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In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: Truth stretched out via Feastrex prism.
Post Subject: The limits of compromisePosted by Paul S on: 2/14/2007
"Vitriolic" is certainly the wrong word to apply to my "attitude"/post(s), Dominic.  "Amused" is more like it.  I am amused by claims that ANY 4" driver makes a stand-alone "Full-Range" speaker able to  "present the orchestra in all it's living glory", etc, etc.  And that sort of drivel is what I refer to as "hyperbole", because it perfectly fits the definition of the word.

While I think I understand why you compare 4" drivers to SETs, I am not sure that the potential for each of those topologies is equal in terms of frequency response range in a hi-fi system.  As you mention, it is possible to "throw many thousands of dollars of iron at [the SET]", not to mention the possibllity of feedback, etc., to "make" the SET do as creditable a job of reproducing the sound spectrum as any other amplifier topology (better, IMO).  But the fact remains that a 4" paper driver just can't do the job that these overly-enthusiastic disciples claim it can (using their own words as performance criteria), no matter how it is manipulated, and no matter how much iron, cobalt, bronze, gold, exotic wood or secret-recipe varnish you throw at it.  I hope you can at least acknowledge that.

HOWEVER:  No reason to believe one of those little drivers can't do anything right -- right?  Hence, my previous post.  And this ties back to an earlier post I made about taking advantage of "the good parts" of even the most cock-eyed, misguided applications of the most locked-in, mis-directed quasi-geniuses.  EG, There's gold in them thar hills!

Likewise the Lowther DX4, IMO.  If certain critical limitations/flaws are recognized and dealt with, it can be a pretty nice wide range driver.  Basically, I found it much easier to figure out and adapt for my purposes than horns. But the key words here are "limitations" and "adapt".  Hence, my previous post.

Best regards,
Paul S 

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