Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site
In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: Lowther Driver
Post Subject: Drivers, Dope and Radio FlyersPosted by Paul S on: 10/4/2008
Wojtek, I am indeed hemmed in by the fricking electricity these days, to the extent that it is about impossible to hold on to a baseline for reference. And the Lowthers only make the problem more apparent.
Yes, I still wonder about how I would react to the EnABL process, given that I spent years (many years ago) messing with "dope" and other diaphragm/driver tuning/destroying methods. Like I said several times, I would gladly and stupidly accept positive results without ever wholly buying into the specific cause/cure theory behind the process, especially if it "enabled" me to eliminate the notch filters and the compensatory Zobels I now suffer as the lesser of evils. Frankly, however, I find pretty absurd the claim that it "brings up" the LF/MF rather than merely damping HF/peaks. I just don't get this.
Also, like I mentioned earlier, Yoshi just threw me a slow, high "fat" curve ball in the form of his de-whizzered Reps drivers, and I am really itching to use them to raise efficiency and maybe re-configure/improve the bass. I still like the OBs for mid- range, but I wish I was not so dependent on PERFECT electricity for decent upper bass, which problem I currently blame specifically on the OB Lowthers being yet over-extended, even though high-passed, at least most of the time. However, and again, I have actually gotten pretty good upper bass from the DEBZs, so the "theoretical" aspect may be "sound", withal (for whatever that's worth...).
I kept up with Retsel's way-different version of the "BassZillas" for a while there, but now I wonder from his current description if I could glean anything useful from hearing about the EnABL'd DX4s in his speakers/system. Bud P has told me in no uncertain terms that I have to actually try it on my own drivers and dial it in to my own system (ie, bite the bullet) to get the benefits, and I suppose he is probably right.
Perhaps others can see the irony in the fact that I am pretty happy with my system performance when the electricity is primo, just not so much when - as is more usual - electricity sucks. In fact, I would hate to lose what I have on a gamble primarily induced by my disgust and impatience with bad electricity.
I think for now I will try to plan and map a strategy that allows me to go back if/when I screw something up during the course of my reaching and grabbing for "more". For one thing, I HATE working up crossovers! What is the easiest way these days (for the theory only, of course, since actually listening is always another matter)?
Wojtek, I hated things about the Lowthers immediately upon first hearing them, and none of these impressions/aversions have changed, either. More irony is that what I liked best about the Lowthers - their "immediacy" - took a significant hit as I developed their speed and tonal neutrality, along with their rich harmonic potential. I would hate to lose these hard-won traits or shift the balance to limbo in order to get calmer HF, which I have already +/- gotten by other means.
One thing for sure: an EnABLd driver is an EnABLd driver. The only way to turn that around would be re-coning.
I periodically re-read the happy EnABLd talk to see if I missed somthing that strikes me as especially deep/significant as it relates to where I perceive myself/where I want to go. If I jump, it will be into some sort of personally-pre-conceived place, not onto a bandwagon.
Best regards,
Paul SRerurn to Romy the Cat's Site