Natalie P & Modula MT Driver Question

[Hopkinsstevea]

I was going to build the Statement Speakers but think I should start with something just a little bit easier.
I have been looking at the Natalie P Speakers and the RS180 Modula MT. Both look like they might fit the bill. I looked at the PE web for the RS180 shielded drivers p/n 295-364 but they have been discontinued I guess what I am asking is there a updated crossover design for the different drivers IE: RS180-4 the same question would apply to the RS-180 Modula MT
Thanks everyone
Steve H

[Txgrizzly]

i think there is a thread talking about it, not sure where it is though, someone will chime in but from what i read i think the new unshielded driver is pretty close to the one used in these speakers...

[Hopkinsstevea]

I have been thinking about it very hard and have gone through scores of data for the Statements and the Natalie P's. Construction is not the problem "I build small lapstrake boats" its the electrical part doing the crossovers that I am very weak at. But you know what they say the hardest part of any job is "cutting the first piece" I feel that the Statements are more what I'm looking for so after much sole searching I won't be building the Natalie P's and will buid the Statements. I'm sorry if I seem undecided I do appreciate every ones help, hopefully i'm not wasting anybody's time.

[Warrant]

The longest journey begins with just a single step...Chinese proverb

I'm about one step ahead of you and the people here are first class guides so use the American proverb and...Just do it.

[fbov]

These are all good designs, and the consensus on the RS drivers is that the unshielded versions are drop-ins electrically, and give the same bass response in a smaller box.

Among the Statements, NatP and Modula MT, you have a WMTMW, MTM and MT. The biggest difference will be how loud they play, a direct result of the number of drivers which is strongly correlated to cost. Loudness needs depend on room size. Putting the Statments in a 10x12' room will allow you to damage your hearing very quickly.

As a NatP owner, I'll bring up a second aspect and that is flexibility. Assuming max SPL is not the goal, sonic balance varies greatly with speaker placement relative to room walls. Statements have an open back mid that makes it particularly sensitive, and I'm not familiar with all the Statement XO variants. The RS MTM has 5 crossover variants, one the NatP, as well as BSC/no BSC variant for those wanting to wall mount, or in my case, put a center channel in under my TV.

I can understand the reticence regarding XO construction. There are some guides, but the key to all of them is "nodes." Pay attention to the points where multiple components connect to one another, kind of like intersection on a road map. Connect series elements (end to end to end) first, as they are not nodes. Then look for the nodes and make sure all connections for each on the schematic are present before soldering. These designs also have pics of the XO's, so you can check things.

Great resource here, I agree!

Have fun,
Frank

[Undefinition]

i think there is a thread talking about it, not sure where it is though, someone will chime in but from what i read i think the new unshielded driver is pretty close to the one used in these speakers...

Here's a thread. Measurements and everything.

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?t=220763

[fastponies]

Old thread, new question: I need to replace a RS180 driver on an old Natalie P build. The original driver was a RS180S-8 (p/n 295-364), which are again available at Parts Express (or I could use the unshielded version p/n 295-355). Is the 8 ohm version of the RS180 drivers correct? The original post of this thread refers to RS180-4's. Just want to double check before I order. Thanks.

[Ed H]

This is the driver listed in the BOM. I know because it is in my "shopping cart" at PE. I just haven't pulled the trigger yet.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=295-364&scqty=4

[JonMarsh]

Yup, the NatalieP's use the 8 ohm versions. It's cool they have these back again...

But the two 8 ohm versions are so similar in the range that counts (below 2500 Hz) that using either of them is OK, though it's a little odd that the shielded version is actually slightly less expensive! OTOH, it takes up a little more volume in the cabinet; all things being the same, I'd use the unshielded.

[fbov]

But all things are not the same...

The unshielded drivers have different T/S parameters and require a smaller box for equivalent response. I don't know what a mismatched pair would sound like, but I've built both shielded in ported towers and unshielded in sealed bookshelves, and unshielded wanted a 25% smaller box than shielded in my application.

HAve fun,
Frank

[mischmat]

Don't know if you would shine towards the Statement Monitors but I have 2 rs180s-4's that I was going to use as a centre channel with some help to the XO but would be willing to sell to buy the 180-8's to make life easier.

[fastponies]

Thanks for the feedback. I went with the unshielded RS180-8 ohm. No noticeable difference from the shielded to my ear.