Some very preliminary info on the prototype 6.5" mid/bass...
Keep in mind this is only a prototype and cosmetics/specs may change.
Pic of the front... Note the paper cone, alum phase plug, and large foam surround.
Pic of the rear... Note the very heavy cast frame, large ventilation windows under the spider, and the tall top plate... hmm I wonder what kind of motor this could be Driver mounting depth is 3" exactly.
Frequency response in free-air:
Very smooth and extended as you can see, from 50hz to 8khz, with a nice 12db rolloff on both ends. Slight dip around 200-400hz, to compensate for the extra boost you get in most cars at that frequency which tend to muddy up the lower midrange. Most cars also have a 12db boost which picks up around 50-60hz... so in your doors these should play flat down to 20hz without a problem.
I chose to go with a slightly higher "q" driver, hence the slight bump at 60hz. I feel it gives these mids more impact in the bass. Efficiency ~88dbwm. Needless to say, these are made for door/free-air mounting. They will work in a sealed kickpanel, but without the same sensitivity in the low end.
Frequency response with the mid/bass located in the driver side door, measured from the driver side headrest. Notice the flat bass response down to 30hz in car (no highpass filter). Very impressive top end response, when you consider the driver sits nearly 80 degrees off axis!
And here's the same frequency response with a big cut at 200hz, a slight boost at 3khz, and a 12db highpass at 80hz. So smooth and extended....
Non-linear distortion test against the Seas Excel W18, which Imho is one of the most detailed, realistic sounding mids around. Test was conducted with the drivers mounted in the car door. Short story, below 80hz the prototype was cleaner. At 80hz and 200hz the distortion was very similar with the Excel ahead by a very small amount. At 800-1khz, the distortion was a good bit higher on the prototype. Above 1.5khz, the prototype was noticeably lower than the Excel. Overall not a bad performance.
Here's a sample pic at 200hz:
Again at 800hz:
The most noticeable subjective differences were in terms of sensitivity and bass output. The prototype was easily more dynamic, and had a very strong and violent impact in the bass. Midrange was more extended, and a tad bit fuller and warmer sounding. I'd say it's a step up in detail from the Seas CA18RNX, but not quite Seas Excel.
The Seas on the otherhand was just a bit cleaner and more realistic sounding. It's not a difference you'd pick out unless you had the best of installs and the drivers side by side, but to my ears which are accustomed to the sound of the Excels over years of listening it was fairly noticeable. Not exactly a bad thing, as some people prefer a warmer, fuller sounding midrange. The Seas Excel also didn't have the sheer dynamics, or as hard of a midbass impact... this could be due to the lower sensitivity and lower qts of the driver. However, I felt the Seas bass was a bit more natural and easy to listen to. The prototype just hit too hard and violently... and perhaps it was a bit exaggerated... but otoh it was alot of fun to listen to. With a higher crossover point or steeper slope I'm sure it could be tamed.
Last but not least... the 13mb excursion video:
http://diymobileaudio.com/pics/proto.avi
Keep in mind this is only a prototype and cosmetics/specs may change.
Pic of the front... Note the paper cone, alum phase plug, and large foam surround.
Pic of the rear... Note the very heavy cast frame, large ventilation windows under the spider, and the tall top plate... hmm I wonder what kind of motor this could be Driver mounting depth is 3" exactly.
Frequency response in free-air:
Very smooth and extended as you can see, from 50hz to 8khz, with a nice 12db rolloff on both ends. Slight dip around 200-400hz, to compensate for the extra boost you get in most cars at that frequency which tend to muddy up the lower midrange. Most cars also have a 12db boost which picks up around 50-60hz... so in your doors these should play flat down to 20hz without a problem.
I chose to go with a slightly higher "q" driver, hence the slight bump at 60hz. I feel it gives these mids more impact in the bass. Efficiency ~88dbwm. Needless to say, these are made for door/free-air mounting. They will work in a sealed kickpanel, but without the same sensitivity in the low end.
Frequency response with the mid/bass located in the driver side door, measured from the driver side headrest. Notice the flat bass response down to 30hz in car (no highpass filter). Very impressive top end response, when you consider the driver sits nearly 80 degrees off axis!
And here's the same frequency response with a big cut at 200hz, a slight boost at 3khz, and a 12db highpass at 80hz. So smooth and extended....
Non-linear distortion test against the Seas Excel W18, which Imho is one of the most detailed, realistic sounding mids around. Test was conducted with the drivers mounted in the car door. Short story, below 80hz the prototype was cleaner. At 80hz and 200hz the distortion was very similar with the Excel ahead by a very small amount. At 800-1khz, the distortion was a good bit higher on the prototype. Above 1.5khz, the prototype was noticeably lower than the Excel. Overall not a bad performance.
Here's a sample pic at 200hz:
Again at 800hz:
The most noticeable subjective differences were in terms of sensitivity and bass output. The prototype was easily more dynamic, and had a very strong and violent impact in the bass. Midrange was more extended, and a tad bit fuller and warmer sounding. I'd say it's a step up in detail from the Seas CA18RNX, but not quite Seas Excel.
The Seas on the otherhand was just a bit cleaner and more realistic sounding. It's not a difference you'd pick out unless you had the best of installs and the drivers side by side, but to my ears which are accustomed to the sound of the Excels over years of listening it was fairly noticeable. Not exactly a bad thing, as some people prefer a warmer, fuller sounding midrange. The Seas Excel also didn't have the sheer dynamics, or as hard of a midbass impact... this could be due to the lower sensitivity and lower qts of the driver. However, I felt the Seas bass was a bit more natural and easy to listen to. The prototype just hit too hard and violently... and perhaps it was a bit exaggerated... but otoh it was alot of fun to listen to. With a higher crossover point or steeper slope I'm sure it could be tamed.
Last but not least... the 13mb excursion video:
http://diymobileaudio.com/pics/proto.avi