Test Bench: The Alpha-5-8 5" Midbass Driver from Eminence

For this test bench article, I characterized the New Eminence Alpha-5-8 5” line array/column array midbass driver. This a new 5” midwoofer from the American Standard Series, a 24-model transducer line of epoxy-acrylic finished stamped frame woofers and midranges. Applications for the Alpha 5-8 include use as a midrange in a multi-way speaker, as multiples in a line array, or as a compact column PA speaker. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, August 2018.

PRV Audio announced two new mid frequency drivers optimized for very powerful pro audio applications. The 10MB800FT is a rugged 10" mid bass woofer that combines a remarkable SPL output with low distortion and extended bass response, optimized for compact enclosures and larger 2 or 3 way systems. The 8MR600X focuses on high output mid range performance, with a sensitivity of 98 dB, using a 2" voice coil to ensure high heat dissipation and the necessary motor strength to deliver high sensitivity even on high power with the minimum distortion.

Voice Coil September 2018 edition is now available and features all the essential information about this year’s CEDIA Expo event. James Croft reviews a Harman patent for a multi-coil transducer approach to improve the cooling structure of loudspeakers, while Vance Dickason characterizes the ambitious new Dayton Audio Epique E160CF-8 midbass driver and two new 28 mm dome tweeters also from Dayton Audio — the RST28A-4 and the RST28F-4. Now available for download or in print.

The driver for this month’s Test Bench explication came from a German OEM driver manufacturer and is from Eton’s home audio Orchestra line of drivers. I asked Eton to send a model from this line, the 4-512/C8/25 RP, mostly because of the unique cone. All of the cones in the Orchestra line are serrated paper cones, which is somewhat reminiscent of the orange sliced paper cones in the Scan-Speak Revelator line. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, December 2017.

FaitalPRO, the renowned Italian manufacturer of professional loudspeakers, officially celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2018. Continuing the brand’s tradition of quality and innovation, FaitalPRO introduced three new products at Prolight+Sound 2018, starting with two 6" drivers for midrange and low-mid frequencies, the 6RS140 and 6PR160 respectively, together with the 18XL2000 18" Super Woofer, designed for the lowest frequencies.

Lavoce Italiana continues to unveil the new drivers that it will be launching at Prolight+Sound 2018 (Frankfurt, April 10-13). The transducer company will be showing the new MAN062.00 high-power 6.5” neodymium midrange; a new 12" model, the WAF123.02 with a ferrite magnet purposely designed for mid-band applications; and the new and powerful 21” subwoofer, the SAF214.50, able to offer super high excursion using a 4.5” CCAW sandwiched voice coil and a ferrite motor.

This month I tested one of Volt Loudspeakers' signature products, the 3” VM752 midrange dome. The VM752’s features include a coated single-piece fabric dome/surround, a FEA-designed ferrite motor structure, and a 75 mm diameter Nomex/Kapton voice coil former wound with round copper wire. A short flare horn is built into the rear-mounted (0.75” depth) faceplate. The VM752 also offers 94 dB sensitivity, and 100 W (AES) rated power handling, has a 200 mm diameter ferrite magnet, with a 2 mm Xmax, and a 500-Hz-to-4-kHz operating range. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, September 2017.

Voice Coil magazine welcomed Volt Loudspeakers UK to Test Bench in this edition! The driver tested this month was the hot-off-the-production-line new 2” midrange dome, the VM527. The VM527’s features include a coated single piece fabric dome/surround, FEA-designed ferrite motor structure, a 52 mm diameter voice coil, short flare horn built into the rear mounted faceplate, a 91 dB sensitivity, and 75 W (AES) rated power handling. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, August 2017.

The driver featured in this Test Bench is the new E0060-08/06 6.5 “King Coax” from SEAS. Recognized for several years for its high-performance coaxial midrange/tweeter drivers, SEAS developed this new driver at the request of a studio monitor customer who wanted a compact three-way monitor and asked SEAS to develop a midrange + tweeter coax. The King Coax received its name from the copper ring under the tweeter, which resembled the look of a crown. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, June 2017.

The subject of this month’s explication is the SB Acoustics 5.25” MR13P-4 Satori midrange. As with the MR16P-4, the MR13P-4 is nominally a midrange version of the SB Acoustics MW13P-4 5.25” woofer, but with higher sensitivity and shorter Xmax. The MR13P-4 is built on a cosmetically attractive six-spoke frame that has a minimal reflective footprint behind the cone to reduce reflections and a completely open area beneath the spider mounting shelf for enhanced cooling— both highly desirable attributes. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, February 2017.