This is an idea that has been asked for previously, based on the Wavecor Ardent, and with driver availability in flux or downright disappearing, seemed unlikely to be realized. The introduction of the PuriFi PTT8.0X04 raised hopes for a new generation of Ardent (if anyone is interested!) and it may be ironic if the first testing of the waters of that idea ends up being for a CC prototype system.
Now, an interesting thing about the PuriFi, is that the frame diameter is more than a skosh similar to the Wavecor SW223BD02. In fact, 223mm versus 221 mm. Of course, the major blocking point has been GETTING any of the PuriFi parts- I ordered mine the beginning of June, through the web store instead of an advanced sample pre-order as I've done in the past for the original 6.5" woofer and the 6.5" midrange. At the same time, I ordered the ultra low midrange distortion 6.5" aluminum woofer- those came pretty quickly, but with all the work going on, are still sitting in a storage bin. THEY are a good candidate for a compact CC, too.
But you know that old saying,
Some's good, more's better, and too much is just enough...
That kind of thinking is at the core of wretched excess, right? Though when you look around at what has been happening in the high end business the last 5-10 years, there's no way the DIY crowd can really qualify any more for "wretched excess"- Magico, Tidal, Wilson, and many others have us pretty well outclassed.
But!
Today I got an email from PuriFi, and my 8 PTT8.0X04 drivers have shipped today from Denmark... and the shipper email says that they will deliver on Thursday, Sept 15!
Talk about being stunned, you could have knocked me over with a feather! But, it is an odd thing I've found on a few occasions that I can get stuff from the EU and the UK faster than from Canada.
🤷
I'm not complaining, believe me!
It did make me get out a copy of Unibox (remember, I'm kinda retro) and re-check what a pair might do in the classic series configuration in a CC... they might do just fine, it turns out.
​​​​​​​1W sensitivity with two wired in series calculates as expected, and is in a good range.
Of course, we're all probably more interested in what is possible if you push them- I've been using 110 dB as an SPL target at 1 meter for a lot of HT ideas, as this gives necessary SPL in larger listening rooms at the listening position.
How hard would the system be working, in terms of the rated Xmax, for an 80Hz crossover with 100W max drive?
Not all that hard, it turns out...
Returning to the baseline principle, of "some's good, more is better, and too much is just enough", I think this will have to be the configuration I build next. Front panel blanks and some other parts are already cut out...
​​​​​​​Of course, this leads to the question of how would a "normal" Ardent configuration built with these drivers perform, using the same Faital 5FE120 and BlieSMa T25A-6 or T25B-6 (also on hand)... That will take a bit longer to ascertain, given the current project work underway. But the development work should not be challenging, once the CC is finished.
Now, an interesting thing about the PuriFi, is that the frame diameter is more than a skosh similar to the Wavecor SW223BD02. In fact, 223mm versus 221 mm. Of course, the major blocking point has been GETTING any of the PuriFi parts- I ordered mine the beginning of June, through the web store instead of an advanced sample pre-order as I've done in the past for the original 6.5" woofer and the 6.5" midrange. At the same time, I ordered the ultra low midrange distortion 6.5" aluminum woofer- those came pretty quickly, but with all the work going on, are still sitting in a storage bin. THEY are a good candidate for a compact CC, too.
But you know that old saying,
Some's good, more's better, and too much is just enough...
That kind of thinking is at the core of wretched excess, right? Though when you look around at what has been happening in the high end business the last 5-10 years, there's no way the DIY crowd can really qualify any more for "wretched excess"- Magico, Tidal, Wilson, and many others have us pretty well outclassed.
But!
Today I got an email from PuriFi, and my 8 PTT8.0X04 drivers have shipped today from Denmark... and the shipper email says that they will deliver on Thursday, Sept 15!
Talk about being stunned, you could have knocked me over with a feather! But, it is an odd thing I've found on a few occasions that I can get stuff from the EU and the UK faster than from Canada.
🤷
I'm not complaining, believe me!
It did make me get out a copy of Unibox (remember, I'm kinda retro) and re-check what a pair might do in the classic series configuration in a CC... they might do just fine, it turns out.
​​​​​​​1W sensitivity with two wired in series calculates as expected, and is in a good range.
Of course, we're all probably more interested in what is possible if you push them- I've been using 110 dB as an SPL target at 1 meter for a lot of HT ideas, as this gives necessary SPL in larger listening rooms at the listening position.
How hard would the system be working, in terms of the rated Xmax, for an 80Hz crossover with 100W max drive?
Not all that hard, it turns out...
Returning to the baseline principle, of "some's good, more is better, and too much is just enough", I think this will have to be the configuration I build next. Front panel blanks and some other parts are already cut out...
​​​​​​​Of course, this leads to the question of how would a "normal" Ardent configuration built with these drivers perform, using the same Faital 5FE120 and BlieSMa T25A-6 or T25B-6 (also on hand)... That will take a bit longer to ascertain, given the current project work underway. But the development work should not be challenging, once the CC is finished.
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