I was considering trying to score some used L4SE just to finish it off with "the best" but I'm curious to try something different. I realize this is a dumb subjective question but do you really think I would hear a notiecable improvement swapping in a set of GB40's ? I'm curious to try a different driver but kind of an expensive lark if they really aren't that much different.

Yes, absolutely. Speakers make a very noticeable difference in sound when swapped out. They are about the highest distortion component in the system and have the most variance in response. Especially when you swap one for one in the same enclosure. whether that difference is better or worse to your ears is the question.

Here is a question that challenges why I gravitated to HAT in the first place - I realize that competitions have a lot of factors going on, from who gets product to who the judges know etc. But if HAT drivers are nothing special, then why have they racked up such an impressive list of competition victories ? Again I realize that maybe winning is based on many factors including politics, but it still seems like you couldn't pull off that much success with sub par drivers, nor would competitors continue to compete with those products. But I've never even been to a comp or know anything about how they work.

Tom, Klifton, Welch... these guys all do a great job with system building and tuning. That makes a massive difference in the end result- regardless of the speakers used. There's a lot of experience there.

 

Look, in the end the tonal characteristics of the drivers are a subjective preference. Some people like paper cones and the softer distortion profile, some like stiffer cones or metal cones. Some like larger drivers, some prefer smaller (dispersion characteristics vs cone area and lower distortion). Some want high efficiency....or ib designed vs sealed...
It all comes down to the specific vehicle, the application and the way the system is executed.

 

I've got no dog in this fight, but since the L6SE was brought up, it is probably appropriate to share the objective Klippel testing.

https://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/klippel-reviews-driver-specs/126847-hybrid-audio-l6se-klippel-testing.html

 

I knew they were tested.

I don’t have a dog in the fight either I was simply stating fact... and I was right. If people don’t like Hybrid Audio because You don’t like they sound, the price, or whatever your agenda is fine... But to make up ****, or take one sentence out of a whole thread, saying Scott refused to allow anyone to test his speakers, when he sent them out to be tested is ridiculous. If someone makes up some ******** story and it’s not factual I’m going to say something, I don’t care what brand it is.

Thanks for posting the test results.

QUOTE=rton20s;5633553]I've got no dog in this fight, but since the L6SE was brought up, it is probably appropriate to share the objective Klippel testing.

https://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/klippel-reviews-driver-specs/126847-hybrid-audio-l6se-klippel-testing.html[/QUOTE]

 

I knew they were tested.

I don’t have a dog in the fight either I was simply stating fact... and I was right. If people don’t like Hybrid Audio because You don’t like they sound, the price, or whatever your agenda is fine... But to make up ****, or take one sentence out of a whole thread, saying Scott refused to allow anyone to test his speakers, when he sent them out to be tested is ridiculous. If someone makes up some ******** story and it’s not factual I’m going to say something, I don’t care what brand it is.

Thanks for posting the test results.

QUOTE=rton20s;5633553]I've got no dog in this fight, but since the L6SE was brought up, it is probably appropriate to share the objective Klippel testing.

https://www.diymobileaudio.com/foru...orum/klippel-reviews-driver-specs/126847-hybrid-audio-l6se-klippel-testing.html

[/QUOTE]




I think the difference here was that in one scenario, they were sent out to be "demo'd", subjectively. Like you can do at any dealer.
The other was an entirely different animal- objective, klippel performance data on the drivers.



So I'm not sure why you are so bothered, but the statement he made was clearly not BS.

 

If you are looking to really step up, then I think you would have a hard time getting any sane person to argue against the ScanSpeak Revelators:

https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/approx-4-midrange/scanspeak-revelator-12m/4631g-4.5-midrange/

Test results: Scanspeak 12mu/4731t00 Klippel Results - Techtalk Speaker Building, Audio, Video Discussion Forum

FYI- The "Test results" link is actually for the 12mu which is the Illuminator driver, not the Revelator. Both are excellent though.

 

You know, when my name comes up in a topic like this I don't know why people don't just message me and ask me directly instead of trying to prove each other wrong.

So, anyway...

The only drivers I recall Scott ever sent me to test publicly were the Ring Radiator tweeters which I tested and posted results for on MedleysMusings (RIP). The others I tested - L4SE, L4, L3SE, L6, L6SE - were all provided to me by members of the community.

Yeeeeeaaaaars back when Nyugen (aka: NPDANG) owned the site and was doing testing there was a big fallout between Scott and Nyugen when data of the original L3 was released and that thread was subsequently deleted or heavily modified by Ant (after he bought it from Nyugen) at Scott's request. IIRC, Scott's argument was the test method/setup was questionable (the merits of which, I could somewhat agree with) but that's old hat anyway (pun totally intended).

So, there you go.

 

but that's old hat anyway (pun totally intended).

LOL