Subwoofer driver comparison

This page initially presented details of Jaycar drivers used in projects built by the author.

Over time, the Jaycar drivers have disappeared and new drivers from the USA have started arriving.
This page now aims to be a central resource for Australian subwoofer builders to access local information on drivers.

Each driver page linked to from the tables will contain some or all of the following information

• Recent price, along with the date the price was obtained
• Link to supplier(s)
• T/S parameters
• WinISD driver parameter file
• Manufacturers recommended designs
• My suggested designs for HT use
• WinISD project files for each design analysed

You can find a good description of T/S parameters in this thread at AVSForum

Conversions and Estimations

Some parameters may need to be converted to a standard format to allow comparison and modelling. These include:

• Converting Voltage sensitivity to Power sensitivity
  Most published sensitivities are in dB/watt@1m, but some manufacturers (such as Peerless and Mach5) use dB/2.83V into 8ohms@1m which, for resistances less than 8ohms, gives a higher number. This incorrectly suggests that their driver is more efficient
• Converting between the various connection possibilities for DVC drivers
• Estimating Cone Area when Sd information is missing
• Calculating Efficiency Bandwidth Product as a guide to Ported / Sealed operation

The rules used are detailed here
The designs presented allow excursion out to Xmax + 10%

Maximum potential output of a driver

When it comes to power, each doubling of power represents an additional 3dB
By combining the sensitivity of a driver in dB/watt with the maximum power it can handle, we can get an idea of the thermally limited maximum output available.
The following table shows how many dB need to be added to a driver's sensitivity figure to get the maximum output.

Pmax in Watts	dB to add
1	0
2	3
4	6
8	9
16	12
32	15
64	18
128	21
256	24
512	27
1024	30
2048	33

To get the exact figure for a Pmax not shown in the table, you need to multiply 3 by the log of Pmax to base 2
Here is a simple Javascript calculator so you can work out yours (to the nearest dB)

Maximum potential output of driver

Maximum Power in Watts     Sensitivity dB/W@1m

Press Calculate to display result

Naturally, enclosure design and excursion limits, massively effect the final output and frequency range, but at least this gives a means to compare drivers at a glance. Each of the drivers shown on this page has this figure shown on the RHS of its table, listed as SPLmax

QB5 Alignment

Some of these drivers have a fairly low excursion. Whilst not discussed here, a QB5 alignment may extract better performance than I'm showing. This alignment uses a high Q, high pass filter that is tuned in such a fashion as to load up the driver just when over-excursion threatens. When time permits, I would like to do some designs based on this principle. Meanwhile, those who are interested in this route should have a look at this paper presented by Robert White and Rod Elliot

Jaycar drivers

Jaycar was once a source of cheap drivers, with several being quite good performers.
Unfortunately, most of them are no longer stocked, so the details presented here are more for reference on some of the completed projects

Driver	Part no.	Notes	SPLmax
10 inch Metal Coated Cone	CS-2366	240w-104 dB	114
12 inch Double Magnet	CS-2228	240w-105dB	112
12 inch Carbon Fibre Cone	CS-2246	80w-106dB or 350w-117dB(dual)	116
10 inch Precision Response Carbon Fibre	CS-2278	240w-108dB - large box (180 litre)	111
12 inch Precision Response Carbon Fibre	CS-2279	240w-107dB - huge box (550litre)	113
10 inch Response Titanium Finish	CS-2274	80w-105dB or 350w-113dB(dual) ...nla	109
10 inch Venom	CS-2342	150w- not flat response ...nla	112
15 inch Venom	CS-2345	180w-110dB - huge box or IB ...nla	112

 

Peerless drivers

A more stable source of drivers in Australia is the range of Peerless drivers from Essential Audio or Melbourne supplier Speakerbits
Some T/S specs are from the website of Australian wholesaler WES components

Driver	Part no.	Notes	SPLmax
XLS - 10 inch 8 ohm	830452	350w / 107dB	109
XLS - 12 inch 8 ohm	830500	T/S + WinISD file	112
XLS - 10 inch 4 ohm	830514	T/S only	110
XLS - 12 inch 4 + 4 ohm DVC	830515	T/S only	112
XLS - 10 inch 4 + 4 ohm DVC	830563	T/S only	112
XLS - 12 inch 4 + 4 ohm DVC	830564	T/S only	113
XXLS - 10 inch 4 ohm	830842	T/S only	109
XXLS - 10 inch 8 ohm	830843	T/S only	112
XXLS - 12 inch 4 ohm	830844	T/S only	112
XXLS - 12 inch 8 ohm	830845	T/S only	112
XXLS - 10 inch 8 + 8 ohm DVC	830846	T/S + WinISD file	111
XXLS - 12 inch 8 + 8 ohm DVC	830847	350w / 112dB	112
XXLS - 12 inch 4 ohm	830952	T/S only	111
XXLS - 12 inch Passive Radiator	830548	T/S	-
XXLS - 12 inch 4 ohm	830877	T/S only	111
XXLS - 10 inch Passive Radiator	831481	T/S	-

 

Exodus Audio drivers

Audiomarketplace is the sole distributor of Exodus Audio products throughout Australia and New Zealand These drivers use Adire audio's XBL^2 technology. An overview of XBL^2 can be found in this Adire Audio Paper

Driver	Part no.	Notes	SPLmax
12 inch DVC 8+8 ohm	Shiva-X2	T/S only	112
15 inch DVC 8+8 ohm	Tempest-X (superceded)	Infinite Baffle designs	115
15 inch 2+2 ohm	Tempest-X2	T/S only	118
18 inch 8+8 ohm	Maelstrom-X18	T/S only	119
21 inch 2+2 ohm	Maelstrom-X21	T/S only	121

The Tempest-X driver offers a way forward for Aussie IB builders frustrated by the discontinuation of Jaycar's 15inch Venoms.
Kevin Haskins from Exodus Audio, talks to AVSForum about exploring some of the design options for the 18 incher

Mach5 Audio

Affordable Drivers is the Australian distributor for Mach5 Audio drivers. They're now shipping drivers and flared ports. Given the popularity of these drivers in the US, we can hope for great things from this new arrival.

Driver	Part no.	Notes	SPLmax
18 inch 2 + 2 ohm DVC	IXL-18	Link to bandpass design	118
12 inch 2 + 2 ohm DVC	IXL-12.4	T/S + WinISD file	114
10 inch 2 + 2 ohm DVC	IXL-10.4	T/S + WinISD file	111
18 inch 4 ohm SVC	MJ-18	T/S + WinISD file	119
15 inch 2 + 2 ohm DVC competition	SPL-15	T/S + WinISD file	126

Thanks go to Sonnie and Mike at The Home Theater Shack for WinISD files for the Exodus Audio and Mach5 Audio drivers

Importing Drivers

Drivers can of course, be imported, but you need to weigh up the costs. For example, here's what it cost Nordo (in $AUD) to import four IB-15's from the States in June 2008

Four IB15 4 @ $100us	$444.40
Shipping to Australia (Brisbane)	$364.25
Brisbane Airport Fees	$139.40
CMR Fee	$20.00
Admin Fee	$15.00
Customs Clearance	$105.00
Appraisal Fee	$54.20
Delivery to nearby town	$84.38
Total	$1226.63

 

There's a discussion thread with a bit more info on Customs and Shipping costs into Australia at diyaudio.com