Explain Please---the difference.

[ahblaza]

Hello,
I have been doing a lot of speaker research on line and trying to find the speakers in my price range $800-$1200 per pair that I could consider purchasing. I realize cabinet, drivers and xovers are all revelent to a loudspeakers sound. One thing that catches my attention is driver basket or frame.What is the difference between a stamped woofer basket and a solid cast aluminum frame or basket, and how does this contibute to the the supposed sound characteristics of that particular driver, I realize that the driver material also plays an important role. Is this a stupid question and one that I should not be concerned with? Thanks for listening.

 

[TLS Guy]

Hello,
I have been doing a lot of speaker research on line and trying to find the speakers in my price range $800-$1200 per pair that I could consider purchasing. I realize cabinet, drivers and xovers are all revelent to a loudspeakers sound. One thing that catches my attention is driver basket or frame.What is the difference between a stamped woofer basket and a solid cast aluminum frame or basket, and how does this contibute to the the supposed sound characteristics of that particular driver, I realize that the driver material also plays an important role. Is this a stupid question and one that I should not be concerned with? Thanks for listening.

It boils down to rigidity mainly. To every force there is an equal and opposite reaction. The forces on the cone are considerable and so are they on the frame. So you don't want flexing.

There can also be an issue with resonance in some stamped baskets.

However as I always point out, a speaker is the sum of compromises. So you can't right off a speaker because the drivers have a stamped baskets.

In your price range there will be a lot of compromises.

 

[j_garcia]

The main thing you need to be interested in is how they sound Specs don't tell you how a speaker sounds. Try to give as many speakers as you can a listen and you will develop your own opinion of what you like and don't like.

 

[ahblaza]

It boils down to rigidity mainly. To every force there is an equal and opposite reaction. The forces on the cone are considerable and so are they on the frame. So you don't want flexing.

There can also be an issue with resonance in some stamped baskets.

However as I always point out, a speaker is the sum of compromises. So you can't right off a speaker because the drivers have a stamped baskets.

In your price range there will be a lot of compromises.

Thanks Mark for the explanation, I guess I'm nitpicking, as you say which I now realize at this price point there will be compromises, I'm just not aware of what trade offs are acceptable and which are not. I am not really skilled or know what to listen for in a loudspeaker, the price point mentioned is kind of etched in stone, I wish my budjet was not so restricted. I have Athena F2's currently that I am using and like their sound but that is all I have as a reference, I don't know how the current crop of speakers in my price range would fend against what I have now, I would have to drive a considerable distance to even audition the speakers in my range. So I'm kind of relying on user reviews and others opinions. I will most likely purchase from ID with 30 day return guarantee. I have been giving serious thought to EMP E55Ti, Aperion 6T and PSB Image series T6. They are all within my price range and have a 30 day return policy shipping free both ways. I purchased a new sub recently on the advice of an AH member and could not be more satisfied. So this is how I will probably purchase my new loudspeakers. Thanks for the responce.
Jeff

 

[ahblaza]

The main thing you need to be interested in is how they sound Specs don't tell you how a speaker sounds. Try to give as many speakers as you can a listen and you will develop your own opinion of what you like and don't like.

Thanks John, I realize there is no better way to purchase speakers than actually auditioning, but I am limited in places to do so. In my above post I have narrowed it down to mentioned speakers, I will try to gather as much feedback on those speakers. I am open to other speaker options as well, so any suggestions would be appreciated. The legend that I recently purchased exceeded my expectations and turned out to be a price to performance marvel, so much so that I'm considering a second Legend. Thanks my friend for your time.
Jeff

 

[GranteedEV]

I have been giving serious thought to EMP E55Ti, Aperion 6T and PSB Image series T6. They are all within my price range

hrm?

A pair of aperion 6Ts would run you around $1400... I definitely believe they (or the RBH MC-6CT) would be a step up from the e55tis. It's a different price class you're getting into that's considered in-budget.

 

[Pyrrho]

Thanks John, I realize there is no better way to purchase speakers than actually auditioning, but I am limited in places to do so. In my above post I have narrowed it down to mentioned speakers, I will try to gather as much feedback on those speakers. I am open to other speaker options as well, so any suggestions would be appreciated. The legend that I recently purchased exceeded my expectations and turned out to be a price to performance marvel, so much so that I'm considering a second Legend. Thanks my friend for your time.
Jeff

That makes it very tough. Some of us would be looking at Magnepan speakers at that price point, and others wouldn't. And the only way to know if you would be happy with them is to listen for yourself. They are very different in design from ordinary speakers. You can read about them at their website:

http://www.magnepan.com/

Without listening for yourself, how are you going to know if you prefer ribbons or domes or horns or something else for tweeters? How are you going to know if you like planar drivers for woofers or prefer cones?

With every speaker, there is always a tradeoff. So it is always a question of which virtues you require and which vices you can live with.

 

[ahblaza]

That makes it very tough. Some of us would be looking at Magnepan speakers at that price point, and others wouldn't. And the only way to know if you would be happy with them is to listen for yourself. They are very different in design from ordinary speakers. You can read about them at their website:

http://www.magnepan.com/

Without listening for yourself, how are you going to know if you prefer ribbons or domes or horns or something else for tweeters? How are you going to know if you like planar drivers for woofers or prefer cones?

With every speaker, there is always a tradeoff. So it is always a question of which virtues you require and which vices you can live with.

Thanks Pyrrho for the informative responce, I quess you hit the nail on the head, I won't know if I don't listen, it's frustrating at this point and I guess I'm just hoping what I purchase will be the perfect speaker, I know I need to do some leg and ear work, I'm looking for an easy way out, which I know does not exist. Thanks

 

[ahblaza]

hrm?

A pair of aperion 6Ts would run you around $1400... I definitely believe they (or the RBH MC-6CT) would be a step up from the e55tis. It's a different price class you're getting into that's considered in-budget.

Thanks Grant, I will look at the RBH's, since you own the E55Ti's and say the RBH and Aperion are a step up, that gives me a direction in which to pursue this speaker quest, Thanks for the input.

 

[Pyrrho]

It boils down to rigidity mainly. To every force there is an equal and opposite reaction. The forces on the cone are considerable and so are they on the frame. So you don't want flexing.

There can also be an issue with resonance in some stamped baskets.

However as I always point out, a speaker is the sum of compromises. So you can't right off a speaker because the drivers have a stamped baskets.

In your price range there will be a lot of compromises.

Yes. And I have gotten the impression lately that because some people seem to choose speakers from something so visual, that more are being made with cast baskets and compromising other things, that people don't see so easily, to keep the price down. People are so frequently claiming to select based on sound, but the reality is, most people select based at least in part on other factors, that they imagine affect the sound.

So in short, I agree, one should not write off a speaker simply because it has a stamped basket.

 

[GranteedEV]

Thanks Grant, I will look at the RBH's, since you own the E55Ti's and say the RBH and Aperion are a step up, that gives me a direction in which to pursue this speaker quest, Thanks for the input.

I don't know if the RBHs are a step up, I'm just assuming they are. A phone call to them might help you get a feel for their design goals with either series. The EMPs are definitely prettier though

 

[JJMP50]

I normally wouldn't chime in here because speakers are so subjective but since you are an Athena owner....I used to have an Athena system (F1,B1,C1 system) and I liked it a lot, especially for Jazz and Classical. But my JBL system was a lot better at Rock. I know that Monitor Audio doesn't get a lot of time here, but I have found that they do everything very well IMHO. Just a suggestion check out the new RX series (I have the older RS). Oh and they look good too....