[300Z]

Hi all,

I just got this idea last night driving back home... i was wondering how this would sound, a set of Aura 3" http://www.madisound.com/pdf/aurasound/NS3-193-8A.pdf and a set of TB 6.5" http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=264-832
this would be all all active and a sub less system, the TB would be IB and handle the midbass and subbass duty... the Aura would be in kicks...

The target of this system is tonal accuracy... and keep the $ low, this would be a very simple project for a daily driver...

What do you all think?

Thanks
Leo

 

[87DXHatch]

I can't speak for the Auras, or the TangBands, but I did put an 8" TangBand in each of my brothers' vehicles last summer and they rock.

Good stuff.

 

[DS-21]

Bad idea. "Tonal accuracy" and "kicks" DO NOT MIX. The closest thing to a positive I could see in such a setup is that instead of squandering the potential of a good, expensive driver, you're squandering the potential of a good, cheap driver.

Also, unless you already have the TB's I'd spend a bit more for Extremii, or wait for the DIYMA 7" driver.

 

[300Z]

I don't own any of the drivers yet... but that's what i'm planning to get so far...

As for the kicks it wouldnt be a sealed kick... most likely just a kick with a open back... just for "good" speaker placement/angle...
Oh DS-21, you telling me that all these years people using kicks and winning SQ comps are all wrong?

No Adire for me... honestly i just can't see how the Extremis would be such a improvement over the TB when used from 200hz and below... it may have a little more output but that's not what i'm concerned with... i basically want something that can overcome the road noise as far as output goes...

Leo

 

[npdang]

Aura 3's in the kicks may not have enough dynamics to satisfy... keep in mind they are ~80dbwm.

Tang band has never really impressed me. The drivers I've owned have literally fell apart, and in most cases don't sound too great (with a few notable exceptions). The t/s specs seem to be hit or miss as well. The price is certainly right however.

 

[300Z]

Ok, what would be the proper driver to use in my app? Please keep in mind the driver will cover 200hz and below... no subbass driver too... trying to keep the size to 6.5" or maybe up to a 7"...
So i would probably have to use the Aura up in the dash then? or maybe in the A pillar?... i don't like using drivers in the A pillars too much since it's gonna take away some visibility...

 

[npdang]

How about a quad of aura ns2 whispers up in the pillars, and a Peerless XlS 8" in the doors? The ns2 is much more compact in size (about size of a typical 1" tweeter) and 4db higher in spl than the ns3. Also, XLS is about as much bass as you can reasonably expect from a decently sized 8".

 

[300Z]

Actually that's what i first had in mind, but i would like to keep things as simple as it can be... and wanted a driver that can cover the largest range as possible and the Aura 3" looks to have a flatter FR... + it can play lower than the ns2...
Now the question is how a the dual ns2 per side would sound compared to the single ns3? and as far as total output? can it really play flat down to 250-300hz? also remember there will be no tweeter, these drivers will have to cover the entire range...

Later

Thanks
Leo

 

[DS-21]

Oh DS-21, you telling me that all these years people using kicks and winning SQ comps are all wrong?

Obviously, yes. Most of the people who run "SQ competitions" are haltingly familiar at best with real (i.e. llve andf unamped) music, so winning them has no relevance to me. Besides, regardless of how it works on paper, in the real world how many points goes for sound and how many for politics (running sponsors' gear, doing stuff that installers all over can do and say "this is just like the winning SQ cars", and so on.), gaudy installs, Stupid Alarm Tricks, and so on? Car audio competitions are about two things: allowing talented installers an outlet for their creativity, and selling more car stereo gear. Note that "the music" isn't one of those two things.

All that said, you're free to do whatever you want. But if you're not going to think rationally about speaker placement you may as well stick a Bose cube down there instead of wasting the capabilities of a truly good driver like the Aura NS3.

honestly i just can't see how the Extremis would be such a improvement over the TB when used from 200hz and below..

My experience with TB-branded woofers, tweeters, and widebanders (some of the stuff they OEM is quite good...) mirrors our hosts. If you're willing to buy a lot of 20 and hand select two out of that, then you might be fine, but otherwise I'd stay away for a few years.

Now the question is how a the dual ns2 per side would sound compared to the single ns3? and as far as total output? can it really play flat down to 250-300hz? also remember there will be no tweeter, these drivers will have to cover the entire range...

As to that, I'm running a single Whisper per side in a roadster, with the current crossover setting at 200Hz, and I have more output available than is socially responsible with the top down...

(Edit for clarity)

 

[300Z]

As much as i agree with you on all the BS involved on SQ comps (which is the only reason it still keeps me off from competing myself) i wouldnt quite go as far as say

Car audio competitions are about two things: allowing talented installers an outlet for their creativity, and selling more car stereo gear. Note that "the music" isn't one of those two things.

...

One of the very best SQ cars that i heard used kicks and probably had the simplest install from them all till this day, the owner of the car is also a musician for nearly 30 years...
I know other people who also use kicks with very good results... I like to think that what counts is not the principle used but the execution and implemention...

As for my project i will probably just get another set of Dayton RS and be done as i know it will work...

I still want to try the Aura ns3 even if its for another project... probably use it at home as my computer speakers... ns3 + XLS8's with dipole mids and sealed midbass?
What turned me off from the ns2's was this test report... http://www.zaphaudio.com/minitest/ please comment about this...

Later
Leo

 

[DS-21]

I still want to try the Aura ns3 even if its for another project... probably use it at home as my computer speakers... ns3 + XLS8's with dipole mids and sealed midbass?

What I'm going to do with mine (I bought our host's sale pair) is probably along the lines of what's being discussed here: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=676463#post676463 I might use PVC pipe instead of the fence-post, because that might better match the avant-garde aesthetic of my office.

If I add a sub later, it'll probably be something like a pair of Kicker RMB8's or a trio of Vifa M18WO-09-08s, depending on which one of the two sets of drivers sells first....

What turned me off from the ns2's was this test report... http://www.zaphaudio.com/minitest/ please comment about this...

if you go back and read some of my older posts about this driver here and on ECA you'll see that my most frequent comment is some riff on "that they make the system sound as if it were powered by an SET amp." One of the defining characteristics of triode amps, as opposed to solid state or push-pull tube amps, is a high level of 2nd harmonic distortion. The Whisper does that on solid state, lending a pleasant-but-not-accurate "vintage" tinge to the music that works really well in my car's neoclassical interior but might not in a more modernist interior.

 

[racerraul]

Most of the people who run "SQ competitions" are haltingly familiar at best with real (i.e. llve andf unamped) music, so winning them has no relevance to me. Besides, regardless of how it works on paper, in the real world how many points goes for sound and how many for politics (running sponsors' gear, doing stuff that installers all over can do and say "this is just like the winning SQ cars", and so on.), gaudy installs, Stupid Alarm Tricks, and so on? Car audio competitions are about two things: allowing talented installers an outlet for their creativity, and selling more car stereo gear. Note that "the music" isn't one of those two things.

You should really take sometime to listen to the vehicles from the competitors that indeed hold same interests you do. Check out their techniques & simple tricks learned along the way from working with different vehicles.

It is so damn obvious that you do not have enough seat time in the real competitors vehicle that quite frankly you come out sounding like a complete ass... I'm sorry but it's the truth...

I have made tons of friends along the way in SQ comps, the bulk of us are not sponsored nor do we pride ourselves with tons of EYE candy or stupid alarm tricks. Our creativity only extends as far as meeting the challenges of meeting safety requirements & maintaining a comfortable everyday ride...

About the only thing you managed to dig out of your rear end worth .02 is the problem about the politics involved & that in case you haven't noticed (from your lack of attendance) is ruining the competition circuit.

Kindly remove your head out of your rear man... it is all about the music... who the hell are you to tell us what it is we are all about?