1.     Don't be a dotard!
    Read these "rules" AND introduce
    yourself     before your first post
  2. A healthy approach to understanding measurements
    Being true to what the artists intended
  3. After being asked for the 308th time, Merv lists top 5 headphones
    (opinion / entertainment piece)
    Dismiss Notice
  4. $1000 to the first to design a headamp using discrete components with better measurements than Magni 3+
    Dismiss Notice
IMPORTANT: New Members Read This Don't Be a Measurement Fascist Merv's Top 5 Headphones - 2023 Edition $1000 Challenge

Preparing for OB: Lowther DX3 or Audio Nirvana Horn 8?

Discussion in 'DIY' started by mtoc, Dec 19, 2015.

  1. mtoc

    mtoc SBAF's Resident Shit-Stirrer

    Banned
    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2015
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Hello my dear friends, I wanna build an OB system just like Marv's. But my room is small (10mm2), so I think a pair of 8" drivers are fine. Lowther DX3 seems really good, then I came cross AN Horn 8 Alnico (aka. Commonsense audio, all made in China) on the net.

    Same price, same size, the Frequency response of Lowther DX3 is 30 Hz - 22 kHz while AN's 43 hz to 20 khz...

    Which should I choose, any idea? Many thanks.


    ps, there're few comments on the AN. But I found this. about AN.
    http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=108189.msg1112251#msg1112251
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2015
    mtoc, Dec 19, 2015
    #1
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    90,040
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    I haven't heard the Horn 8, but I can offer some observations on the Lowther DX3.

    The DX3 is the most resolving speaker driver I have heard. Supposedly, the DX4 is a little step up in terms of resolution with a stronger motor, but I haven't heard it.

    I'm using the DX3 from 300Hz up with a 2' baffle. Below 300Hz, the DX3 is mated with a 15" driver for bass. The Lowther's are actually not well suited for open baffle. They will roll-off like mad in the bass on an OB. Even if I lower the crossver point, the Lowther will roll off around 300Hz on a 2' baffle. I'm using a very simple crossover that consists on one capacitor on the DX3. FWIW, big drivers or numerous big drivers are needed to OB bass. Sometimes EQ is necessary to brute-force against the roll-off.

    The Lowther uses a low mass thin piece of treated paper. This type of material (thin paper / low mass) is one of my personal favorites. The cone is fragile, much more so than the Fostex. The AN Horn 8" has a driver of similar mass, so to me, this is a good sign. Other than that, the AN Horn 8" uses an accordion cloth surround instead of foam on the Lowther. I feel foam sounds the best, but the problem with foam is that it falls apart after a few years.

    The huge downside to the DX3 is the beaming (uneven dispersion) and 7-8kHz peak. The peak exists on-axis, but off-axis it's not such a much a problem. EQ'ing the peak down only helps the person sitting in the middle of the couch.

    The price looks fantastic on the Audio Nirvana drivers. I might pick one up and report back.
     
    purr1n, Dec 20, 2015
    #2
  3. mtoc

    mtoc SBAF's Resident Shit-Stirrer

    Banned
    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2015
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Thanks Marv. Really appreciate. I think I will (have to) try your plan:p, if I remember correctly, the woofers in your speakers are the Eminence Beta 15As. About the crossover, which kind of capacitor shoud I use? (The AN Horn 8 Alnico=$1299/pr...)
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2015
    mtoc, Dec 20, 2015
    #3

Share This Page