HiFiCompass

Measurements and compare

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About the measurements
The present measurements are performed using MLS (Maximum Length Sequence) technology that allowed to perform the speaker driver measurements from 125Hz up to higher frequencies without a parasitic influence of reflected signals with no need of using an acoustic anechoic chamber. With the aim of getting the maximum reliable and high resolution measurements, especially when measuring harmonic distortion, we use metrologically tested professional equipment of Brüel & Kjær (Denmark) and RFT (Germany) companies. The applying of the acoustic pressure calibrator is allowed to measure the absolute sensitivity of speaker drivers.

Because a considerable part of measurements had being performed during many years and were not determined yet the final approach to their format and content some types and modes are absent in the early measurements.

Measurement setup specification

Test baffle size – 1650x850 mm
Measuring equipment:
- measuring microphone Brüel & Kjær 4133
- microphone preamplifier Brüel & Kjær 2639
- preamplifier power supply Brüel & Kjær 2804
- sound card EMU-0202USB
- DSP Xilica  XM2040
- low THD power amplifier

About compare feature

On the website is realized mechanism that allow to compare visually all of parameters and characteristics of two or three drivers. Compare feature is available for registered users only. Choose the drivers of interest and press “Compare” button in the compare block (this block is located in the right side bar on desktop monitors or under the speaker drivers table on tablet and smartphone displays). After that the compare page will be open and atop of page there will be the speaker drivers tabs. Choose one or another tab and you will see the page of chosen driver parameters and characteristics. You can choose the measurement mode of interest by pressing one of buttons above diagram. These modes will be saved after switching to other tab. All measurements are given at different test voltages for a user be able to choose measurement modes that close by the sound pressure for more correct compare. You can delete any driver from compare block by pressing red X next to the driver model name.

Types and purpose of the measurements

Technical data – the speaker driver parameters from manufacturer official datasheets are listed here

Axial magnitude frequency response – absolute magnitude frequency response on the main acoustic driver axis measured at different test voltages. The measurements are performed  at 315 mm distance from the baffle and the results are recalculated to 1000 mm distance.  Measuring at 315 mm distance allow  to reduce parasitic diffraction effects from the test baffle ends, to increase direct signal to reflected signal ratio and to increase “anechoic measurement window” width. It can be considered that reliable frequency response is displayed  from  200Hz and higher up. Under 200Hz frequency response falling is started due non-endless test baffle size and acoustic short circuit between sound wave radiation from front and back sides of a driver membrane.  Because the same reason it can be viewed a small hump, up to 1,5-2dB, in the 140-280Hz range for majority woofer and midwoofer drivers. This hump is due in-phase summing front and back waves. This effect should be taken in consideration during the data analysis. The smoothing 1/12 oct is used for all measurements if there is no other stated like “no_smoothing” words.

Off axis magnitude response – the family off-axis frequency responses  measured at different angles at tested voltage 2,83V at 315mm distance  from intersection point  between the  main acoustic axis and test baffle plain.

Near field FR response (20 mm) normalized to 200 Hz – relative magnitude frequency response measured at tested voltage 2,83V at distance 20 mm from membrane and normalized to sound pressure level at 200 Hz. This kind of measurement allow  o analyze speaker driver frequency response in the piston range and detect the problem regions outside the piston range that are caused by the membrane and surround parasitic resonances. In the case of absence any defects the driver frequency response in the piston range is defined by the Qts parameter only and the normalized frequency level at the main resonance frequency Fs is approximately equals 20*log10(Qts). The parasitic and reflected signals level is so low that we can suppose the measurements is performed in the free field. Moreover, the meaning of this response is the correction that should be added to the frequency response meaning at 200 Hz from Axial magnitude frequency response at the same test voltage level to get the wanted sound pressure level at the frequency up to 200 Hz. For example, you know the Axial magnitude frequency response is reliable down to 200 Hz but you need to know what the sound pressure speaker driver  develops at 40 Hz at 5,6V voltage level. For this purpose you should choose 5,6V test voltage mode in the Axial magnitude frequency response, then to determine sound pressure level at 200 Hz and to add to it the value in dB at 40 Hz frequency from the diagram Near field FR response (20 mm) normalized to 200 Hz.

For the Accuton S280-6-282 driver the sound pressure level at voltage 5,6V at 200 Hz is 98 dB. The correction at 40 Hz is approximately 6,5 dB. So, the sound pressure level at 40 Hz equal =98dB+(-6,5dB)=91,5dB.

HD frequency response (315 mm distance) – harmonic distortion frequency response measured at different test voltages at the distance 315 mm and having 1/12 oct smoothing. We recommend use this kind of measurement from 150 Hz and higher up because decreasing of the useful signal level and increasing the measurement error.

HD frequency response (20  mm distance) – harmonic distortion frequency response measured at different test voltages at the distance 20 mm and having 1/12 oct smoothing. This kind of measurement gives a good precision at harmonic distortion measurement of woofers and midwoofers in frequency range up to 300 Hz.

Near field HD spectrum (20 mm distance) – the alternative method of measurement and displaying of harmonic distortion in the frequency range up to 300 Hz. The measurement distance is 20 mm, the smoothing is off. The measurement is performed at different test voltage levels and discrete frequencies. The main advantages of tis method are high signal to noise ratio and the displaying of more harmonic distortion components quantity. This kind of measurement gives a very good precision at harmonic distortion measurement of woofers and midwoofers in frequency range up to 300 Hz.

Impedance frequency response – frequency dependence of speaker driver impedance module. It is performed at some mA current level and is displayed in different scales for the purpose of more detail analysis of the problematic regions.

How to use the speaker driver models table?
You can use a sorting by the each column except the model name column. Just click on the column header and the data in the table will be sorted. On the next such click on the same header the data will be sorted in the opposite order.  Choose the speaker driver model of interest and click his name – you will go on this driver measurements page. You can add or delete this driver to the compare block if you click the red or blue cross symbol in the end of the string respectively.

To avoid incorrect  website functionality we strongly recommend to back return from a speaker driver measurement page and a compare page by means of buttons “Back to table” instead of the web browser  “Back” button. 

Brand Model Typesort descending Material Size, inch S, dB Zn, Ohm Fs, Hz Qts Vas, L
FaitalPro 15FH500 LF Paper 15.0" 98.0 8 35 0.31 199.2
Usher 8948A LF Paper 6.0" 88.0 8 31 0.27 43.7
SBacoustics SB12CACS25-4 LF Metal 4.0" 88.0 4 51 0.31 5.7
Satori MW13TX-8 LF Carbon fibers 5.0" 87.0 8 40 0.32 14.8
Ciare CW169 LF Paper 6.0" 93.0 4 46 0.32 21.2
Scan-Speak 18WU/8741T00 LF Paper 6.5" 85.5 8 35 0.39 37.1
Focal Utopia 6W2Be LF Sandwich 6.5" 91.5 4 64 0.75 9.2
SBacoustics SB34NRXL75-8 LF Paper 12.0" 91.0 8 22 0.28 205.0
Visaton AL200 LF Metal 8.0" 88.0 8 32 0.35 77.0
Ciare HWB200 LF Paper 8.0" 90.0 8 32 0.39 59.0
Wavecor WF120BD03 LF Paper 4.0" 88.5 4 70 0.37 4.3
Zaph Audio ZA14W08 LF Metal 5.0" 87.0 8 65 0.44 5.2
Eminence Deltalite-II-2512 LF Paper 12.0" 99.9 8 44 0.41 135.0
Scan-Speak 32W/4878T01 LF Paper 12.0" 92.0 4 23 0.28 170.0
Scan-Speak 18WE/4542T00 LF Paper 6.0" 92.5 4 46 0.25 17.2
Scan-Speak 21W/8555-10 LF Paper 8.0" 87.0 8 20 0.31 134.0
SBacoustics SB17CRC35-4 LF Sandwich 6.0" 90.0 4 32 0.32 35.5
Eton 11-612/C8/50RP LF Paper 10.0" 91.0 8 23 0.29 152.0
SBacoustics SB17NRXC35-4 LF Paper 6.0" 92.0 4 35 0.32 35.2
Scan-Speak 15W/8530K00 LF Paper 5.5" 85.5 8 30 0.27 27.4
Scan-Speak 26W/8861T00 LF Paper 10.0" 88.5 8 19 0.31 231.0
Seas W15CY001 (E0015) LF Metal 5.0" 85.5 8 38 0.36 14.0
Purifi PTT4.0W04-01A (now PTT4.0X04-NFA-01) LF Paper 4.0" 84.3 4 45 0.37 4.6
Satori WO24P-4 LF Paper 9.0" 91.0 4 28 0.40 71.0
Seas CA26RFX (H1305-08) LF Paper 10.0" 90.5 8 29 0.34 129.0
SBacoustics SB20PFC30-4 LF Paper 8.0" 92.5 4 34 0.33 66.2
Scan-Speak 18W/8542-00 LF Paper 6.0" 89.0 8 30 0.23 47.9
Eton 12-680/62Hex-KEG LF Sandwich 12.0" 91.0 8 23 0.29 173.0
SBacoustics SB17CRC35-8 LF Sandwich 6.0" 87.0 8 28 0.34 48.0
Scan-Speak 12W/4524G00 LF GlassFiber 4.0" 89.0 4 50 0.27 8.2
Usher 8945P LF Paper 6.0" 86.0 8 34 0.34 37.0
SBacoustics SB20PFC30-8 LF Paper 8.0" 90.5 8 34 0.37 66.2
SBacoustics SB15NRXC30-8 LF Paper 5.0" 88.0 8 38 0.33 20.7
SBacoustics SB42FHC75-6 LF Sandwich 15.0" 93.0 6 23 0.37 318.0
SBacoustics SB23MFCL45-8 LF Plastic 8.0" 85.0 8 29 0.43 37.0
Sony Sony SS-A5 woofer LF Paper 8.0" 91.0 6 49 0.00 0.0
Accuton AS168-9-470 LF Sandwich 7.0" 84.0 9 27 0.35 35.5
Vifa NE149W-04 LF Paper 5.0" 89.2 4 70 0.42 4.6
Scan-Speak 16W/4434G00 LF Plastic 6.0" 90.5 4 55 0.48 17.9
Sonus Faber WOF283001 LF Paper 5.0" 86.0 8 69 0.53 0.0
SBacoustics SB12NRXF25-4 LF Paper 4.0" 87.0 4 61 0.48 4.1
Scan-Speak 26W/4534G00 LF Metal 10.0" 90.5 4 23 0.36 156.0
Celestion T5687A LF Paper 5.0" 89.2 8 104 0.46 4.3
Accuton S280-6-283N LF Sandwich 11.0" 93.0 6 20 0.18 227.0
Seas CA15RLY (H1216) LF Paper 5.0" 87.5 8 44 0.34 14.0
Scan-Speak 16W/4531G06 LF Paper 6.0" 88.0 4 51 0.59 12.6
Satori MW16TX-4 LF Carbon fibers 6.5" 90.5 4 29 0.27 48.0
Wavecor WF182BD03 LF Paper 7.0" 91.0 4 34 0.25 32.4
SBacoustics SB23NACS45-8 LF Metal 8.0" 87.5 8 25 0.37 94.0
Accuton C220-6-221 LF Ceramic 8.0" 90.0 6 28 0.37 79.0
Dayton Audio RS180-4 LF Metal 6.0" 89.2 4 38 0.46 21.2
Seas W15LY001 (E0041) LF Paper 5.0" 86.5 8 49 0.45 12.0
Scan-Speak 32W/8878T11 LF Paper 12.0" 92.0 8 21 0.26 235.0
Satori MW19TX-4 LF Carbon fibers 7.5" 93.0 4 32 0.27 53.2
Vifa NE180W-04 LF Paper 6.0" 89.8 4 39 0.29 22.5
Satori MW16P-8 LF Paper 6.0" 87.5 8 29 0.33 48.0
Accuton S280-6-282 LF Sandwich 11.0" 93.0 6 20 0.26 226.0
SBacoustics SB17MFC35-4 LF Plastic 6.0" 90.0 4 30 0.28 45.0
Silver Flute W14RC25-04 LF Paper 5.0" 90.0 4 43 0.28 19.0
Seas W12CY003 (E0044) LF Paper 4.0" 85.5 8 60 0.36 4.0
AudioTechnology 18H521706SD-4 LF Plastic 6.0" 88.5 4 35 0.28 36.0
Seas W12CY006 (E0091-08) LF Paper 4.0" 85.0 8 72 0.40 3.0
Satori MW16TX-8 LF Carbon fibers 6.0" 87.5 8 29 0.33 48.0
SBacoustics SB17NBAC35-8 LF Metal 6.0" 86.5 8 32 0.35 45.0
Seas CA22RNY (H1471) LF Paper 8.0" 91.0 8 34 0.30 82.0
Accuton AS190-9-251 LF Sandwich 8.0" 84.0 9 33 0.44 26.7
Scan-Speak 18W/8531G00 LF Paper 6.5" 87.0 8 28 0.36 58.2
Purifi PTT6.5W08-01B LF Paper 6.0" 86.9 8 31 0.30 26.4
Satori MW19P-8 LF Paper 7.0" 89.0 8 30 0.29 61.0
Dayton Audio RS125-4 LF Metal 5.0" 89.9 4 57 0.37 5.3
Peerless 830875 LF Paper 6.0" 88.6 8 46 0.36 21.8
Accuton C173-6-096 LF Ceramic 6.0" 94.0 6 39 0.17 28.0
Morel SCW636 LF Sandwich 6.0" 87.0 6 40 0.29 18.5
Scan-Speak 22W/4851T00 LF Paper 8.0" 89.0 4 21 0.22 126.0
SBacoustics SB29SWNRX-S75-6 LF Paper 10.0" 86.0 6 20 0.31 66.0
Sony Sony APM-33 woofer LF Sandwich 10.0" 89.0 6 22 0.23 0.0
Purifi PTT6.5X04-NAA-08A LF Metal 6.0" 86.8 4 32 0.35 20.5
Accuton C158-8-085 LF Ceramic 6.0" 89.0 8 33 0.31 35.0
Peerless 830869 LF Paper 8.0" 89.6 8 30 0.31 87.4
Satori MW16P-4 LF Paper 6.0" 90.5 4 28 0.27 50.2
Scan-Speak 18W/8545-01 LF Paper 6.5" 88.0 8 25 0.20 68.6
Seas W18NX003 (E0096-08) LF Paper 6.0" 87.6 8 35 0.34 31.0
SBacoustics SB17NRX2C35-4 LF Paper 6.0" 90.0 4 36 0.37 27.6
Richard Allan CG12 Super 8 blue LF Paper 12.0" 94.0 8 29 0.17 0.0
SBacoustics SB15MFC30-4 LF Plastic 5.0" 90.0 4 36 0.28 19.4
Satori WO24P-8 LF Paper 9.0" 88.0 8 25 0.38 87.5
Usher 8955A LF Paper 8.0" 88.0 8 26 0.32 81.0
Dayton Audio RS225P-8A LF Paper 8.0" 89.1 8 32 0.34 68.8
SBacoustics SB23NRXS45-8 LF Paper 8.0" 88.5 8 27 0.38 94.0
Seas A26RE4 (H1411) LF Paper 10.0" 89.0 8 25 0.41 161.0
Dynaudio MW162 LF Plastic 6.0" 88.0 4 55 0.45 9.8
Richard Allan CG12 Super 8 red LF Paper 12.0" 92.0 8 32 0.23 0.0
SBacoustics SB15NBAC30-4 LF Metal 5.0" 88.0 4 33 0.29 21.0
Seas W22EX001 (E0022) LF Metal 8.0" 88.0 8 25 0.34 98.0
Satori MW19P-4 LF Paper 7.0" 91.5 4 32 0.28 48.0
Scan-Speak 18WE/8542T00 LF Paper 6.0" 89.0 8 50 0.32 16.0
Purifi PTT8.0X04-NAB-02 LF Metal 8.0" 89.3 4 26 0.36 70.4
Lambda Acoustics TD15X-Apollo LF Paper 15.0" 94.8 8 23 0.28 467.0
Seas L18RNX/P (H1224) LF Metal 6.0" 88.0 8 36 0.31 30.0
Purifi PTT6.5W04-01A LF Paper 6.0" 88.2 4 30 0.32 27.2

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Poll

Your favorite power amp type

Class-D
44% (891 votes)
Tube SE
13% (255 votes)
BJT based push-pull
12% (247 votes)
FET based push-pull
11% (226 votes)
Tube push-pull
8% (162 votes)
Hybrid (tube+solid state)
6% (126 votes)
FET based SE
6% (125 votes)
Total votes: 2032

 

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