Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site


In the Forum: Horn-Loaded Speakers
In the Thread: Maxonic drivers from Japan
Post Subject: Maxonic drivers from JapanPosted by Romy the Cat on: 6/14/2007

We had this exchange with Christopher Witmer, who lives in Japan, via the AA about the new driver form some small Japanese manufacturer. The dirt who runs that form has deleted the whole development. Hm, people wonder why for years I have a vocal and persistent position that the douchebags that run that site should be eradicated with the most stubborn prejudges....

Anyhow… here is something that is left on my machine for that dealog. I think it would be relevant in context of the Maxonic subject...

Christopher Witmer wrote:

http://www.maxonic-audio.com/

The 104dB sensitivity of the woofers is quite appealing, especially when you consider the frequency response goes down to 25Hz. These are essentially Altec woofers in their conception, so they can be expected to have the same basic character as Altec.

I have not heard the woofers yet. I heard the TW11000B the other day and I enjoyed it IMMENSELY.

Someone who has heard more compression drivers than I have needs to do an in-depth report on their sound. I thought they were absolutely wonderful, and I am not a horn fan, so that's saying a lot. But I could definitely sit and listen to that system forever, and be very, very happy the whole time. But my problem (as a reviewer) is my relative lack of experience with horns. The last time I was really into horns in a big way was about 20+ years ago!

Also, their original amplifiers, based on their original SIT transistors, are outstanding. Someone who has listened to many more amplifiers than I have needs to do an in-depth report on those amplifiers. Great stuff. Let me say that I think they have a character that will be powerfully attractive to many folks on BOTH sides of the tubes vs. transistors divide. The power amp I heard was an OTL design; they also have a power amp with output transformer.

They are just starting to bring the website up-to-date, but before long I will probably translate the whole thing into English for them. It will have considerably more information than just the three pages shown there now.


Romy the Cat wrote:

Fascinating, I do not know anything about them but keep me informed when translate then in English. Interesting what cones and what suspension they use with the MF and HF electromagnets (electro-dynamic?). 

There is however one area of concern that I have. Ironically my concern is about their 104dB sensitivity on the electromagnetic woofers with 25Hz primary resonance. To get higher sensitively they needed to drive a lot of current across the field-coil and this crates “overly dumped flux”. Any single field-coil driver BASS that I tried was hugely benefited from lowering the flux (harmonics of bass notes) and at higher flax the bass was very amusical.  It would be the case with the drivers under the desiccations unless that Japanese company designed the suspension and cones to specifically operate under the conditions of “overly dumped flux” (higher cone’s mass and so on). I hardly believe those people understand/do it as you said that they are “essentially Altec woofers”.  The Altec woofers 515G/B/E have fine cone and fine suspension at near 1.2T and 67dB. The 7dB extra would need .4-.7T more and it will make the 515B to have 25Hz primary resonance but will make it too stiff to play music.

Than came an extended Christopher’s reply (vandalized now) that proposed a self-exclusiveness of low Fs and sensitively… 

Romy the Cat wrote:

 Yes, you are right be they might design the woofer from scratch to operate exactly in the conditions of the “stiff gap” (if the 25Hz/104dB are the right numbers). Pay attention that companies never did it. The Klangfilm made these famous 14” bass drivers identical for perm magnet and electromagnet, where the bass drivers with perm magnet sundered FAR more superior then with electromagnets. Unfortunately all those companies that make driver the do not do it to accomplish specific Sonic objectives but rather to make marketing splash to keep the audio-Morons ™ “to believe. At list I do not see any contemporary electro-drivers manufactures who would seriously explain what they try to do in term of Sound. Perhaps that company do at list state something… you need to translate it.

Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site