I think all of us would love to find a full-range single driver that could do it all. I've tried and tried to find a good one, and so far no banana. I won't mention any names, but I was approached by a German manufacturer of an advanced (and very expensive) single full-range 8" driver that used flexing modes to produce higher and higher frequencies in a smaller and smaller area of the flat radiator. They wanted me to design a speaker with one or more of the drivers that would be linear from around 50 hz on up. Although I admired the technology and gave it my best, the resulting sound was easily bested by just about any cheap conventional 2-way I threw at it. I guess the single driver was more phase coherent, but whatever advantage that imparted (and I think it was close to zero) was eclipsed by very narrow dispersion in the highs. I've also worked with the classic Jordan driver, and it was quite nice for near-field listening once a baffle-step compensation circuit was introduced. But If you listened further back in the usual listening position, the highs started to close in (except for a zippy peak at the very top).
I have a set of the Jordan divers, but I don't think they are nearly as good as his first one the JW.
The JW is much more laid back.
We don't really need a totally full range driver, but one with excellent response from 200 Hz to around 10 KHz with good power handling.
The biggest limitation of the Jordan Watts driver, is that it is power limited and frail. The cone is basically foil and easily deformed.
However a pair used sensibly in a TL sounds excellent with a very natural perspective. It does not have a rise in HF response at the top of the range, but gently rolls off on the top end.
I use one at my Eagan residence for the center channel crossed at 90 Hz. Since it is a condo I can't blast it and it keeps up well. Speech is natural, highly intelligible and without shout. It blends well with the mains.
This is the JW Mk II
The suspension which is also the VC connection are three Beryllium cantilevers. The VC is under slung and the suspension decoupled from the VC by a foam collar.
This is a MK III cone, which I was responsible for. I don't have a functional MK 111, but I think I have enough parts to build a pair. I have the factory alignment tools.
Of all the full rangers I have had through my hands or listened to, this I think is the best of them.
One other remarkable thing about them is that you can get good response to the low forties.
I am absolutely convinced that this cone could be copied with 3D printing, and with modern VC winding, modern magnets and a change in the suspension, this could easily be developed to the best high powered wide band width midrange available. The real strength of this driver is its very accurate midrange performance.
This is a driver that should not be overlooked and forgotten.
