Compression drivers

 

Bronze Member
Username: Thrust

Post Number: 73
Registered: Nov-04
Anyone frequenting these forums use compression drivers? Any info on them would be sweet. Especially mounting/installing opinions.
 

Gold Member
Username: Glasswolf

NorthWest, Michigan USA

Post Number: 6171
Registered: Dec-03
Horn Loaded Compression Drivers

Also known as compression horns and wave guides, HLCDs represent what could be the biggest waste of money in car audio. The only benefits of HLCD are good dynamics, high efficiency and better imaging. However, the disadvantages are numerous. HLCD have frequency response from approximately 1kHz to 20kHz. Thus they are essentially large tweeters with very good low frequency extension. However, they cost anywhere from $300 to over $1000 for a pair. So by themselves, the HLCDs already cost as much or significantly more than most competition quality component speaker systems. You will also have to purchase a separate set of mid bass drivers to cover the frequencies below 1kHz. A pair of quality mid bass drivers start at about $150, adding more to the cost. Installation of HLCDs are very costly and time consuming. Labor quotes can exceed $1000 just for the installation and setup of a pair of HLCDs. The installation location of HLCD is usually under the dash. Even though this position allows for a more focused image, the overall sound stage is much narrower than conventional tweeters mounted on the doors. The tradeoff for high efficiency is poor transient response, tonal accuracy and overall frequency response. There are mid-bass drivers that have better transient response than HLCDs. The frequency response and tonal accuracy of HLCD are so bad that it's generally accepted that in order to make a pair of HLCD listenable, one would need 30 band 1/3 octave equalizers, which cost no less than $300. And even then, the sound quality of the HLCD are not even comparable to a pair of good conventional tweeters. In summary, HLCDs are expensive and they exhibit all the characteristics that we do NOT want in a tweeter, especially one that would require the owner to spend thousands just to get mediocre results.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Thrust

Post Number: 75
Registered: Nov-04
Thanks (again) Glasswolf, truly! Pretty obvious you're not a big fan of HLCD's. OK what if I bought a pair of Image Dynamics CD-2 HLCD's from a friend for $150? $0 labor for installation since I'd install myself (I'm pretty handy sometimes). I already had an RF Symmetry EPX2 with optional 28 band EQ? And I already have 2 pairs of midbass drivers to complete the HLCD's? Still not worth it? I understand you prefer Dynaudio or Focal speakers but those things are almost equally as expensive. By "good pair of conventional speakers" do you mean Dynaudio or Focal speakers?
 

Gold Member
Username: Glasswolf

NorthWest, Michigan USA

Post Number: 6178
Registered: Dec-03
If you can get em for 150 and you have all the rest of the stuff you need, go for it.
They're fun to play with, I just think for the money they usually cost, there are better solutions.

ID and USD make some very good waveguides, if you're looking for a pair. They should work nicely if you can fit them into the car. Usually they end up with the magnet scturcure up behind teh dash, with the horns firing just below the dash by your knees.

There are a number of brands I consider high end for components.. to name a few, DynAudio, Rainbow, Focal, Morel, Diamond, DLS, and others.
Honestly I wouldn't buy Focals strictly because it's a French company and I disagree with supporting France in any way, since I'm an American, and France has absolutely nothing good to say about the US unless it involves them kissing our behinds to get their way or get money from us.

That aside, in the end it's up to your ears. For $150, I'd play with them, too.
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