New Seas L16s

[Jed]

Madisound has the new Seas L16 in stock that give new tuning options for the Lineup MaxxL16 tower and CC. If anyone is interested in this you can post here. At some point I'll investigate to see if any crossover changes are needed. The only problem is these woofers are getting more and more expensive. That's why I'm looking into a custom built 5.5" woofer that will have a paper/bambo cone, 6mm xmax, vented voice coil, copper in the motor, and cost of less than $40. That won't be happening for a couple months but in the mean time these new L16s look pretty good for 8-10L boxes.

Jed

[Hdale85]

Custom drivers? Who's building?

[augerpro]

Tell us more Jed...

[norcad]

First I thought that it isnt the drivers who are getting more expensive, but the USD isnt worth that much for the time beeing.

Then I checked Madisound, and I must say you dont have any reason to complain!

Seas is made in Norway, I live in Norway. As an example; CA15RLY costs 66USD at Madisound, here in Norway the same driver costs 636.-NOK......
Thats 122USD !

The true story is this: Seas make them in Norway and send them to US. I can by them at Madisound and have them shipped back to Norway, and still I save a "lot" of money!? 8O

It do make sense, doesnt it!

[Jed]

Custom drivers? Who's building?

I can't give away all my secrets can I? 8)

Basically I got tired of looking for a driver to replace the W5 876SD that have a cast frame, low distortion motor, plenty of Xmax, and will work in a ported 7-10 L with a price in the Dayton range of drivers. So, I found a company that will build it for me overseas. Only thing is I have to buy a bunch of them as OEM samples. So, when they come in (end of August or September) I'll probably do a group buy of some sort to recoup the costs of importing them. Once I have some concrete numbers about my custom driver I'll probably post the info on my website.

My plan is to make another Lineup Maxx because I love that speaker and I think a lot of people would benefit from a having another option. I just sold a pair to my friend and he is finishing up the veneer work this week. I'll miss those speakers but it is time to make them even better- and if I can do it with a driver comparable to the L16s at half the cost even better.

[Jed]

First I thought that it isnt the drivers who are getting more expensive, but the USD isnt worth that much for the time beeing.

Then I checked Madisound, and I must say you dont have any reason to complain!

Seas is made in Norway, I live in Norway. As an example; CA15RLY costs 66USD at Madisound, here in Norway the same driver costs 636.-NOK......
Thats 122USD !

The true story is this: Seas make them in Norway and send them to US. I can by them at Madisound and have them shipped back to Norway, and still I save a "lot" of money!? 8O

It do make sense, doesnt it!

From what I understand everything is expensive in Norway?

[Johnloudb]

If you're redesigning the Max, you might be interested in this new full range W4. Tang Band seems to be bringing a lot of new drivers out lately. Don't know about distortion but it supposed to have very good off axis response. And, it's flat!

You could make a line source Max too (MMMMWWWW) .... well I may do that some day.

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=264-879

Edit: I guess for those that want to upgrade their Max, different mids would be a bad idea.

[Hdale85]

I may have to get in on that group buy if they turn out real nice! Are you going to get like a sample first so you can make sure its up to standards? If we can get a 5.5" woofer that will play real low and as clean as the L16 I'd be all over it

[Hdale85]

I was wondering also why you decided bamboo? Why not carbon fiber or aluminum or something? Was that just the cheapest option?

[Jed]

I was wondering also why you decided bamboo? Why not carbon fiber or aluminum or something? Was that just the cheapest option?

I want something versatile that isn't already on the market and doesn't have to be used just as a woofer up to 400hz.

Seas L16- (AL) has a pretty big cone breakup that limits it to special applications as a 2 way with a low crossover point (or woofer of course).

Hivi D5.8- nice driver (poly) but I think I can do better with a lower distortion motor and the Fr looks pretty ragged.

Seas CA15 - (paper) dip at 1.5k, average motor, expensive

Dayton - well we all know the value of these (AL) drivers

[Jonasz]

Seas is made in Norway, I live in Norway. As an example; CA15RLY costs 66USD at Madisound, here in Norway the same driver costs 636.-NOK...... Thats 122USD !

Here in Sweden the same driver costs 585 SEK wich corresponds to US $98. I guess you can order the drivers from Sweden and still get away cheaper than buying them in your own back yard... :E

And Jed, everything really IS ridiculously expensive in Norway just like in the rest of Scandinavia. Here in Sweden gas is almost at 9$ per gallon as we speak... :evil:

[Jed]

I may have to get in on that group buy if they turn out real nice! Are you going to get like a sample first so you can make sure its up to standards? If we can get a 5.5" woofer that will play real low and as clean as the L16 I'd be all over it

Yeah, I'm getting a couple samples to try out, first. Even though it is expensive to ship just a few, I'd hate to have a batch of 50-100 crappy woofers. :B

[JJones]

...Basically I got tired of looking for a driver to replace the W5 876SD that have a cast frame, low distortion motor, plenty of Xmax, and will work in a ported 7-10 L with a price in the Dayton range of drivers...

"Replace"? is that more because the W5 876 is not very good and you want something better, or, because you're worried about availability?

I got a few of them (W5 876) years ago thinking to use them one pair per speaker on the front of a narrow cabinet as kind of "bass bins" but up to about 200 Hz with the main purpose being to prevent a floor bounce cancellation that was bothering me (in an otherwise excellent design which had the woofer mounted on top of the cabinet).

Over the years I have found it very frustrating to try to find good inexpensive drivers only to see that 90% of the time they soon become unavailalble within a year or two.

[Hdale85]

Well the W5's are good thats not the reason. Especially for the money they are very good. But they have a stamped frame which is a bit annoying and they could be better But that doesn't mean they are bad by anymeans. Also these new drivers are not replacing the W5's its a cheaper alternative to the L16's.

[StewLG]

Watch out for great samples, bad bulk

Yeah, I'm getting a couple samples to try out, first. Even though it is expensive to ship just a few, I'd hate to have a batch of 50-100 crappy woofers. :B

Jed, I've not contracted with Asia to manufacture anything, but from what I've read one of the classic issues with manufacturing in China is that the samples are great, but the actual bulk shipment is of lower quality/inferior components/etc. I've read dozens of stories about this.

Perhaps others with actual experience can chime in with suggestions (or correct me if I'm wrong.)

[Hdale85]

Hmm hope thats not the case with these. I've seen some other people get some drivers made in China I believe. DIYMA had their 12" subs made somewhere.... I wonder if it was in China but they were very high quality.

[Jed]

"Replace"? is that more because the W5 876 is not very good and you want something better, or, because you're worried about availability?

:

Looks like they are going to be available for some time, but I want something with copper in the motor to reduce distortion and a cast frame at the same price point. It can be done.

[Jed]

Jed, I've not contracted with Asia to manufacture anything, but from what I've read one of the classic issues with manufacturing in China is that the samples are great, but the actual bulk shipment is of lower quality/inferior components/etc. I've read dozens of stories about this.

Perhaps others with actual experience can chime in with suggestions (or correct me if I'm wrong.)

Yeah, I guess anything is possible with this new venture. Usher, TB, Dayton, Vifa, Peerless, etc etc... guess where they are now manufactured.... Asia.

My favorite company is probably Seas. Excellent quality control.